Digital Terrain Data in Support of Land Combat Models

Abstract

Abstract : The Chief of Engineers has designated the Engineer Studies Center (ESC) as the Center of Engineering Modeling for the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the USACE point of contact for the Army Model Improvement Program (AMIP). Part of the research supporting the EMIP Plan addressed the availability of the digital terrain data (DTD) needed by models to adequately represent the influence of terrain on the outcome of the battle. This report identifies requirements for DTD in models at each level in the hierarchy of Army models. Three specific models (CASTFOREM, VIC, and FORCEM) were examined to determine how they use terrain data and to assess the availability of the DTD required by the models. However, the DTD issues facing the Army extend far beyond the modeling community. ESC hopes that this analysis will contribute to finding a solution to the Army's pressing needs for DTD, not only to support modeling, but more importantly to support the new generations of weapons and command and control systems that require DTD to function.