Geographic information systems in geospatial intelligence
Encyclopedia
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) new and constantly evolving role in geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) and United States (U.S.) national security
allows a user to efficiently manage, analyze, and produce geospatial data
, to combine GEOINT with other forms of intelligence
collection, and to perform highly developed analysis and visual production of geospatial data. Therefore, GIS produces up-to-date, supported, and more reliable GEOINT to reduce uncertainty for a decisionmaker. Since GIS programs are Web-enabled, a user can constantly work with a decisionmaker to solve their GEOINT and national security related problems from anywhere in the world. There are many types of GIS software used in GEOINT and national security, such as Google Earth
, ERDAS IMAGINE
, GeoNetwork opensource
, and Esri’s
ArcGIS
.
A user can enter different kinds of data in map form into a GIS to begin their analysis, such as United States Geological Survey
(USGS) digital line graph data, contour lines, elevation maps, topographic map
s, geologic maps, and satellite imagery. A user can also convert digital information into forms that a GIS can identify and utilize, such as census tabular data or Microsoft Excel files. Users can easily capture digital data in a GIS. If the data is not digital, then users will need to employ various techniques to capture the data, such as digitizing maps by hand-tracing with a computer mouse, utilizing a digitizing tablet
to collect feature coordinates, using electronic scanners, or uploading Global Positioning System
(GPS) coordinates.
GIS applies to the geographical facets of various aspects of everyday life, such as transportation, logistics, medicine, marketing, sociology, ecology
, pure and applied sciences, emergency management
, and criminology
. GIS is also utilized in all three areas of intelligence: national security intelligence, law enforcement
intelligence
, and competitive intelligence
that is focused externally, designed to reduce the level of uncertainty for a decisionmaker, and that uses information derived from all sources. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
(NGA), who has overall responsibility for GEOINT in the U.S. Intelligence Community
(IC), defines GEOINT as “information about any object—natural or man-made—that can be observed or referenced to the Earth, and has national security implications.”
Some of the sources of collected imagery information for GEOINT are imagery satellites, cameras on airplanes, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
(UAV) and drones, handheld cameras, maps, or GPS coordinates. Recently the NGA and IC have increased the use of commercial satellite imagery for intelligence support, such as the use of the IKONOS
, Landsat
, or SPOT satellites. These sources produce digital imagery via electro-optical systems
, radar
, infrared
, visible light, multispectral
, or hyperspectral
imageries.
The advantages of GEOINT are that imagery is easily consumable and understood by a decisionmaker, has low human life risk, displays the capabilities of a target and its geographical relationship to other objects, and that analysts can use imagery world-wide in a short time. On the other hand, the disadvantages of GEOINT are that imagery is only a snapshot of a moment in time, can be too compelling and lead to ill-informed decisions that ignore other intelligence, is static and vulnerable to deception and decoys, does not depict the intentions of a target, and is expensive and subject to environmental problems.
, data models, and workflow models within a geodatabase
that is used to solve GEOINT-related problems. GIS provides a structure for map and data production that allows a user to add other data sources, such as satellite or UAV imagery, as new layers to a geodatabase. The geodatabase can be disseminated and operated across any network of associated users (i.e. from the GEOINT analyst to the warfighter) and engenders a common spatial capability for all defense and intelligence domains.
The map and chart production agency and imagery intelligence agency, the principal two agencies of GEOINT, use GIS to efficiently work together to solve decisionmaker’s geospatial questions, to communicate effectively between their unique departments, and to provide constantly updated, accurate GEOINT to their national security and warfighter domains.
Another important aspect of GIS is its ability to fuse geospatial data with other forms of intelligence collection, such as signals intelligence (SIGINT), measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT
), human intelligence (HUMINT), or open source intelligence (OSINT
). A GIS user can incorporate and fuse all of these types of intelligence into applications that provide corroborated GEOINT throughout an organization’s information system.
