Maps of conditions of masking and observation

Maps of conditions of masking and observation are intended for planning and organization of hidden disposition of troops and a choice of places for the observing the enemy.

They are made by the digital topographic maps, remote sensing data, materials of field geodetic works.

Studying conditions of observation has purpose to determine the degree of viewable area (district) of actions from most favorable points of the terrain, and at studying the conditions of masking - from ground posts of observation and from air.

Conditions of observation are the properties of the terrain promoting the obtaining of information about the enemy. They are defined by the degree of viewable surrounding area, range of review and are depended on character of a relief, a vegetative cover, presence of human settlements and other objects obstructive for the review of district.

Masking properties of district are the terrain properties allowing to hide from the enemy the disposition and movement of troops and military equipment. They are defined by presence of natural shelters, formed by topography, vegetation, human settlements and other local subjects, and also the general character, color and spottiness of area (the more diverse the color gamma, the better are the masking conditions).

Rugged terrain with forests and numerous settlements has good masking properties. So, hollows, gullies, ravines create favorable conditions for shelter of units.

The most convenient natural shelters for units are forests. Their masking properties are defined basically by height of trees, crown density, structure of breeds and the presence of undergrowth.

The most convenient natural cover for the departments of forests. Masking their properties are mainly determined by trees height, crown cover, species composition and the presence of undergrowth.

Conditions of observation and masking depends on the nature of the relief, the presence on it of vegetative cover and human settlements. The relief is more rugged, the more on it of trees and shrubs, various buildings, the less favorable the conditions of observation and more favorable the conditions for masking.

As a result of studying the conditions of observation and masking by a map it is possible to establish:

- posts from which the best review of district opens;

- terrain  viewableness in separate directions or in the given sector (strip);

- natural masks hiding the unit and equipment from ground and aerial observation, and camouflage capacity of separate sites (local objects).

Characteristics of such objects is given on the map in great detail that allows you to determine the masking conditions by map reading. In some cases, if, for example, it is needed to determine the area of ​​the object (the forest area, the garden), calculations can be performed.

If the study area (a part) is small and has a few local objects that may limit the visibility, then conditions of observation are estimated on a map approximately. In other cases the definition of visibility of separate objects and the borders of sites of district which are not viewed from ground-based observation posts, requires the special calculations and constructions. On the map, it is done by identifying the areas of mutual visibility of terrain points and invisibility fields.

Mutual visibility of the terrain points by a map is defined at a choice of observation posts, gun positions, hidden approaches and also when it is necessary to set invisible areas in sector of observation or to find out , how the terrain in our disposal can be seen from the possible observation posts of enemy.

Definition of mutual visibility of points on a map is made with purpose of detection on observation's directions of the obstacles which can hide objects (purposes) from a sight of the observer.

The task of terrain points visibility on map is solved by constructing the visibility zones.