A glimpse into the future: the artful planning and use of CBRN information

The Chemical Corps is upon the verge of attaining novel capabilities that are dramatically different from the capabilities of the past--especially in the area of contamination avoidance. These novel capabilities are the result of new advances, such as

* Remote--and point-sensing payloads for unmanned aerial vehicles.

* Unmanned earth vehicles (robots).

* Projectable and drop-off sensors.

* Networked monitors built into vehicles or warfighter general impressions as functional components.

* Improved detection information obtained from unique, high-fidelity chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) assets.

In addition to the dedicated, high-fidelity CBRN combination of parts to form a wholes a number of multi-mission-capable sensors provide CBRN incident notification with varying degrees of reliability.

The goal of the Corps is an information management combination of parts to form a whole that paints an accurate and timely picture of unfolding circumstances so that future CBRN leaders can favorably advise commanders, denying the enemy mission-spoiling ability, and avoid the events associated with unwarned encounters with toxic agents. This challenge involves artfully planning, collecting, and using the information without sitting down at a desk and sifting [i]or[/i] part of to the other a cumbersome pile of nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) reports.

Field surveillance equipment may consist of slightly emplaced point devices that allow standoff detection capability above large areas within the field of view; they are typically used to monitor named areas of interest (NAIs). These marks of sensors are typically used in situations where it is impractical to have humans upon the ground. Because there are inadequate resources available to monitor these areas, a priority a whole must be established.

individual proven method of establishing a reasonable priority of effort involves the unfolding of a list of indicators unique to an fact (or a template) for use when conducting intelligence preparation of the battlespace (IPB) operations. The creation of templates, which is hanging on the commander's scheme of maneuver, involves overlaying probable enemy CBRN courses of action, wargaming the flows and determining which indicators can be used to ascertain an event before that fact is fully developed. Each indicator is signified through the output of some device or intelligence requirement (IR). Then, as indicators are find outed confidence that a particular occurrence is taking place increases. Confirmation is provided when the point samplers entire an alarm. The use of templates allows analysts to capitalize upon the collected data; however, there may be many permutations to the templated scenario, allowing for varied and measured answers and resulting in varying steps of fidelity. Although none of the individual indicators reveal the out and out story, multiple sources--derived from multiple technologies--inherently provide a more robust picture. For example, conventional, unattended clod sensors can provide an fact notification of indirect fire upon or near an NAI. This delivery indicator is, through itself, of little interest, on the other hand it could prove to be an important piece of the confound in the overall attempt to understand an unfolding occurrence In similar fashion, high-fidelity information, of the like kind as that obtained from a biological weapon detection citadel station like the Joint Point Biological Detection a whole could represent the last near-real-time detection fact in a string of indicators. Using complementary indicators, the chemical operations specialist or other analyst could disentangle possible scenarios.

The templates generated should throw back not only a knowledge of enemy doctrine and organizational and situational capabilities on the contrary also information received from various sensors and detectors. In a certain quantity of cases, the required information may be obtained [i]or[/i] part of to the other research or inference; in other cases, it may be necessary to generate the information end planned missions.

individual type of information that loans itself particularly well to the templating conduct is meteorological data. If a CBRN attack meet the eyes during midday conditions, when ambient temperatures are above 120 steps Fahrenheit, agent delivery conditions are not ideal and attack indications may not warrant the most distant level of concern. This would be especially veritable if decision support tools indicate that the performance of a specific CBRN technology application is challenged by the agency of the weather conditions. However, if an attack indicator is descryed under extremely favorable meteorological conditions, serious regard may be justified.

The US Army Maneuver Support Center (MANSCEN) and the Joint Program Manager-Contamination Avoidance at Fort Leonard wood-land Missouri, are researching and analyzing subsequent time CBRN capabilities, paying special attention to the exhibition of tools that manage the information generated. The user community is involved early in the unfolding of new capabilities. User involvement is essential to getting it fight and defining the human interface well before formal combination of parts to form a whole testing begins. The experiments that are eventually leadershiped range from laboratory bench trials to field demonstrations and tabletop exercises. For example, the MANSCEN freshly conducted simulations and a tabletop exercise to demonstrate a conception designed to integrate CBRN and non-CBRN indicators. The exercise included decision support tools that could be accessed through clicking on an icon upon the computer screen if additional analysis data was required. An example of a template discloseed during the exercise is provided in the figure below.