Situational Awareness and Current Information Environment

Abstract

The article deals with providing situational awareness in operations at the operational level of command in the context of the information environment, the current nature of which significantly affects the execution of this capability. It examines the influence of three selected aspects – information overload, the expansion of advanced information technology and the growing importance of the cyber domain – on generating, maintaining and sharing situational awareness in planning and conduct of operations. It identifies and characterizes the respective sub-capabilities within the information area, necessary for operational headquarters to effectively provide situational awareness, and outline possible ways to develop these capabilities in terms of internal processes, technical equipment and personnel.

Keywords

• situational awareness; operating environment; information environment; cyberspace.