Terrain Aware Network Planning Tools

OPNET software provides the unique ability to combine two distinct modeling techniques (analytical and discrete event simulation) to provide a “hybrid” simulation that allows balance and control between accuracy and run time performance. Hybrid simulation offers the ability to achieve both accuracy and fast runtime, whereas purely analytical simulation offers very short run times and lower accuracy, and purely discrete event simulation (DES) offers higher accuracy and longer run times. Both fast run times and accuracy are a requirement for modeling large complex military networks, as well as for operational mission planning. OPNET believes that a paradigm shift in wireless network modeling can produce performance gains that are several orders of magnitude greater than parallel simulation, enabling large, complex, and highly accurate simulations to be performed. This belief was proven through the research and prototyping efforts developed under Phase I of this SBIR project. During Phase II of this SBIR project, OPNET will develop operational hybrid simulation algorithms to model wireless networks and systems and apply those algorithms to existing WIN-T network, device, and process models. OPNET will design, build, and test the proposed wireless hybrid simulation algorithms and compare them to the accuracy achieved using DES for the existing WIN-T models.