Using Topographic Engineering to Achieve Dominance in Urban and Complex Terrain

Maneuver warfare concepts have been developed and used very effectively over the past three decades to achieve unprecedented levels of success in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Much of the combat in these conflicts entailed operations in open and rolling terrain. The reason why U.S. forces dominate maneuver in such terrain is because they dominate the information in that environment, and they are able to deploy weapon systems and maneuver platforms that overcome threat forces before those forces can interdict U.S. forces. In contrast, urban and complex terrain present a more challenging operating environment in that threat forces can get closer to our soldiers before we can bring superior combat power to bear. Unless we are properly prepared, threat forces can make devastating attacks on our units in this type of terrain. The enemy can employ explosive devices, snipers, and suicide bombers to hit allied targets of opportunity. Information dominance and dominant maneuver are harder to achieve in urban and complex terrain, but there are measures we can take to give our soldiers important advantages. Engineer solutions include physical measures to interdict threat forces, such as countermine operations and emplacement of barriers, as well as command and control C2 measures that can enhance our information dominance. This article focuses on how the topographic engineering component of information dominance helps achieve dominant maneuver in urban and complex terrain. The article describes the Urban Tactical Planner registered trademark UTP, Improvised Explosive Device IED Detection, Handheld Geographic Information System GIS Personal Digital Assistants PDA, Terrain Team Support, Light Detection and Ranging LIDAR Systems, Urban Terrain Information Constructs UTICs, Battlespace Terrain Reasoning and Awareness BTRA, 3-D Solid Terrain Models, and the Joint Geospatial Enterprise Service Army Prototype Program JGES-APP.