Information Overload at the Tactical Level (an Application of Agent Based Modeling and Complexity Theory in Combat Modeling)
Abstract
We address the appropriate level of information availability in a tactical setting at the small unit level. We examine this issue through a simulation utilizing Agent Based Modeling in a Complex Adaptive Systems Environment. The 'information level' we address is a function of communication range, sensor range, and agent location. By varying the communication capabilities (range) we effectively vary the information available for use by an individual agent in decision-making. We examine the effect of this varying information level on the combat outcome of the unit with a metric of a Loss Exchange Ratio. Our initial results show that there is a significant relationship in terms of combat outcomes that exists between the range of the sensor and the range of the individual soldiers communications capabilities. If our communications capability outdistances our sensors we achieve a greater advantage in battle, and as the communications capabilities increase past this range we see an additional increase in our combat outcome - but only to a certain point at which time the combat outcome deteriorates. In addition, through a 2 variable landscape analysis of fitness profiles we conjecture that the optimal' information level is actually a dynamic quantity determined in some part by what phase of battle a unit is operating in. This work has potential to impact on the future design of combat simulations and hence our analytical abilities to model both new technology and changes to command and control structures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA405459
Entities
People
- David M. Sanders
- William B. Carlton
Organizations
- United States Military Academy