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MGD - TERRAIN ANALYSIS - AGeoP-l(A)

0410LP1003496

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MGD - TERRAIN ANALYSIS - AGeoP-l(A)

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AGeoP-1(A)
March 2001

PUBLICATION NOTICE ROUTING

1. AGeoP-1(A), MGD - TERRAIN ANALYSIS, is available in the Navy War- _________________

fare Library. It is effective upon receipt. _________________
_________________
2. AGeoP-1(A) provides guidance on the doctrine and terminology of Ter-
rain Analysis and describes the Terrain Analysis System within the NATO _________________
Alliance. _________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________

Navy Warfare Library Custodian

Navy warfare library publications must be made readily

available to all users and other interested personnel within
the U.S. Navy.

Note to Navy Warfare Library Custodian

This notice will assist you in providing information to cognizant personnel. It is not accountable.
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NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION
MILITARY AGENCY FOR STANDARDIZATION (MAS)
NATO LETTER OF PROMULGATION

1. AGeoP-l(A) - MGD - TERRAIN ANALYSIS is a NATO UNCLASSIFIED

publication. The agreement of nations to use this publication is recorded in STANAG 3992.

2. AGeoP-l(A) is effective upon receipt. AGeoP-l(A) supersedes AGeoP-1 wich shall be

destroyed in accordance with the local procedure for the destruction of documents.

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RECORD OF RESERVATIONS BY NATIONS

CHAPTER RECORD OF RESERVATIONS

BY NATIONS

4 NONE

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RECORD OF CHANGES

Change Date Effective By whom

’ Date Entered Date entered

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TERRAIN ANALYSIS

CONTENTS LIST

Page
No

CHAPTER I- INTRODUCTION
Paragraph 10 1 Purpose l-l
102 Scope l-l

CHAPTER 2 - MILITARY REQUIREMENTS

Paragraph 20 1 General 2-l
202 Specific Requirements 2-l

CHAPTER 3 - TERRAIN ANALYSIS

Paragraph 30 1 Definitions 3-l

CHAPTER 4 - TERRAIN ANALYSIS SYSTEM

Paragraph 401 System Description 4-1

ANNEX A - EXPLANATION OF TERMS A-l

ANNEX B - PROCESS OF MILITARY DECISION MAKING B-l

ANNEX C - TERRAIN ANALYSIS SYSTEM C-l to c-3

ANNEX D - SUGGESTED ELEMENTS OF INFORMATION TO BE D-l to D-7

INCLUDED IN A TERRAlN ANALYSIS DATA BASE

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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

101. Purpose

The purpose of this publication is to provide guidance on the doctrine and terminology of
Terrain Analysis and to describe the Terrain Analysis System within the NATO Alliance so
that cooperation between NATO forces during operations and planning is maximised.

102. Scope

This publication covers the principal aspects of Terrain Analysis and the system for Terrain
Analysis to be adopted by the Geographic Services in NATO nations and commands.

l-1

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CHAPTER 2

MILITARY REQUIREMENTS

201. General

Military decision making in operations and planning relies on information, the key elements
of which are shown at ANNEX B and are:

a. The terrain.
b. The weather.
c. Current military intelligence and other operational factors; e.g., the capabilities,
disposition and intentions of enemy and friendly forces.

202. Specific Requirements

The need for a reliable and timely appreciation of an appropriate selection of these diverse
factors demands that their combined effects are presented as a unified assessment.
Geographic Services in NATO have a fundamental responsibility for the provision of terrain
information, The presentation of this information must be suited to the application, time
frame and level of detail which the user requires. This implies a terrain information system
based on an analytical approach with the following characteristics:

a. Comprehensive data files of terrain features classified in an unevaluated factor

data base.
b. A system of relating terrain elements to anticipated military activities (where
appropriate, incorporating terrain analysis algorithms).
c. A flexible and responsive method of selecting, retrieving and combining
relevant factors and presenting the results.
d. Skill in making further deductions about the likely effect of the terrain on
military operations and planning.

