DTIC ADA428252: Managing Complexity During Military Urban Operations: Visualizing the Elephant

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by  Defense Technical Information Center

Managing Complexity
During Military Urban
Operations

Visualizing the Elephant

RUSSELL WW, GIENN

20041208 138

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Managing Complexity
During Military Urban
Operations

Visualizing the Elephant

RUSSELL W. GLENN

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DB- 430-A
‘he research described in tie eepore was spoasoneé hy the United Sraret Army undee
Cansesce No, DASWO1-O1-C-0001.

Iga. 0-380-3491-

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PREFACE

‘The massiveness of today’s largest cities and the complexity of even the
smallor urban conglomerations makes the planning ard execution of
‘operations within them a significant challenge, There isa call fora
‘construct that makes those tasks manageable, This document proposes
such a construct based on two fundamental concepts introduced herein:
critical points and density. ‘The two are applicable to virtually any urban
“undertaking whether the focus is on combat, stability, or support, They
pertain to both the tactical and operational levels nf war,

‘Lhe document will be of interest to individuals in the governtnent,
nongovernmental organizations, privote voluntocr organizations, and the
commercial sector whose responsibilitics include planning, policy,
doctrine, training, and the conduct of actions undertaken in oF near urban
areas in bolh the immediate future and longer term,

‘This research was sponsored by the US. Ammy Training and Doctrine
Command Deputy Chief of Staff for Development and vas conducted in
‘hy: Forer Development and Technology Program of the RAND Arroyo
Center. The Aetoyo Center is a federally funded research ane
development center sponsored by the United States Atmy.
For more information on RAND Arroyo Center, contact the Director of
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CONTENTS

Preface

Sumrnary .
Acknowledgements .
Glessary

‘VISUALIZING THE ELEPTTANT: MANAGING COMPLEXITY
DURING MILITARY URBAN OPLRA'IONS :
‘THE CHALLENGES:
‘THINKING ABOUT THE CHALLENGES,
Critical Points =.
Density.

Bihlingeaphy
SUMMARY

‘This document is briefing thatthe author has provided to many
audiences in various forms over the past three years. He: was privileged
‘in having had the opportunity to do so for the division, comps, and aciny
commande and staffs preparing to depart for Operation Iraqi Freedom
during the dosing months of 2092 and January of the follovring year. The
‘work behind the slides and concepts is itis hoped, another step forward
in the RAND Urban Operations Team’ elfort to laminate the
complexity, helerogenetty. and vibrancy of urban operations for those
given the responsiblity fo conduct them. The potuntially overwhelming
complexity and size of 2lst-century turban areas enmpels us to find ways
to understand their character and determine how ta best allocate available
resources in the service of accomplishing objectives. Only the very rare
and extraordinarily fortunate organization will have sufficient assets to
‘moet all ofthe tasks athand, In such cases, the chances are that the urban
area involved is but a town or at most a small city devoid ofa robust and
capable enemy. Larger cities pose significantly greater challenges. they
will nd to demand far more capabilities and resources than thexe of even
the Targestof coalitions. The briefing seeks to provide both an
understanding of the nahue of these challenges and wayssta determine
where and how to employ what means a commander does have available

‘We approach this challenge in tvo primary steps, The first seeks to
provide an overview of the nature of the fermidable tasks inherent in
‘urban operations. They include a need to concephatize the environment
in terms of these dimensions—in volume rather thant ares—far virtually
any grouping of manmade structures inchuces multiple stories, room:
‘other enclosures, and, perhaps, underground facilities. The tasks
encompass a equircinent tv adapt quickly and, ideally, to interfere with
an adlversary’s ability to adapt, for rapid adaptation seems to be a
characteristic of urban operations; the organization that does it ettectively
are] ina tiewly ananner galas a considerable aetvantage. Urban
contingencies differ not only in the nature of the terrain. Though much of
‘the ambient environment is manmade and poses its ove challenges, a
least equally as important is the extraordinary (in comparison with other
environments) density of noncombatants. History shows that itis they
who tend to suffer the greatest numbers of killed and wounded during
combat in their cities, whether [rom the fighting or from the deprivations
of food, potable water, shelter, and medicines that accumpany such
struggles, They can suffer even in cases in which combat i Timited or
nonexistent: the close packing of people makes shortages of necessities
mote quickly felt and acts to speed the spread of disease, Ths they who
continue to suffer when combat has ecased and the combatants depart, or
‘when the victor Teaves the urban area bereft of the functioning
infrastructure that its residents depend on for survival

‘The ssconel of the tro primary steps itself has two components, each 8
somesvhat heretical but ultimately pragmatic way of approaching the
challenges of teban military undertokings. Critical points are first
digcasiedt. The author defines these as “points or other elements that
could have an extraordinary influence on the achicvemant of objectives.”
‘They include the familiar concepts of center uf gravity, decisive points,
and additional elements that fit this definition. Critical points can be
phyrical ia nature: key buildings, important intersections, or vital sheets
or highways, Or they can be human: one or more community leaders,
heads of family, or those who conteot one or more significant resources
‘They can alsa be components of physical of social infrastructure, or vital
events of activities, Urban areas are by nature systems, which are
themselves parts of even Iarger systems. The tolaity of these many
systems can be staggering, The concept of critical points is offered so that
those planning and conducting operations in urban areas can identity
those nodes and the {etermationships between them Fhat will hace the
most critical impact on mission success

‘While understonding critical points and their interactions helps the
comprehension of urban complexity, a second concept, density, provides a
means of managing the remaining complexity. ‘the relationship between
<citieal points and density isa symbiotic one. Density, defined herein as
“he number of elements per unit space or the quantity of activites per
nit time,” helps a commander or staff member in his efforts to
appropriately select exitical points, If there exist very few of a particular
“urban aoset within the wuban area of interest (eg only ane oF two waler
‘treatment plants in a laxge urban conglomeration), those ascets likely
‘qoatify an critical points by nature oftheir rarity low density), The some
is probably not true if there isa plethura of these asnets, Density further
helps.a commander determine what assets he needs to aecomplish his
‘urban niission and how lo allocate them by providing a siaple means of
‘viewing the seemingly very complex, Usban ateas share many of the
characteristics that influence an operation in any environment. They have
avennes of approach, potential firing positions, obstacles, ines-of-
sight—all familiar to those tasked with accomplishing an assigned
mission, Cities, however, differ in that they have a far greater donsity of
many of these elements, Instead of one or two approachos across an open
field, cities offer several streets, subterranean passageways, or toutes
through bnildings. Rather than the occasional cupse of trees or uuterup of
racks in which a foe could pasition an ambush, a vingle urban block eight
have hundreds of windows, porches, storm drain entrances, or other
firing positions, Viewing challenges tn terms of densities and overcoming,
densities provides a means of simplifying the overwhelming, The briefing.
describes in detail five specific ways of <0 viewing these challenges:

+ match density with density
© effectively reduce densities

‘+ maintain selected densities

address density asymmetcically
‘© capitalize on uxban densities.

Acommander standing stop a high-rise amidst avemingly endless blocks
‘of buildings or one contemplating an overhead photograph of a city
‘housing millions af residents can be forgiven for Finding such an
environment a daunting one in which to operate. Together the wo
concep ts of critical points and density offer a means to make manageable
‘the chacs.