Risk management on the battlefield

Battlefield management is becoming more sophisticated, so to get best use of available resources, a risk management approach becomes increasingly important.

So battlefield commanders can make quick decisions about transport management and use, they are going to require vital information so that they can make informed judgement about how and when to deploy vehicles, tanks, troops, helicopters etc.

To help develop these military requirements, the Met Office is working on a scheme called 'trafficability'. As an example, this will help the commander to answer a simple question: "Can I move my tank across this ground?" The answer may be "yes" but perhaps not for 36 hours until the ground has dried out.

The scheme, which is being researched in collaboration with Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, based at Wallingford, will take into account past rainfall, forecast rainfall, soil type and vegetation, which will help to produce an answer, perhaps in the form "go", "no go" or "maybe go".

The information could be used in reverse by assessing how much success the enemy may have in manoeuvring operations.

 

For further information about working with the Met Office on weather solutions please contact our 24-hour Customer Centre.