Operations-Focused Optimized Theater Weather Sensing Strategies
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2016
Abstract
This article describes a method that optimally deploys weather sensors of all types in a battlefield environment. Gridded climatology models are used to determine an estimate for the weighted frequency of occurrence of operationally significant inclement weather events. That data is used to formulate a series of preemptive binary integer linear programs (BILPs) that maximize detection of expected operationally significant inclement weather occurrences within the constraints of feasibility of sensor deployment, sensor operational lifespan and the sensor’s ability to detect the operationally significant inclement weather elements. The preemptive BILPs are combined into a single objective function that maintains the preemptive nature of the original objective functions. The BILP solutions are described as a meteorology and oceanographic collection plan supporting a particular military campaign. A method for sensitivity analysis of differing BILP optimal solutions is provided. Various randomly generated instances of the problem are solved to optimality and analyzed to demonstrate that the problem formulation accurately captures all aspects of the operational environment. This quantitative analysis of alternative battlefield weather sensing strategies was not possible before the development of this methodology.
DOI
Source Publication
Military Operations Research
Recommended Citation
Geyer, A. J., Hall, S. N., & Moore, J. T. (2016). Operations-Focused Optimized Theater Weather Sensing Strategies. Military Operations Research, 21(3), 51–72.
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