The warfighter requires high-resolution geospatial information, terrain visualization technologies, and knowledge of climatic effects that collectively provide a relevant common picture of the battlespace to dominate maneuver, execute precision strike, protect the force, and win the information war. Battlespace domination will be achieved through all-weather, air-land-sea continuous operations based on superior knowledge of the terrain, weather impacts (on both friendly and enemy capabilities), and enhanced all-weather, day/night sensor performance. By providing terrain visualization capabilities, including physics-based environmental effects, commanders will be able to train as they intend to fight, execute mission planning and rehearsal within realistic constraints, and ultimately conduct superior military operations.
The terrestrial environments subarea emphasizes characterization and modeling of the physical phenomena, processes, interactions, and effects associated with terrain and its surface/ subsurface features at scales of interest to ground combat forces.
3.11.2.1 Goals and Timeframes. The terrestrial environments goals and timeframes are shown in Table VII-12.
| Fiscal Year | Goal |
|---|---|
| FY98 | Demonstrate an integrated, dynamic IR/MMW terrestrial background scene generation capability for synthetic environments. Develop image perspective transformation technology for use with imagery to rapidly evaluate sub-10-meter resolution terrain data and position reality. Demonstrate virtual reality-based battlefield environments that place the soldier in an environment with replicated actual terrain and climate, creating a highly detailed realistic setting for training and mission planning/rehearsal. |
| FY03 | Demonstrate spatially distributed, physics-based, 3D ground state and weather effects in future distributed simulations. Develop multiscale/multiproduct geospatial data generation software capable of generating large integrated terrain databases at multiple levels of detail. |
| FY08 | Demonstrate knowledge-based systems for predicting the performance of multimode sensing systems (IR and MMW) over winter-impacted terrain. Demonstrate automated feature extraction and attribution capability. |
3.11.2.2 Major Technical Challenges. A number of major technical challenges remain:
3.11.2.3 Related Federal and Private Sector Efforts. Other investment in terrestrial environments research is relatively low because of the focus on warfighting needs.
3.11.3 S&T Investment Strategy
Providing improved knowledge of the terrestrial environments encompasses varied requirements. The winter environment presents a severe challenge to not only the performance of materiel, but also its operability. Snow and frozen ground dramatically alter the propagation of acoustic and seismic energy. The infrared and millimeter wavelength signatures of terrain features change markedly with freezing and thawing. Icing may dramatically change aircraft performance and impact communications capability. The ability to quantify and model these processes and their effects is essential to system design, test and evaluation, mission planning, and wargaming. Developmental efforts in the topographic sciences concentrate (1) on remote sensing, spectral characterization and analysis, rapid geospatial data generation, point positioning, land navigation, surveying, environmental analysis; and (2) on the effects on tactical operations; interoperability of mapping, charting, and geodesy software; exploitation and dissemination of geospatial data; battlefield visualization; and distributed interactive modeling and simulation.
The terrestrial environments subarea includes cold regions and topography. Research emphasizes techniques for the rapid generation of high-resolution geospatial information; improved capabilities for receiving, interpreting, and disseminating topographic imagery/data; and characterization and modeling of physical phenomena, processes, interactions, and effects associated with terrain and its surface/subsurface energy response at scales and frequencies of interest to ground combat forces. Accurate physics-based models provide realistic portrayals of the environment for combat simulations while also enhancing the all-weather performance of targeting and surveillance sensors. These technologies, along with improved positioning/navigation capabilities and digital communications, collectively enhance the warfighters' capability to dominate the battlespace through rapid exploitation of geospatial data and battlefield visualization. The terrestrial environments area will more fully exploit the data from radars (3.1), electro-optic sensors (3.2), and the planning/rehearsal of military missions. Research in the terrestrial environments subarea supports the Rapid Battlefield Visualization (RBV) ACTD and the MOUT ACTD and contributes to the development of the Synthetic Theater of War (STOW).
3.11.3.1 Technology Demonstrations.
Rapid Battlefield Visualization ACTD (JWSTP Information Superiority DTO A.06). The RBV ACTD will demonstrate capabilities to collect source data and generate high-resolution digital terrain databases within the timelines required by the commander for crisis support and force projection operations. The RBV ACTD will also demonstrate capabilities for the commander to manipulate and display terrain databases, integrated with current situation data, to determine how to achieve his objectives and visualize his desired end state.
3.11.3.2 Technology Development.
None.
3.11.3.3 Basic Research. The requirement for terrestrial environments research stems from the impact that the terrain and the environment have on virtually all aspects of military ground activity. The modern power projection military force must be able to perform at full capability throughout the world, in operational theaters that may range from equatorial to polar latitudes, and in terrain that may vary from coastal beach and lowlands to deserts and mountains. In the 21st century, detailed information will be required regarding terrain conditions along with a sophisticated capability for terrain information collection, processing, analysis, visualization, and dissemination. There is an important need for an improved ability to understand terrain and utilize terrain information for military operations in order to lessen the impacts of terrain and environmental conditions, particularly in areas of climatic extremes. Research in this area comprises both field studies and laboratory research related to the acquisition, analysis, interpretation, and modeling of information about terrain and terrain behavior under different climatic conditions. Research on terrain characteristics, dynamics, and effects is aimed at enhancing the current capability to interpret and utilize remotely sensed elevation and feature information at a variety of scales.