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CHAPTER 3

TERRAIN ANALYSIS

301. Definitions

Participating natiops agree to the following definitions and the terms listed at ANNEX A:

a. Terrain Analysis (TERA) is the collection, analysis, evaluation and

interpretation of geographic information on the natural and man-made features
of the terrain, combined with other relevant factors, to predict the effect of the
terrain on military operations.

b. Terrain Analysis System (TERAS) is a system to meet military requirements for

quick and comprehensive information on the terrain in analog and/or digital
form. It is a system in which selected data about the terrain are collected and
stored in a structured way to permit their flexible exploitation in the provision of
Terrain Analysis Products.

c. Terrain Analvsis Product (TERAP) is a standardized or non-standardized

product from the Terrain Analysis System normally presented in graphic form
for use in military decision making.

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CHAPTER 4

TERRAIN ANALYSIS SYSTEM

401. System Description

This terrain information system is known as the Terrain Analysis System and consists of three
phases as shown in ANNEX C and described below:

a. Phase 1: The collection, analysis, evaluation, storage and maintenance of

unevaluated terrain information in a digital or non digital data base.
The extent of information maintained in support of the Terrain Analysis System
is dependent on national requirements. However, the basic elements of
information required to support a national Terrain Analysis System are
identified in ANNEX D.

b. Phase 2: In response to a specific military requirement the following tasks are

carried out:

(1) An appropriate selection and combination of evaluated data/information,

(2) Its interpretation and combination with specific military factors, weather
and/or local conditions to determine the effect of the terrain on military
planning and operations. The result of the, process is a specific Terrain
Analysis Product.

c. Phase 3: The provision of Terrain Analysis Products for military decision

making, support to communications-, weapons- and other military systems and
to supplement plans and orders.

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ANNEX A to
AGeoP-I(A)

EXPLANATION OF TERMS

I. Evaluation: The appraisal of an item of information in terms of

credibility, reliability, and accuracy. It is used to qualify
the information itself and the level of assurance of
predictions derived from it.

3
-. Interpretation: The process of deducing the significance of terrain
information on military planning and operations.

3. Unevaluated Factor Data: A Structured collection of uninterpreted terrain data not

related to a specific military plan, operation or weapon
system and from which may be extracted relevant
selections and combinations of terrain features, attributes
and values and their geographic dispositions.

A-l

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ANNEX B to
. AGeoP -l(A)

PROCESS OF MILITAIRY DECISION MAKING

[ CURRENT 1
MIL INT/OPS 1 -
F.-\CTORS
IG21G3) 1-3

ICommander
Decision
*s
I

WEATHER

I Plans of
Operations I

B-l

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ANNEX C to
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TERRAIN ANALYSIS SYSTEM

.
Phase 01
Geographic Information
from various sources

Unevaluated Factor
Data Base (UFDB)

digital/non digital*)

I urban areas I

special features

C-l

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TERRAIN ANALYSIS SYSTEM

Phase
02

Unevaluated Factor
Data Base (UFDB)

maintenance

/
I
digital/non digital*) I *> in form of
landform - manuscripts
vegetation I - films
I
surface drainage 1 - color separations
transportation network I - overlays/foils
urban areas - graphic displays
soils
special features

military

i Terrain Analysis Product ;

(TERM’) /
I

Standardized i Non-standardized
Products : Products

c-2

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TERRAIN ANALYSIS SYSTEM

Phase 3

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ANNEX D to
AGeoP- I (A)

SUGGESTED ELEMENTS OF INFORMATION

TO BE INCLUDED IN A
. TERRAIN ANALYSIS DATA BASE

1. CATEGORIES

The elements of information to be included in a Terrain Analysis Data Base should be

filed in accordance to the following Terrain Analysis System Categories:

- LANDFORMS
- VEGETATION
- SURFACE DRAINAGE
- TRANSPORTATION NETWORK
- SOILS
-URBANAREAS
- SPECIAL. FEATURES
- UNDERGROUND SITES
-CLIMATE

2. FEATURE DESCRIPTION

a. LANDFORMS
Contours
Slopes
Summit
cuts
Escarpments
Depressions
Dikes
Quarries and Strip Mines
Cultivation Terraces

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b. VEGETATION
( I ) Forest mixed trunk diameter
deciduous trunk spacing
coniferous priority 1 undergrowth priority 2
evergreen forest clearance
height crown diameter
canopy closure
forest clearance

