JP 3-0, page 94

Chapter IV IV-2 JP 3-0 (b) An area of influence is a geographical area wherein a commander is directly capable of influencing operations by maneuver or fire support systems normally under the commander’s command or control. The area of influence normally surrounds and includes the assigned operational area. The extent of a subordinate command’s area of influence is one factor the higher commander considers when defining the subordinate’s operational area. Understanding the command’s area of influence helps the commander and staff plan branches to the current operation that could require the force to employ capabilities outside the assigned operational area. The commander can describe the area of influence graphically, but the resulting graphic does not represent a boundary for operations or other control measure for maneuver or fire support. (c) An area of interest is that area of concern to the commander, including the area of influence, areas adjacent thereto, and extending into enemy territory to the objectives of current or planned operations if those objectives are not currently within the assigned operational area. This area also includes areas occupied by forces or other factors that could jeopardize the accomplishment of the mission. An area of interest serves to focus ISR support for monitoring enemy, adversary, or other activities outside the operational area that may affect current and future operations. The commander can describe this area graphically, but the resulting graphic does not represent a boundary for operations or other control measure for maneuver or fire support. (2) Physical Factors. The JFC and staff must consider many factors associated with operations in the air, land, maritime, and space domains, and the information environment (which includes cyberspace). These factors include terrain (including urban settings), weather, topography, hydrology, EMS, and other environmental conditions in the operational area; distances associated with the deployment to the operational area and employment of joint capabilities; the location of bases, ports, and other supporting infrastructure; and both friendly and enemy forces and other capabilities. Combinations of these factors greatly affect operations and sustainment. c. Information Environment. The information environment is a global environment composed of all individuals, organizations, and systems that collect, process, disseminate, or act on information. (1) The information environment is where humans and automated systems observe, orient, decide, and act upon information, and is therefore the principal environment of decision making. This environment is pervasive to all activities worldwide and to the air, land, maritime, and space domains of the JFC’s operational environment. The actors in the information environment include military and civilian leaders, decision makers, individuals, and organizations. Resources include the information itself and the materials and systems employed to process, store, display, disseminate, and protect information and produce information-related products. (2) Cyberspace is a global domain within the information environment. It consists of the interdependent network of information technology infrastructures, including the Internet, telecommunications networks, computer systems, and embedded processors and controllers.