Planning, Execution, and Assessment of Effects-Based Operations (EBO)

Abstract : This is the final technical report of the contract entitled "Planning, Execution, and Assessment of Effects Based Operations" that was conducted by George Mason University between 1 May 2001 and 30 September 2005. The overall objective of the effort was to enhance and use a suite of modeling and simulation tools called Computer Aided Evaluation of System Architectures (CAESAR II/EB) to support the warfighter when planning, executing, and assessing Effects-Based Operations (EBO). At the completion of the effort, an integrated EBO tool suite called Pythia had been developed and tested. The tool operates in a single Windows-based environment. It allows analysts to develop and analyze EBO courses of action by creating Timed Influenced Nets that relate potential actions of an overall course of action (COA) to desired and undesired effects. This report documents the EBO concept that was used to develop Pythia, describes the tools, technologies and techniques that support that concept, and documents the key technical feature of Pythia.

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