GIS enables efficient management of geospatial data, the fusion of geospatial data with other forms of intelligence collection, and advanced analysis and visual production of geospatial data. This produces faster, corroborated, and more reliable GEOINT that aims to reduce uncertainty for a decisionmaker.
databases through a common Web-based interface. This gives the users the capability to quickly and easily identify, overlay, and fuse georeferenced data from various sources to create maps or support geospatial analysis. Esri designed the technology for inexperienced GIS users of national security intelligence and defense organizations in order to provide a Web-based enterprise solution
for publishing, distributing, and exploiting GEOINT data among designated organizations. According to Esri, the DGInet technology “uses thin client
s to search massive amounts of geospatial and intelligence data using low-bandwidth Web services for data discovery, dissemination, and horizontal fusion of data and products.”
is based on a framework of data transformation in GIS and is a collection of hundreds of GIS tools that manipulate geospatial or other data in GIS. A geoprocessing tool performs an operation (often the name of the tool, such as “Clip”) on an existing GIS dataset and produces a new dataset as a result of the utilized tool. GIS users utilize these tools to create a workflow model that quickly and easily transforms raw data into the desired product.
In GEOINT, users employ geoprocessing in similar ways. They can make geoprocessing tools resemble analytic techniques to transform large amounts of data into actionable information. In national security intelligence and defense organizations, geoprocessing notifies users to events occurring in specific areas of interest and enables domain-specific analysis applications, such as radio frequency analysis, terrain analysis, and network analysis.
The Tracking Server program is an Esri enterprise technology that integrates real-time data with GIS to disseminate information quickly and easily to decisionmakers. This program enables the user to obtain data in any format and transmit it to the necessary consumer or ArcGIS Tracking Analyst user, to conduct filters or alerts on specific attributes of incoming data or global positions, and to log data into ArcGIS Server
for efficient project management and information sharing.
When Tracking Server and ArcGIS Tracking Analyst are used together, a user can monitor changes in data as they occur in real-time. A national security intelligence or defense user can subscribe to real-time data over the Internet from GPS and custom data feeds to support GEOINT requirements, such as fleet management or target tracking.
and raster
products, line-of-sight analysis, hillshade
analysis, terrain analysis, and Military Grid Reference System
(MGRS) conversion. This program also provides a basis for command, control, and intelligence (C2I) systems. National security intelligence and defense organizations use ArcGIS Military Analyst extension to integrate geospatial data with other defense data, analyze digital terrains, and prepare for battle. This program also enables such users to manage and analyze geospatial data and relationships between mission planning, logistics, and C2I.
MIL-STD-2525B and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization APP-6A
military symbology in a map. This allows for easier and faster identification, understanding, and movement of ally and hostile forces on a map by combining GIS spatial analysis techniques with common military symbols. MOLE provides a clearer visualization of mission planning and goals for the decisionmaker, and allows a user to import, locate, and display order of battle
databases.
The NGA has created a grouping of web-based capabilities called GEOINT Online. This program allows a user to search and access all NGA GEOINT documents from wherever they are stored and from wherever the user is. GEOINT Online provides quick, easy, and reliable access to current NGA intelligence products, changes in activities or regions, information from analyst’s blogs and Intellipedia
, geospatial imagery, maps and charts, major GIS commercial software packages, and GIS combinations of these products. A user can also edit and format existing NGA/GIS products and maps to create, print, and download new products that fulfill current decisionmaker requirements. Ultimately, this results in the faster production of timely and relevant GEOINT data. This program allowed the NGA to change its focus from simply generating cartographic products to providing updated, accurate GEOINT to support the national security and military requirements of its customers.
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
allows a user to efficiently manage, analyze, and produce geospatial data
Geospatial
Geospatial analysis is an approach to applying statistical analysis and other informational techniques to geographically based data. Such analysis employs spatial software and analytical methods with terrestrial or geographic datasets, including geographic information systems and...
, to combine GEOINT with other forms of intelligence
Intelligence analysis
Intelligence analysis is the process of taking known information about situations and entities of strategic, operational, or tactical importance, characterizing the known, and, with appropriate statements of probability, the future actions in those situations and by those entities...
collection, and to perform highly developed analysis and visual production of geospatial data. Therefore, GIS produces up-to-date, supported, and more reliable GEOINT to reduce uncertainty for a decisionmaker. Since GIS programs are Web-enabled, a user can constantly work with a decisionmaker to solve their GEOINT and national security related problems from anywhere in the world. There are many types of GIS software used in GEOINT and national security, such as Google Earth
Google Earth
Google Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency funded company acquired by Google in 2004 . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite...
