Tactical Wireless Network Visualization: Requirements and Representations

Tactical wireless communication network, which has been hailed as the nervous system of the battlefield, is an important means of linking various combat platforms (especially mobile platforms) and supporting cooperative engagement. Due to the large number of network members, diverse platforms types, various information interactions, high maneuverability of members, and the influence of terrain and electromagnetic environment on communication channels, tactical wireless communication network is characterized as complex and time-varying. Both network users and administrators are eager to conduct in-depth analysis of the network structure, performance, and potential defects through intuitive and visual methods. This paper analyzes the visualization requirements of tactical wireless communication networks from the perspective of users, contents, and application scenarios. Then we discuss and compare the applicability of several commonly used network visualization representations in case of tactical wireless communication networks.