(2) Agricultural dry cropland

wet cropland
orchard
hops
garden/nursery
vineyards
meadow
bocage

(3) Natural brush

heath (open)
heath (with scattered trees)
grassland (open)
grassland (with scattered trees)
swamp
marsh
bare ground
tundra

C. SURFACE DRAINAGE

(1) Linear Features brook

(for parameters stream
and characte- river
ristics see below) ditch
canal

(2) Area Features pond

lake
tidal flats
gravel pits
protected catchment areas
flood areas
inundation possibilities

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(3) Point Features dam
levee
lock
weir
spring
waterfall

(4) Linear Feature Parameters water gap width

bank to bank gap width
slope of left and right banks
height of left and right banks
depth of water
velocity of water
bottom material
seasonality
maximum/minimum/average
nature and vegetation of left and right bank

(5) Linear Feature Drainage

Characteristics perennial or intermittend tidal

d. TRANSPORTATION NETWORK

(1) Roads - All weather, dual highway

- All weather, hard surface
- All weather, loose surface
- Fair weather, loose surface
- Cart trails or tracks
-Width in metres
- Constrictions (width in meters)
- Steep grade
- Sharp curve
- Vehicle ferry
- On route ford
- Under construction

(2) Ferry Site Data - number of ramps

- material of construction
- width of river
-MLC
- slope
Interchange
- completely
- partially
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(3) Rail - Singletrack, normal gauge

- Multiple track, normal gauge
- Narrow gauge
- Tramway and industrial railways
- Electrified line
- Passing frack
- Siding
- Yards (total track length in meters)
- Stations
- Rail ferries

(4) Inland Waterways - Width

- Depth
- Water velocity
- Locks (dimensions)
- Overhead obstructions
-Beaches
- Type of soil on riverbed I

(5) Bridge Data - Bridge Number and UTM coordinates

(Aqueducts, Bridges) - Military Load Classification for one way and two
way traffic of wheeled and tracked vehicles
- Overhead clearance in meters
- horizontal clearance
- underbridge clearance in meters
- Dimensions and horizontal clearance between
supports
- number of spans
- type of span construction and movement span
length and condition
- Material of span construction
- Length in meters
- Width of roadway in meters
- Bridge bypass potential within 2 km

(6) Tunnels height

length
width
bypass potential within 2 km
shape of opening
form (arch/box)

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(7) Airfields runway surface (paved or unpaved)

length
width
orientation
elevation above mean sea level
taxi ways
aprons
bearing power
parking facilities,
access to airfield

(8) Ports location

size

clearance facilities
RORO facilities

e. SOILS

Type of soil
Soil depth
Soil moisture characteristics
Surface roughness
Boulder Fields
Rock Outcrops
Lava Fields

f. URBANAREAS

Area
Location
Type- residential
industrial
commercial
open space
hospitals
through routes and bypasses

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g. SPECIAL FEATURES

(1) Water
(a) Ground water water table
(b) Wells location
quantity
quality
c) Water facilities reservoirs
militarily significant pipelines
pump stations
storage tanks
(2) Overhead Power Lines and Power Stations

alignment
direction
number
heigth
KVA

(3) Man-made Obstructions

Walls
Fences
Hedged walls
Towers, smoke stacks, and other vertical obstructions I 60 meters

(4) Beaches

slope
length
width (total back shore)
average quadrant (LW to HW, HW Zone)
exit conditions
common user beach name
definition of usable section of beach (by grid)
width and gradient at high and low tide traffrcability of foreshore and
backshore
types of exit
offshore and near shore obstructions
sea conditions
tide range
surf conditions >
currents

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g. (5) Pipelines

purpose of pipeline
construction
surface or buried
how joined
materials used
pumping facilities
junctions
valves

g. (6) Liquid Fuels

bulk storage
pipeline system

g. (7) Possible Local Resources

building materials
gravel
sand
loading equipment

h. UNDERGROUND SITES

caves
natural underground shelters
artificial underground shelters
galleries
tunnels
underground quarries
mines

i. CLIMATE

general climate information

wind
precipitation
rain
snow
temperature
visibility
fog
mist
ephemerides
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