Enhancing the Operational Effectiveness of the Ground-Based Operational Surveillance System (G-BOSS)

The majority of casualties in the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are due to improvised explosive devices IEDs. To counter this threat, the Marine Corps directed that a persistent surveillance capability be identified and fielded as soon as possible. As a result, the development and fielding of the Ground Based Operational Surveillance System G-BOSS occurred rapidly. G-BOSS consists of a tower, multiple cameras, and a combat operations center COC. Today, scores of these systems are in use. However, minimal guidance has been provided to operators on effective techniques, tactics, and procedures TTPs. Furthermore, the benefits of adding additional sensors to G-BOSS and networking multiple systems are not clear. This research investigates these issues through the use of an agent-based simulation. Specifically, thousands of computational experiments utilizing a state-of-the-art experimental design, were run on a scenario based on concurrent live developmental tests at 29 Palms by the Marine Corps Operational Test and Evaluation Activity MCOTEA. The experiments assessed the ability of the system to correctly classify objects e.g., snipers, IED emplacement, and mortar teams, as well as neutrals and friendly forces over a variety of enemy actions, G-BOSS configurations, and tactical choices. The results indicate that the most critical factor in determining the level of situational awareness provided by G-BOSS is, by far, placement of the towers. Moreover, little benefit is seen in coordinating the towers and COCs unless motion detection radars are used. With use of the motion detection radar, the synchronization of multiple systems dramatically enhances the overall performance of G-BOSS.