Position Reporting in a Constrained Communications Capacity Environment

Abstract : A fundamental of Network Centric Warfare is situational awareness. Situational awareness includes knowledge of own force combat effectiveness, positions and intentions. The method of disseminating the knowledge of own force positions and how current that information is are the subject of much discussion. The universal distribution of perfectly synchronised position information over the land battlespace is likely to be impossible due to constraints in communications capacity. This report considers the trade-offs between complexity of processing, communications capacity and accuracy of position information. It draws on modelling efforts within Information Networks Division that may assist in considerations of a trade-off study.