Managing Complexity During Military Urban Operations

Visualizing the Elephant

Russell W. Glenn

ResearchPublished Dec 20, 2004

The complexity that characterizes modern urban operations combines with a perceived intolerance of military casualties to make actions in cities among the most difficult missions that U.S. armed forces will undertake. This study proposes a new planning approach that employs identification of critical points — the essential elements of the urban area’s physical and demographic terrain — along with the notion of density — the quantity of elements and activities within the urban space — to aid military personnel in their efforts to overcome the complexity. Integrating this approach with the traditional command estimate process should assist the planner in determining how best to allocate a command's ever-scarce resources.

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  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Available
  • Year: 2004
  • Print Format: Paperback
  • Paperback Pages: 52
  • Paperback Price: $23.00
  • Paperback ISBN/EAN: 978-0-8330-3491-5
  • Document Number: DB-430-A

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RAND Style Manual
Glenn, Russell W., Managing Complexity During Military Urban Operations: Visualizing the Elephant, RAND Corporation, DB-430-A, 2004. As of September 11, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/documented_briefings/DB430.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Glenn, Russell W., Managing Complexity During Military Urban Operations: Visualizing the Elephant. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2004. https://www.rand.org/pubs/documented_briefings/DB430.html. Also available in print form.
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The research described in this report was sponsored by the United States Army and conducted in RAND Arroyo Center.

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