Human factors and the human domain: Exploring aspects of human geography and human terrain in a military context

Abstract

This paper introduces the concept of the Human Domain within military operations and considers how it has evolved from Cultural Geography into more specific sub-components of Human Geography and Human Terrain. At a high level, Human Geography and Human Terrain map across to strategic and tactical decision-making respectively. However, there is a confusing array of terminology and definitions surrounding these factors. Given this complexity, what might have originally been considered a Human Domain continuum from a strategic level down to a tactical level may be better represented as overlapping constructs on a spectrum of understanding, each with their own approaches to data capture and analysis. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.