Positioning of military combat units through weight-based terrain analysis using NASA World Wind

Terrain based situational awareness is carried out by armies for positioning of military combat units. Situational awareness can be assessed in various ways, but a weight-based analysis using thematic layers and other terrain inputs is a unique approach. An application using satellite imagery, to assess quantitatively the covering terrain, with focus on mountainous combat zones for positioning of combat units, has been developed. A weight based analysis on terrain inputs has been done to determine safer terrain positions. Since the intended target user group was the army commanders, for ease of end member use, NASA World Wind with its 3D visualization capability was used. The application although was developed for mountainous regions, it has generic capability and with correct inputs can be applied to all kinds of terrain.