, ERDAS IMAGINE
ERDAS IMAGINE
ERDAS IMAGINE is a remote sensing application with raster graphics editor capabilities designed by ERDAS for geospatial applications. The latest version is 2010, version 10.1. ERDAS IMAGINE is aimed primarily at geospatial raster data processing and allows the user to prepare, display and enhance...
, GeoNetwork opensource
GeoNetwork opensource
The GeoNetwork opensource project is a free and open source cataloging application for spatially referenced resources. It is a catalog of location-oriented information.-Outline:...
, and Esri’s
ESRI
Esri is a software development and services company providing Geographic Information System software and geodatabase management applications. The headquarters of Esri is in Redlands, California....
ArcGIS
ArcGIS
ArcGIS is a suite consisting of a group of geographic information system software products produced by Esri.ArcGIS is a system for working with maps and geographic information...
.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
A GIS is a system that incorporates software, hardware, and data for collecting, managing, analyzing, and portraying geographically referenced information. It allows the user to view, understand, manipulate, and visualize data to reveal relationships and patterns that solve problems. The user can then present the data in easily understood and disseminated forms, such as maps, reports, or charts.A user can enter different kinds of data in map form into a GIS to begin their analysis, such as United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
(USGS) digital line graph data, contour lines, elevation maps, topographic map
Topographic map
A topographic map is a type of map characterized by large-scale detail and quantitative representation of relief, usually using contour lines in modern mapping, but historically using a variety of methods. Traditional definitions require a topographic map to show both natural and man-made features...
s, geologic maps, and satellite imagery. A user can also convert digital information into forms that a GIS can identify and utilize, such as census tabular data or Microsoft Excel files. Users can easily capture digital data in a GIS. If the data is not digital, then users will need to employ various techniques to capture the data, such as digitizing maps by hand-tracing with a computer mouse, utilizing a digitizing tablet
Graphics tablet
A graphics tablet is a computer input device that enables a user to hand-draw images and graphics, similar to the way a person draws images with a pencil and paper. These tablets may also be used to capture data or handwritten signatures...
to collect feature coordinates, using electronic scanners, or uploading Global Positioning System
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
(GPS) coordinates.
GIS applies to the geographical facets of various aspects of everyday life, such as transportation, logistics, medicine, marketing, sociology, ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
, pure and applied sciences, emergency management
Emergency management
Emergency management is the generic name of an interdisciplinary field dealing with the strategic organizational management processes used to protect critical assets of an organization from hazard risks that can cause events like disasters or catastrophes and to ensure the continuance of the...
, and criminology
Criminology
Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society...
. GIS is also utilized in all three areas of intelligence: national security intelligence, law enforcement
Criminal intelligence
Criminal Intelligence is information compiled, analyzed, and/or disseminated in an effort to anticipate, prevent, or monitor criminal activity....
intelligence
Crime analysis
Crime analysis is a law enforcement function that involves systematic analysis for identifying and analyzing patterns and trends in [crime] and disorder. Information on patterns can help law enforcement agencies deploy resources in a more effective manner, and assist detectives in identifying and...
, and competitive intelligence
Competitive intelligence
A broad definition of competitive intelligence is the action of defining, gathering, analyzing, and distributing intelligence about products, customers, competitors and any aspect of the environment needed to support executives and managers in making strategic decisions for an organization.Key...
Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT)
GEOINT, known previously as imagery intelligence (IMINT), is an intelligence collection discipline that applies to national security intelligence, law enforcement intelligence, and competitive intelligence. For example, an analyst can use GEOINT to identify the route of least resistance for a military force in a hostile country, to discover a pattern in the locations of reported burglaries in a neighborhood, or to generate a map and comparison of failing businesses that a company is likely to purchase. GEOINT is also the geospatial product of a processIntelligence cycle
The traditional Intelligence cycle is a concept that describes the fundamental cycle of intelligence processing in a civilian or military intelligence agency or in law enforcement as a closed path consisting of repeating nodes. The stages of the intelligence cycle include the issuance of...
that is focused externally, designed to reduce the level of uncertainty for a decisionmaker, and that uses information derived from all sources. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States with the primary mission of collecting, analyzing and distributing geospatial intelligence in support of national security. NGA was formerly known as the National Imagery and Mapping Agency ...
(NGA), who has overall responsibility for GEOINT in the U.S. Intelligence Community
United States Intelligence Community
The United States Intelligence Community is a cooperative federation of 16 separate United States government agencies that work separately and together to conduct intelligence activities considered necessary for the conduct of foreign relations and the protection of the national security of the...
(IC), defines GEOINT as “information about any object—natural or man-made—that can be observed or referenced to the Earth, and has national security implications.”
Some of the sources of collected imagery information for GEOINT are imagery satellites, cameras on airplanes, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
(UAV) and drones, handheld cameras, maps, or GPS coordinates. Recently the NGA and IC have increased the use of commercial satellite imagery for intelligence support, such as the use of the IKONOS
IKONOS
IKONOS is a commercial earth observation satellite, and was the first to collect publicly available high-resolution imagery at 1- and 4-meter resolution. It offers multispectral and panchromatic imagery. The IKONOS launch was called by John E. Pike “one of the most significant developments in...
, Landsat
Landsat program
The Landsat program is the longest running enterprise for acquisition of satellite imagery of Earth. On July 26, 1972 the Earth Resources Technology Satellite was launched. This was eventually renamed to Landsat. The most recent, Landsat 7, was launched on April 15, 1999. The instruments on the...
, or SPOT satellites. These sources produce digital imagery via electro-optical systems
Electro-optics
Electro-optics is a branch of technology involving components, devices and systems which operate by modification of the optical properties of a material by an electric field...
, radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
, infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
, visible light, multispectral
Multi-spectral image
A multispectral image is one that captures image data at specific frequencies across the electromagnetic spectrum. The wavelengths may be separated by filters or by the use of instruments that are sensitive to particular wavelengths, including light from frequencies beyond the visible light range,...
, or hyperspectral
Hyperspectral imaging
Hyperspectral imaging collects and processes information from across the electromagnetic spectrum. Much as the human eye sees visible light in three bands , spectral imaging divides the spectrum into many more bands...
imageries.
The advantages of GEOINT are that imagery is easily consumable and understood by a decisionmaker, has low human life risk, displays the capabilities of a target and its geographical relationship to other objects, and that analysts can use imagery world-wide in a short time. On the other hand, the disadvantages of GEOINT are that imagery is only a snapshot of a moment in time, can be too compelling and lead to ill-informed decisions that ignore other intelligence, is static and vulnerable to deception and decoys, does not depict the intentions of a target, and is expensive and subject to environmental problems.
Overview
A majority of national security intelligence decisions involve geography and GEOINT. GIS allows the user to capture, manage, exploit, analyze, and visualize geographically referenced information, physical features, and other geospatial data. GIS is thus a critical infrastructure for the GEOINT and national security community in manipulating and interpreting spatial knowledge in an information system. GIS extracts real world geographic or other information into datasets, maps, metadataMetadata
The term metadata is an ambiguous term which is used for two fundamentally different concepts . Although the expression "data about data" is often used, it does not apply to both in the same way. Structural metadata, the design and specification of data structures, cannot be about data, because at...
, data models, and workflow models within a geodatabase
Geodatabase
A geodatabase is a spatial database designed to store, query, and manipulate geographic information and spatial data of low dimensionality. It is a specialized type of spatial database often with optimizations for 2 and 3 dimensions, raster data and Euclidean distance.Within a spatial database,...
that is used to solve GEOINT-related problems. GIS provides a structure for map and data production that allows a user to add other data sources, such as satellite or UAV imagery, as new layers to a geodatabase. The geodatabase can be disseminated and operated across any network of associated users (i.e. from the GEOINT analyst to the warfighter) and engenders a common spatial capability for all defense and intelligence domains.
