Incorporating information networks into military simulations

Abstract

Information superiority is considered a critical capability for future joint forces. As advances in technology continue to boost our ability to communicate in new and different ways, military forces are restructuring to incorporate these technologies. Yet we are still limited in our ability to measure the contributions made by information networks. We describe three recent studies at the Naval Postgraduate School that involve information networks. First, we examine a simulation model expanded from a two-person, zero-sum game to explore how information superiority contributes to battlefield results and how sensitive it is to information quality. Second, we examine how network-enabled communications affect the logistics operations in a centralized receiving and shipping point. The results are intended to provide operational insights for terminal node operations within a sustainment base. Third, we explore how social networks might be incorporated into agent-based models representing civilian populations in stability operations.

Representing dynamic social networks in discrete event social simulation

“…Discrete event simulation provides a well established mechanism for the modeling of processes of many types and has been successfully used in modeling human behavior through the use of task network models (Ahner et al 2008). Many of the characteristics which make it useful for modeling individual human behavior, also make it an attractive candidate for use in social simulations.…”

A normalized weighted entropy measure for sensor allocation within simulations

“…Research completed by the Naval Postgraduate School also tends to focus on outcomes (Ahner 2008). These RAND and NPS posterior measures aid in analysis but do not lend themselves to actively informing the act of gaining information to inform decisions.…”