Arrows designating avenues of approach
Terrain has long been recognized as a critically important factor in military operations; a clear understanding of how the terrain can shape the battlefield environment is essential in military planning. The Military Aspects of Terrain template, now available for download, is an intelligence analysis template for intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB) during the planning process. Because the derived layers have broad applications, the template also includes a workflow for publishing terrain and derived data as services that can be used by intelligence and planning staff.
Deriving MAoT is a multi-step process; some steps must be completed before others as derived data from one step becomes input to another, and some steps must be repeated for different inputs. The MAoT template provides exercises to show you the general workflow. This includes connecting to an Operational Environment database (based on the Operational Environment template), creating a derived layer for Combined Vegetation Coverage, and publishing Obstacles and Lines of Communication services.
Deriving MAoT is a multi-step process; some steps must be completed before others as derived data from one step becomes input to another, and some steps must be repeated for different inputs. The MAoT template provides exercises to show you the general workflow. This includes connecting to an Operational Environment database (based on the Operational Environment template), creating a derived layer for Combined Vegetation Coverage, and publishing Obstacles and Lines of Communication services.
Lines of Communication
The next step is to create and publish five Suitability Overlays:
- Cover from flat trajectory weapons
- Concealment from aerial detection
- Suitable Helicopter Landing Zones
- Suitable Drop Zones
- Suitable off-road movement
The Off-road mobility layer should be derived multiple times to estimate a maximum speed for off-road travel for various vehicle types.
The next step is an interactive one, where you examine multiple layers, use tools from the template to identify highest and lowest points in an Area of Interest, and mark up Defensible Terrain and Engagement Areas, and then publish them.
The next step is an interactive one, where you examine multiple layers, use tools from the template to identify highest and lowest points in an Area of Interest, and mark up Defensible Terrain and Engagement Areas, and then publish them.
Key Terrain marks terrain features that offer a tactical advantage.
The final step is to create and publish a Modified Combined Obstacle Overlay (MCOO). This involves adding key terrain layers to a map, digitizing Mobility Corridors and Avenues of Approach, and publishing the MCOO service.
The template includes maps and geoprocessing tools to help you complete these steps for your IPB process.
