Using agent-based modeling to assess the impact of martial law on a representative Iraqi town

Abstract

One of the main challenges in the modeling and simulation community today is the study of human behavioral aspects, which are often not key considerations in traditional combat-oriented attrition-based models. In a martial law scenario, military or peacekeeping forces may be put in place to restore law and order and conduct a wide range of operations, such as setting up road blocks, imposing curfew, distributing food and manning checkpoints. This thesis focuses on the checkpoint operation and uses the agent-based modeling software PAX to assess the impacts of such a scenario on the population. Results indicate that civilians' level of anger and fear, needs and soldiers' rules of engagement play important roles in determining the success of peace support operations.