The map and chart production agency and imagery intelligence agency, the principal two agencies of GEOINT, use GIS to efficiently work together to solve decisionmaker’s geospatial questions, to communicate effectively between their unique departments, and to provide constantly updated, accurate GEOINT to their national security and warfighter domains.
Another important aspect of GIS is its ability to fuse geospatial data with other forms of intelligence collection, such as signals intelligence (SIGINT), measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT
Measurement and Signature Intelligence
Measurement and signature intelligence is a branch of intelligence gathering activities.MASINT, may have aspects of intelligence analysis management, since certain aspects of MASINT, such as the analysis of electromagnetic radiation received by signals intelligence are more of an analysis...
), human intelligence (HUMINT), or open source intelligence (OSINT
Open source intelligence
Open-source intelligence is a form of intelligence collection management that involves finding, selecting, and acquiring information from publicly available sources and analyzing it to produce actionable intelligence...
). A GIS user can incorporate and fuse all of these types of intelligence into applications that provide corroborated GEOINT throughout an organization’s information system.
GIS enables efficient management of geospatial data, the fusion of geospatial data with other forms of intelligence collection, and advanced analysis and visual production of geospatial data. This produces faster, corroborated, and more reliable GEOINT that aims to reduce uncertainty for a decisionmaker.
Roles
- Data and map production
- Data fusion, data discovery through metadata catalogs, and data dissemination through Web portals and browsers
- Analysis and exploitation of collected imagery or intelligence
- SIGINT, GEOINT, MASINT, and other sensor analysis
- Fusion of multiple forms of intelligence collection
- Collaborative planning and efficient workflow management between decisionmakers, analysts, consumers, and warfighters
- SuitabilitySuitability analysisSuitability Analysis is the process and procedures used to establish the suitability of a system - that is, the ability of a system to meet the needs of a or other .- Suitability in GIS context :...
and temporal analysisTemporal AnalystTemporal Analyst is an extension of ArcMap for storage, management, processing, plotting and analysis of virtually any time-releated data inside ArcGISTM application and was developed by DHI Water.Environment.Health... - StewardshipStewardshipStewardship is an ethic that embodies responsible planning and management of resources. The concept of stewardship has been applied in diverse realms, including with respect to environment, economics, health, property, information, and religion, and is linked to the concept of sustainability...
: Geospatial intelligence
Distributed Geospatial Intelligence Network (DGInet)
The DGInet technology allows military and national security intelligence customers to access large multi-terabyteTerabyte
The terabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. The prefix tera means 1012 in the International System of Units , and therefore 1 terabyte is , or 1 trillion bytes, or 1000 gigabytes. 1 terabyte in binary prefixes is 0.9095 tebibytes, or 931.32 gibibytes...
databases through a common Web-based interface. This gives the users the capability to quickly and easily identify, overlay, and fuse georeferenced data from various sources to create maps or support geospatial analysis. Esri designed the technology for inexperienced GIS users of national security intelligence and defense organizations in order to provide a Web-based enterprise solution
Enterprise software
Enterprise software, also known as enterprise application software , is software used in organizations, such as in a business or government, contrary to software chosen by individuals...
for publishing, distributing, and exploiting GEOINT data among designated organizations. According to Esri, the DGInet technology “uses thin client
Thin client
A thin client is a computer or a computer program which depends heavily on some other computer to fulfill its traditional computational roles. This stands in contrast to the traditional fat client, a computer designed to take on these roles by itself...
s to search massive amounts of geospatial and intelligence data using low-bandwidth Web services for data discovery, dissemination, and horizontal fusion of data and products.”
