Using agent-based simulation to reduce collateral damage during military operations

Modeling collateral damage has challenged military simulation officers for some time. Past equations-based models calculate attrition of forces and battlefield effects but do not model complex environments [Delaney 2003]. Thus they do not approximate the interactive nature of crowds, information operations, communications infrastructure effects on battlefield performance, and long-term attitudes towards military operations. This effort demonstrates that the U.S. Air Force´s agent-based systems effectiveness analysis simulation (SEAS) tool can model collateral damage. By creating and testing two distinct scenarios under different rules of engagement, a tradeoff between collateral damage and mission effectiveness was demonstrated. Future research includes modifying SEAS to better model urban conflict and dynamically updating agent behavior