This document outlines the first step of the IPB (Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield) process - defining the battlefield environment. It instructs analysts to: 1) Identify the area of operations, area of influence, area of interest, and significant characteristics that will affect the mission; 2) Determine the required level of detail within the available time; 3) Evaluate existing intelligence and identify gaps; and 4) Collect additional intelligence to fill the gaps. The goal is to focus the IPB effort only on areas relevant to the commander's mission in order to efficiently guide subsequent analysis and planning.

1. Focus Requirements on:
• Area of Operations (AO)
• Area of Influence(AI)
• Area of Interest (AOI)
• Battle space
IPB
Step 1
Define the
Battlefield
Environment
Describe the
Battlefield's
Effects
Evaluate
The Threat
Determine
Threat
Courses of
Action
IPB Step 1 – Define Battlefield Environment
Define the
Battlefield
Environment

2. Desired End Effect:
Focus the IPB effort on the areas and
characteristics of the battlefield which will
influence the command’s mission. Acquire the
intelligence needed to complete the IPB process
in the degree of detail required to support the
decision making process

3. Success Results In:
- Saving time and effort by focusing only
on those areas and features which will
influence COAs and command decisions.

4. Consequences of Failure:
- Failure to focus on only the relevant
characteristics leads to wasted time and effort
collecting and evaluating intelligence on
features of the battlefield environment that
will not influence success of the command’s
mission. On the other hand, failure to identify
all the relevant characteristics may lead to the
command’s surprise and unpreparedness
when some overlooked feature of the
battlefield exerts an influence on success of
the command’s mission

6. HOW TO DO IT
1. IDENTIFY SIGNIFICANT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
ENVIRONMENT
2. IDENTIFY THE LIMITS OF THE COMMAND’S AREA OF
OPERATIONS
3. ESTABLISH THE LIMITS OF THE AREA OF INFLUENCE
AND THE AREA OF INTEREST
4. IDENTIFY THE AMOUNT OF DETAIL REQUIRED AND
FEASIBLE WITHIN THE TIME AVAILABLE
5. EVALUATE EXISTING DATA BASES AND IDENTIFY
INTELLIGENCE GAPS
6. COLLECT THE REQUIRED INTELLIGENCE AND
MATERIALS

7. 1. IDENTIFY SIGNIFICANT
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ENVIRONMENT
1. Threat or adversary
2. Significant characteristic of the
Terrain
3. Climate and Weather
4. Civil Considerations

8. 2. IDENTIFY THE LIMITS OF THE COMMAND’S
AREA OF OPERATIONS
 Where the Commander is Given Authority and
Responsibility to Conduct Military Operations
 Assigned by Higher Unit based on TM-TET-C
Time/Mission/Terrain/Enemy/Troops/ Civil
Considerations
 Defined by Boundaries
 Of sufficient Size to Allow Completion of
Mission

9. Area of Operations (AO)
 Contiguous AOs - Separates by a common boundary
 Noncontiguous AOs - do not share a common boundary.
 An unassigned area - is the area between noncontiguous
AOs or beyond contiguous AOs.
II
II
X Area of Operations XFEBA
Rear
IPB Step 1 – Define Battlefield Environment

11. x
x
AO
IPB Step 1 – Define Battlefield Environment
AO
AO

12. BN AREA OF
OPERATIONS
AO

14. 3. ESTABLISH THE LIMITS OF THE AREA OF
INFLUENCE AND THE AREA OF INTEREST
Area of influence (AI)-
• a geographic area wherein a commander is
directly capable of influencing operations by
maneuver or fire support systems normally
under the commander’s command and
control
• An area that includes terrain inside and
outside the AO.
• An area determined by both the G-2/S-2 and
the G-3/S-3.

17. Area of Interest (AOI)
• a geographical area from which information and
intelligence are required to execute successful
tactical operations and to plan for future operations.
• It includes any threat/adversary forces or
characteristics of the operational environment/
battlespace environment that will significantly
influence accomplishing the command’s mission
• Determined by the Commander – with inputs from
the Opns and Intel staff
• Must incorporate the AO and AI

18. BN AREA OF
INTEREST
x
x
AO
IPB Step 1 – Define Battlefield Environment
AI
AI
AI
AI

20. Battlespace
The factors that must be understood to
successfully apply combat power, protect
the force, or complete the mission.
IPB Step 1 – Define Battlefield Environment
… includes air, land, sea, space, the enemy, friendly forces, facilities, weather and terrain
within the area operation (AO) and areas of interest (AI).

21. Battlespace
IPB Step 1 – Define Battlefield Environment
Homestation
INFORMATION
ENVIRONMENT

22. 4. IDENTIFY THE AMOUNT OF DETAIL REQUIRED
AND FEASIBLE WITHIN THE TIME AVAILABLE
- The time available for completion of the IPB
process may not permit the luxury of conducting
each step in detail. Overcoming time limitations
requires a focus on the parts of IPB that are most
important to the commander in planning and
executing his mission.
- Identifying the amount of detail required
avoids time wasted on developing more detail
than necessary in each step of the process.

23. 5. EVALUATE EXISTING DATA BASES AND
IDENTIFY INTELLIGENCE GAPS
- Not all the intelligence and information
required to evaluate the effects of each
characteristic of the battlefield and each
threat force will be in the current data base.
- Identifying the gaps early allows you to
initiate action to collect the intelligence
required to fill them.

25. 6. COLLECT THE REQUIRED
INTELLIGENCE AND MATERIALS
- Initiate collection or requests for
intelligence to fill intelligence gaps to the level
of detail required to conduct IPB. Include
collection against all identified significant
characteristics the battlefield, not just threat
forces, in priority order.

26. Priority Intelligence Requirements
Friendly Forces Information Requirements
Essential Elements of Friendly Information
IPB Step 1 – Define Battlefield Environment
COMMANDER’S CRITICAL INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS
PIR WHAT I MUST KNOW ABOUT THE THREAT
FFIR WHAT I MUST KNOW ABOUT MY FORCES
EEFI WHAT I MUST CONCEAL FROM THE THREAT

27. Step 1 End State:
Identify
Area of Operations
Area of Interest
Battle space
Information Requirements
IPB Step 1 – Define Battlefield Environment

28. QUESTIONS ?