PLTS for ArcGIS Specialized Solutions
PLTS for ArcGIS Specialized Solutions is a group of software applications that extends ArcGIS to facilitate database driven cartographic production for geospatial and mapping agencies, nautical and aeronautical chart production, foundation mapping, and defense mapping requirements. The collection of software applications includes Esri Production Mapping, Esri Nautical Solution, Esri Aeronautical Solution, and Esri Defense Mapping programs that provide quality control, easier and consistent map production, database sharing, and efficient workflow management for each program’s specific type of mapping or charting.Geoprocessing
GeoprocessingGeoprocessing
Geoprocessing is a GIS operation used to manipulate spatial data. A typical geoprocessing operation takes an input dataset, performs an operation on that dataset, and returns the result of the operation as an output dataset. Common geoprocessing operations include geographic feature overlay,...
is based on a framework of data transformation in GIS and is a collection of hundreds of GIS tools that manipulate geospatial or other data in GIS. A geoprocessing tool performs an operation (often the name of the tool, such as “Clip”) on an existing GIS dataset and produces a new dataset as a result of the utilized tool. GIS users utilize these tools to create a workflow model that quickly and easily transforms raw data into the desired product.
In GEOINT, users employ geoprocessing in similar ways. They can make geoprocessing tools resemble analytic techniques to transform large amounts of data into actionable information. In national security intelligence and defense organizations, geoprocessing notifies users to events occurring in specific areas of interest and enables domain-specific analysis applications, such as radio frequency analysis, terrain analysis, and network analysis.
Tracking Analyst and Tracking Server
The ArcGIS Tracking Analyst extension enables the user to create time series visualizations to analyze time and location sensitive information. It creates a visible path from incorporated data that shows movement through space and time. The program allows the national security intelligence or defense user to track assets (such as vehicles or personnel), monitor sensors, visualize change over time, play back events, and analyze historical or real-time temporal data.The Tracking Server program is an Esri enterprise technology that integrates real-time data with GIS to disseminate information quickly and easily to decisionmakers. This program enables the user to obtain data in any format and transmit it to the necessary consumer or ArcGIS Tracking Analyst user, to conduct filters or alerts on specific attributes of incoming data or global positions, and to log data into ArcGIS Server
ArcGIS Server
ArcGIS Server is the core server geographic information system software made by Esri. ArcGIS Server is used for creating and managing GIS Web services, applications, and data...
for efficient project management and information sharing.
When Tracking Server and ArcGIS Tracking Analyst are used together, a user can monitor changes in data as they occur in real-time. A national security intelligence or defense user can subscribe to real-time data over the Internet from GPS and custom data feeds to support GEOINT requirements, such as fleet management or target tracking.
ArcGIS Military Analyst
The ArcGIS Military Analyst extension incorporates display and analysis tools that allow the use and production of vectorVector graphics
Vector graphics is the use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and shapes or polygon, which are all based on mathematical expressions, to represent images in computer graphics...
and raster
Raster graphics
In computer graphics, a raster graphics image, or bitmap, is a data structure representing a generally rectangular grid of pixels, or points of color, viewable via a monitor, paper, or other display medium...
products, line-of-sight analysis, hillshade
Cartographic relief depiction
Terrain or relief is an essential aspect of physical geography, and as such its portrayal presents a central problem in cartography, and more recently GIS and 3D Visualization....
analysis, terrain analysis, and Military Grid Reference System
Military grid reference system
The Military Grid Reference System is the geocoordinate standard used by NATO militaries for locating points on the earth. The MGRS is derived from the UTM grid system and the UPS grid system, but uses a different labeling convention...
(MGRS) conversion. This program also provides a basis for command, control, and intelligence (C2I) systems. National security intelligence and defense organizations use ArcGIS Military Analyst extension to integrate geospatial data with other defense data, analyze digital terrains, and prepare for battle. This program also enables such users to manage and analyze geospatial data and relationships between mission planning, logistics, and C2I.
