AN IMPROVED APPROACH TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF GEOSPATIAL SUPPORT FORCESFOR TASK EXECUTION IN AN OPERATION

Abstract

Background. The need to improve and further develop geospatial support as a component of operational support is determined by modern requirements for information about terrain and objects located on it, which is necessary for military command and control bodies and troops (forces) due to the implementation of automated command and weapon control systems, the need for rapid response to changes in the operational environment, the high dynamics of modern combat operations, and the development of precision-guided weapons. Taking into account the experience of the Russia’s war against Ukraine and the rapid development of information technologies, the requirements for geospatial support are changing. Its characteristic features today include: the use of geospatial technologies for terrain analysis and decision-making tasks; the introduction into the armed forces of new types of terrain-related products, such as digital orthophoto maps, orthophoto images, spatial terrain models, visibility maps, and others; and ensuring the rapid dissemination of geospatial information to authorized users through automated command and control systems.
Methods. During the preparation of the article, general scientific methods were applied, including analysis, comparison, synthesis, a system approach, and the minimax pairwise correction method. The application of these methods made it possible to systematize the factors influencing the scope of geospatial support measures and to develop an approach to the distribution of geospatial support forces in an operation through resource-time optimization of forces according to the types of specialized tasks.
Results. The article proposes an approach to force distribution by tasks with the maximization of operational efficiency in the process of carrying out specialized activities related to the creation of geospatial information, adapted to spatial indicators, operational tasks, and the specific features of conducting an operation.
Conclusions. An approach to optimizing the time required for implementing geospatial support measures during an operation was proposed and tested. The approach makes it possible, within the authorized staffing levels of geospatial support forces, to achieve the required effect within the time established by the mission through an optimal plan for distributing geospatial support forces and assets according to the types of specialized tasks. This method of minimax pairwise correction method was developed to solve the problem of force distribution by tasks (operations) within the geospatial support process while maximizing operational efficiency.