Tactical Routing Using Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Views of Terrain
Abstract
Consoles for military and civilian occupations such as air warfare, command and control, air traffic control, piloting, and meteorological forecasting will be capable of displaying three-dimensional (3-D) perspective views. The question is when and how to use 3-D views effectively. This report discusses the results of two experiments where participants placed objects on a terrain map in 3-D or two-dimensions (2-D). In these experiments, we showed participants a terrain map that contained two fixed antennas (a source and terminal), several enemy unit locations, and a set of antennas to be placed on the map to establish line-of-sight communications. The task was to create a chain of antennas across the map to connect the source and terminal antennas. The antennas had to be within line of sight of each other while remaining concealed from the enemy units. We found the following: (1) antenna placement was performed better with a 2-D view than a 3 -D view, (2) antenna placement was peformed best when participants were provided with both a 2-D and 3-D view, and (3) initial planning of the antenna route was performed better with a 3-D view than a 2-D view.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA387284
Entities
People
- H. S. Smallman
- M. B. Cowen
- M. St. John
- T. E. Bank