S1-07 Group A Research Justification

RESEARCH JUSTIFICATION

YEAR ONE INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH STUDIES

S1-07 Group A

Research Topic: Environment of Singapore

Chosen Area of Focus: Effectiveness of Digital Camouflage

                     

1. Framing our research topic

Our chosen area of focus is the ‘Effectiveness of pixelated digital camouflage’. A digital camouflage pattern that has been designed using computer algorithms that are programmed to create micropatterns for effective disruption. We have chosen this topic as many countries have adopted the digital pixelated camouflage patterns for their combat uniforms and phased out the analogue camouflage³ seen in older uniforms. This includes the United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, New Zealand and even Singapore. This is due to the claimed effectiveness compared to the analogue stripe camouflage. However, more recently the US had dropped its current Universal Camouflage Pattern² (pixellated) for the Multicam camouflage, which is analogue and composed of stripes. When the UCP was introduced, it did not take long for sergeants to begin complaining from the field. By 2009, soldiers in Afghanistan were issued replacement uniforms with a more traditional, splotchy camouflage Multicam¹, and the Army embarked on a three-year study to choose a permanent replacement.

That has raised questions on whether it really works better, compared to newer designs of the analogue camouflage. We want to look into it, and determine that for ourselves.

Some of our Research Questions/criterias are:

a) How the digitization of the camouflage spots work better against the older analogue stripes by measuring how difficult it is to spot someone wearing analogue camouflage compared to someone wearing digital pixelated camouflage.

b) How much infrared signature is given out by Singapore’s new digital pixelated camouflage compared to the old striped camouflage

c) How can it still be improved to a standard close enough to natural camouflage, which is arguably the best form of camouflage but uncomfortably hot to wear, and is very heavy.

2. Reasons for choice of topic

a) As many countries are improving their military technology, we thought it would be great to find out the effectiveness of the digital pixelated camouflage in their respective camouflage grounds.

b) Statistical evidence of digital camouflage against analogue camouflage are influencing militaries around the world, and it would be a huge wastage of money if the wrong type is chosen, as in the case of the US and its UCP. So, our research may be able to come to the aid of the nation in choosing a suitable material.

c) We can help in the investigation of whether terrain-specific camouflage works better against a multi-terrain camouflage, as this is often a tough decision. Terrain-specific camouflage may work better, but is too expensive if the country had to fight in a multitude of terrains. Multi-terrain camouflage may also be effective to some extend, but may also prove useless as seen in the UCP.





3. Feasibility of the research

a) There is a need for the research for the research as deciding a camouflage pattern is heavy responsibility, for it will affect the life and death of soldiers - it affects whether they are spotted by the enemy or not and a country’s defence is as strong as its soldiers.

b) This research provides sufficient opportunity for generation of ideas and research, as we will constantly have to think of ways to get information

c) It is possible to get information, due to online interviews of soldiers who are using digital camouflage on their combat uniforms. However, real life interviews of soldiers may be harder as we do not have any contacts

4. Manageability of the research

a) The timeline for the different components of the project will be decided later based on the situation then. But the project should be done as quickly and carefully as we can, trying our best not to go out of point and staying as close to the topic as possible.

b) This research provides sufficient opportunity for group work as we will need to discuss a lot of matters regarding the project and members need to cooperate in order to attain the information.

c) Some problems to be anticipated will be lack of communication which might lead to lack of mutual understanding and also time constraint. We may also have a lack of information due to the topic’s rarity.

5. Accessibility of the information required

a) Information/knowledge that will be relevant to our research would be the infrared signature emitted by the combat uniforms, which can be measured using the infrared sensors in the school. We will also have to obtain the old uniform and the new combat uniform themselves which we might be able to obtain from family members or male SST teachers who are in the army and/or have the new pixellated uniform or the old striped uniform to test out how well they camouflage against background

b) We can also survey the people in the SAF who have used both analogue and pixelated digital camouflage to find out what they think about the pixelated camouflage, whether they think it works effectively or not.

c) Some problems we can anticipate will be lack of data and finding information that is not relevant to our research. This is due to the lack of sources we can obtain information from as there are not much information on the internet since, this is a topic that is not widely discussed about .


REFERENCES:

Engber, Daniel. (2012 July 5). Lost in the Wilderness, Slate - science section  
Retrieved 2/8/12, from: 
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2012/07/camouflage_problems_in_the_army.html

Cramer, Guy. (2007), Hyperstealth Digital Camouflage History.
Retrieved 2/8/12, from:
http://www.hyperstealth.com/CADPAT-MARPAT.htm

Strike-Hold! (2010 July 2). 21st Century Camo Uniforms – the rest of the world, Strikehold                        
Retrieved 5/8/12, from:
http://www.strikehold.net/2010/02/07/21st-century-camo-uniforms-the-rest-of-the-world/

Cramer, Guy & R. O’Neill, Timothy. (2005). The Science of Digital Camouflage Design, Hyperstealth
Retrieved 14/8/12, from:
http://hyperstealth.com/digital-design/index.htm

Ang, Benson. (2012 July 18). Camouflage Design - Singapore, Scribe
Retrieved 4/8/12, from:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/100371656/Camouflage-Design-Singapore

Unknown Wikipedia Contributors, Universal Camouflage Pattern, Wikipedia Encyclopedia
Retrieved 12/8/12, from:
http://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Universal_Camouflage_Pattern

Unknown Wikipedia Contributors, Multicam, Wikipedia Encyclopedia
Retrieved 12/8/12, from:
http://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Multicam