Military Overlay Editor (MOLE)
MOLE is a set of command components that enables national security intelligence and defense users to easily create, display, and edit U.S. Department of DefenseUnited States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
MIL-STD-2525B and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization APP-6A
APP-6a
Allied Procedural Publication 6A Military Symbols for Land Based Systems was the NATO standard for military map marking symbols. APP-6A was promulgated in December 1999. The NATO standardization agreement that covers APP-6A is STANAG 2019 , promulgated in December 2000...
military symbology in a map. This allows for easier and faster identification, understanding, and movement of ally and hostile forces on a map by combining GIS spatial analysis techniques with common military symbols. MOLE provides a clearer visualization of mission planning and goals for the decisionmaker, and allows a user to import, locate, and display order of battle
Order of battle
In modern use, the order of battle is the identification, command structure, strength, and disposition of personnel, equipment, and units of an armed force participating in field operations. Various abbreviations are in use, including OOB, O/B, or OB, while ORBAT remains the most common in the...
databases.
Grid Manager
Grid Manager enables the national security intelligence or defense user to create accurate, realistic grids that contain geographic location indicators based on specified shapes, scales, coordinate systems, and units. This program allows the user to create multiple grids, graticules, and borders for such map products as MGRS coordinates and tourist, topographic, parcel, street, nautical, and aeronautical maps.GIS use in the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
The NGA uses GIS products to create digital nautical, aeronautical, and topographic charts and maps, to perform geotechnical and coordinate system analysis, and to help solve a large variety of national security and military problems. Since the NGA is a U.S. Department of Defense combat support agency and a member of the IC, it uses GIS to produce precise, up-to-date GEOINT for members of the U.S. Armed Forces, the IC, and other government agencies. Web-enabled GIS applications allow for fast, efficient sharing and disseminating of geospatial data, products, and intelligence from the NGA to its allies, warfighters, partners, and other agencies across the worldwide web. The NGA and Esri have successfully collaborated on providing timely, accurate, and relevant GEOINT in support of U.S. national security for the past 20 years.The NGA has created a grouping of web-based capabilities called GEOINT Online. This program allows a user to search and access all NGA GEOINT documents from wherever they are stored and from wherever the user is. GEOINT Online provides quick, easy, and reliable access to current NGA intelligence products, changes in activities or regions, information from analyst’s blogs and Intellipedia
Intellipedia
Intellipedia is an online system for collaborative data sharing used by the United States Intelligence Community . It was established as a pilot project in late 2005 and formally announced in April 2006 and consists of three wikis running on JWICS, SIPRNet, and Intelink-U...
, geospatial imagery, maps and charts, major GIS commercial software packages, and GIS combinations of these products. A user can also edit and format existing NGA/GIS products and maps to create, print, and download new products that fulfill current decisionmaker requirements. Ultimately, this results in the faster production of timely and relevant GEOINT data. This program allowed the NGA to change its focus from simply generating cartographic products to providing updated, accurate GEOINT to support the national security and military requirements of its customers.
See also
- Geographic Information SystemsGeographic Information SystemA geographic information system, geographical information science, or geospatial information studies is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data...
- Geospatial Intelligence
- National securityNational securityNational security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
- National Geospatial-Intelligence AgencyNational Geospatial-Intelligence AgencyThe National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States with the primary mission of collecting, analyzing and distributing geospatial intelligence in support of national security. NGA was formerly known as the National Imagery and Mapping Agency ...
- Imagery Intelligence
- EsriESRIEsri is a software development and services company providing Geographic Information System software and geodatabase management applications. The headquarters of Esri is in Redlands, California....
- ArcGISArcGISArcGIS is a suite consisting of a group of geographic information system software products produced by Esri.ArcGIS is a system for working with maps and geographic information...
- ERDAS IMAGINEERDAS IMAGINEERDAS IMAGINE is a remote sensing application with raster graphics editor capabilities designed by ERDAS for geospatial applications. The latest version is 2010, version 10.1. ERDAS IMAGINE is aimed primarily at geospatial raster data processing and allows the user to prepare, display and enhance...
- Google EarthGoogle EarthGoogle Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency funded company acquired by Google in 2004 . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite...
- StewardshipStewardshipStewardship is an ethic that embodies responsible planning and management of resources. The concept of stewardship has been applied in diverse realms, including with respect to environment, economics, health, property, information, and religion, and is linked to the concept of sustainability...
: Geospatial intelligence
External links
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency - Official website
- Esri: The GIS Software Leader - Official corporate website