1. Understanding Urban Terrain

2. Six Fundamental Differences 1.Defensive Advantage Defender enjoys cover and concealment Defender enjoys cover and concealment Avenues of approach are highly predictable Avenues of approach are highly predictable 2.Three-Dimensional Buildings are hollow and multi-story Buildings are hollow and multi-story Some buildings have intrinsic value Some buildings have intrinsic value Vertical avenues of approach and escape Vertical avenues of approach and escape 3.Short-range engagements Typical engagement is less than seven yards Typical engagement is less than seven yards Targets are fleeting and line of sight is restricted Targets are fleeting and line of sight is restricted 4.Decentralized Control Communications are frequently restricted and intermittent Communications are frequently restricted and intermittent Requires centralized planning and focus Requires centralized planning and focus 5.Presence of a civilian population Is always a factor Is always a factor 6.Uneven ambient light Glaring lights and harsh shadows Glaring lights and harsh shadows Many surfaces are highly reflective Many surfaces are highly reflective Night vision nearly impossible Night vision nearly impossible

3. Understanding Urban Terrain Public Land Survey System Originated by Thomas Jefferson in 1785 Originated by Thomas Jefferson in 1785 Includes private land that has been sold Includes private land that has been sold >1.5 billion acres have been surveyed >1.5 billion acres have been surveyed Used to divide public lands into rectangles Used to divide public lands into rectangles Townships—6 square miles Townships—6 square miles Sections—1 square mile (640 acres) Sections—1 square mile (640 acres) Subdivisions—anything less than a section Subdivisions—anything less than a section Half section, quarter section, quarter-quarter section, etc. Half section, quarter section, quarter-quarter section, etc. 1 Mile (640 Acres)

4. Understanding Urban Terrain Dominion Land Survey Based on U.S. Land Survey System Based on U.S. Land Survey System Excludes reservations & federal lands Excludes reservations & federal lands Largest grid survey in the world Largest grid survey in the world Used to divide public lands into rectangles Used to divide public lands into rectangles Townships—6 square miles Townships—6 square miles Sections—1 square mile (640 acres) Sections—1 square mile (640 acres) Subdivisions—anything less than a section Subdivisions—anything less than a section Half section, quarter section, quarter-quarter section, etc. Half section, quarter section, quarter-quarter section, etc. 1 Mile (640 Acres)

5. Understanding Urban Terrain City Streets ~1/8 th Mile Base line Range line Conventions Street numbers Odd—north and west Even—south and east Base line Central or Center Main Midway Range line Meridian Principal 100E→←100W 100N→ ←100S 200E→

6. Sociological Influences Age Age The 100 year old house is an anomaly. The "lifespan" for houses is ~73 years The 100 year old house is an anomaly. The "lifespan" for houses is ~73 years 43+% have been built since 1970 and about 70% of the 110 million houses in the USA will be around at least another twenty years 43+% have been built since 1970 and about 70% of the 110 million houses in the USA will be around at least another twenty years Family Family Size and idea of family has impacted size and construction Size and idea of family has impacted size and construction Societal shifts Societal shifts Agriculture to industry to information Agriculture to industry to information Crime, congestion, safety (reversed floor plans) Crime, congestion, safety (reversed floor plans)

7. Technological Influences Construction materials Construction materials Plywood, trusses, metal reinforcements, drywall, pre-hung doors, plastic pipes, zero clearance fireplaces, central air conditioning, manufactured housing Plywood, trusses, metal reinforcements, drywall, pre-hung doors, plastic pipes, zero clearance fireplaces, central air conditioning, manufactured housing Accessories Accessories Fiber optics, HD TV, intercoms, dishwashers, trash compactors, wireless internet, multiple phones, whole house audio, etc. Fiber optics, HD TV, intercoms, dishwashers, trash compactors, wireless internet, multiple phones, whole house audio, etc. Multiple bathrooms and home office now common Multiple bathrooms and home office now common Anti-intrusion systems Anti-intrusion systems Floor plans changed to accommodate new technologies and life styles Floor plans changed to accommodate new technologies and life styles

8. Economical Influences House is single most expensive lifetime investment House is single most expensive lifetime investment House represents person's "worth" House represents person's "worth" Great Depression Great Depression Smaller houses, row houses and tract housing Smaller houses, row houses and tract housing Post World War II Boom Post World War II Boom Converted row houses, large scale tracts, mass-produced housing Converted row houses, large scale tracts, mass-produced housing Similar, even identical floor plans Similar, even identical floor plans Today Today Cottage industries, telecommuting, electronic access Cottage industries, telecommuting, electronic access Home offices now becoming a norm Home offices now becoming a norm

9. Political Influences Building Codes Building Codes First appeared in 1922 First appeared in 1922 Governs types of construction Governs types of construction Planning and Zoning Ordinances Planning and Zoning Ordinances Four major zones Four major zones Residential, industrial, commercial and agricultural Residential, industrial, commercial and agricultural Divided still further into types of each Divided still further into types of each Results in clusters of types of buildings Results in clusters of types of buildings Adjacent attributes often apply to target Adjacent attributes often apply to target

10. Environmental Influences Every house is a "mini-environment" (climate) Every house is a "mini-environment" (climate) Conditioned air, water storage and drainage, protection from elements, etc. Conditioned air, water storage and drainage, protection from elements, etc. Fire Fire Protection is paramount Protection is paramount Primary impetus for building codes Primary impetus for building codes Water Water Protection from precipitation Protection from precipitation Protection from ground water Protection from ground water Water kept inside for drinking washing, eating, cooking, etc. Water kept inside for drinking washing, eating, cooking, etc. Wind Wind Affects building codes and design Affects building codes and design Gravity Gravity The ubiquitous force to which all buildings eventually succumb The ubiquitous force to which all buildings eventually succumb Strongly influences construction and provides reliable clues for floor plans— especially weight over distance (span) Strongly influences construction and provides reliable clues for floor plans— especially weight over distance (span)

11. Multi-Story Number System 2 3 4 Front side is “1 Side” Single Story 4 1 A B C D E 123 123 123 123 123 Left to Right Bottom to Top Immediate Deployments “Rear Five” “Front Five” 1

12. Cardinal Directions (most well known) Awkward in city, compasses affected by magnetic fields and steel objects Shift from a known point (common) Uses prominent terrain features as steering marks Requires prior knowledge or detailed directions Grid System (MGRS, Thomas Guide and others) Effective over distance but requires map and ineffective for micro-terrain Numbering System (Common tactical “work around”) Highly effective for micro-terrain, inappropriate for longer distances NAVIGATION

13. Questions?