Including the Soldier in Military Simulations: Modeling the Psychological Effects of Anti-Personnel Landmines

Abstract

Computer modeling and simulation is a valuable tool for warfare simulation and weapons analysis/evaluation. Although it is agreed that anti-personnel landmines (APLs) are very powerful psychological weapons, their psychological effects are not incorporated into current mine warfare simulations. This paper focuses on issues involved in the incorporation of APL psychological effects into computer models. Three basic approaches for incorporating fear into mine warfare models are presented. Within these approaches, issues about the experimental study, quantification, and use in the model of the effect of interest are discussed. Issues of the necessary level of fidelity for mine warfare simulation are also approached. Although the simulation of mine warfare presents unique challenges, a discussion of these issues may be relevant to developers of other types of simulations incorporating human representation.