Uncertainty Visualization for Modeling and Simulation of Complex Systems

Modern military simulations employ a variety of models to realistically represent warfighting capabilities and the environment in which these capabilities operate. These models and the simulations that use them attempt to capture the aspects of weapons systems that support training, mission rehearsal, decision support, acquisition, deployment, and tactics/strategy development. However, these models rarely represent the uncertainty inherent in real-world domains, and simulations rarely visualize uncertainty in decision-makers’ battlespace displays. This proposal outlines a research program to identify and remedy deficiencies in the portrayal of uncertainty in military decision support systems and accompanying models and simulations. The proposed research program will include an investigation of visualization techniques, formulation of a comprehensive theory of uncertainty, and design of a testbed for empirically assessing methods for handling uncertainty within a simulation system.