System Effectiveness Analysis Simulation (SEAS)

What is SEAS?

SEAS is a constructive modeling and simulation tool that enables mission-level military utility analysis. Sponsored by the US Space Force, Space System Command,  it was created to support developmental planning and acquisition decisions for military space systems. SEAS has proven to be a valuable military ops research tool by enabling exploratory analysis of new system concepts, system architectures, and concepts of operations (CONOPS) in the context of joint warfighting scenarios. SEAS is an accepted analysis tool and is part of the Air Force Standard Analysis Toolkit. Over the past three decades, SEAS has been used on numerous Air Force and other DoD studies.

Why SEAS?

The SEAS agent-based modeling environment enables the simulation of complex, adaptive interactions of opposing military forces in a physics-based battlespace. Simulated entities (agents) execute programmable behavioral and decision-making rules based on battlespace perception. Warfighting outcomes emerge as a result of the complex interactions of the agents with each other and their environment, enabling military utility analysis. The ability to represent networked military forces reacting and adapting to perception-based scenario dynamics, makes SEAS ideally suited for exploring new warfighting capabilities; in particular, those provided by Space and C4ISR systems.

Powerful Agent-Based Modeling Environment

The SEAS agent-based modeling environment enables the simulation of complex, adaptive interactions of opposing military forces in a physics-based battlespace. Simulated entities (agents) execute programmable behavioral and decision-making rules based on battlespace perception. Warfighting outcomes emerge as a result of the complex interactions of the agents with each other and their environment, enabling military utility analysis.

Integrated Model Editing and Debugging Environment

SEAS has an integrated development environment that provides a single interface for developing, managing, running, and debugging SEAS model files. The warfile editor parses the Tactical Programming Language (TPL) syntax in real-time and alerts the user to syntax errors. The SEAS engine is executed from the interface and the simulation visualization can be displayed in multiple independent scene display windows synced in simulation time.

Flexibility in the Hands of the Analyst

The programmable and constructive nature of SEAS allows the analyst to create models with varying degrees of fidelity, resolution, sophistication, and complexity. While SEAS is typically used for scenario-based military operations research involving aircraft, satellites, ground vehicles, communications systems, weapons and sensors, its flexibility enables it to be used to analyze a broad range of complex adaptive systems, not just military scenarios.

Analytical Graphics and Visualizations

SEAS produces graphic visualizations as a simulation is running. The user interface provides several different view options for displaying map features, sensors fields, satellite orbits, and output plots as results are generated. The analyst can also completely control the output display programmatically with TPL. This powerful feature enables improved debugging and allows the analyst to convey specific model details and results.

Optimized Performance

Most agent-based simulations have performance limitations, and do not scale well since the number of potential agent interactions increases exponentially as the number of agents increase. SEAS tackles this problem with a rich set of advanced algorithms and techniques for efficient simulation and optimization. The result is a simulation system that offers high performance and scalability, with no special hardware requirements.

The SEAS program began in the early 90’s to support space force modernization. In order to establish investment priorities for future space system acquisition programs, the Air Force needed a way to evaluate the potential effectiveness of alternative space system concepts in the context of warfighting scenarios. A detailed review of existing scenario-based mission / campaign tools identified significant shortcomings for Space/C4ISR modeling. SEAS was created to address these deficiencies and enable broad exploration of space system/architecture effects on major combat operations. Initial development of SEAS focused on the ability to explicitly model the sensor-to-shooter link and capture the non-linear behavioral impact of C4ISR on spatial/temporal maneuver and attrition of terrestrial forces. SEAS development has been study-driven for three decades and has evolved to be one of the most powerful and versatile modeling, simulation, and analysis tools available for military operations research.