GEOINT: It’s not just satellites

GeoDigital Helicopter at GEOINT 2011

One excellent feature of the GEOINT Symposium is the diversity of speakers and companies involved in the geospatial intelligence field.

Geospatial intelligence gathering platforms are not just found in satellites and UAVs, but also in helicopters and airplanes. Take for instance the firm GeoDigital. The GeoDigital helicopter pictured above provides Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) optical remote sensing for the electric and gas pipeline industries in the U.S. and Canada. This technology helps map and image electric and gas lines, including inspection of vegetation and analysis of clearance levels through LiDAR 3D imaging. Neat stuff. This technology hits it home that all kinds of aerospace platforms are critical to providing the geospatial information needed by our commercial and government sectors.

Kicking off the morning keynote was General Douglas Fraser, Commander, U.S. Southern Command. General Fraser provided an overview of SOUTHCOM challenges such as narcotics trafficking, gang problems and disaster relief. SOUTHCOM relied on GEOINT to support its disaster relief operation in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. One of SOUTCOM’s biggest concerns is that they do not have enough Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability in their area of operation. Clearly, with an area of operation that encompasses 32 nations and over 14 million square miles, SOUTHCOM will continue to rely on aerospace and GEOINT technologies to meet its mission requirements.

Also speaking today was The Honorable W. Craig Fugate, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Administrator Fugate discussed the importance of GEOINT in assisting with FEMA’s emergency operations. By providing federal emergency responders with analysis and imagery of disaster areas, GEOINT helps the government better assist the state and local response to hurricanes, flooding and other natural disasters. One area the Administrator mentioned was the growing importance of social media. As social media becomes more widespread, it can actually play an important role in emergency analysis and response. According to FEMA, social media can help provide timely information related to disaster preparedness response and help communicate the agency’s operations to the general public.

Tuesday’s session also included speakers from the U.S. and coalition militaries who described the importance of GEOINT in their collaborative efforts. An afternoon breakout panel featured civilian agency representatives who provided an overview of GEOINT in U.S. Geological Survey, National Guard and homeland security operations.

Intelligence community leaders and commercial satellite industry executives featured at GEOINT 2011

Commercial Satellite Image of Kinsale, Ireland

GEOINT 2011 kicked off Monday with presentations by a variety of senior intelligence community leaders. First off was Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, who underscored the importance of the GEOINT field in the operation that eliminated Osama bin Laden. Even with such noteable success, Clapper noted that with significant pressure on federal budgets, the intelligence community will have to contribute to reductions along with other government agencies. What would be most damaging to this community, however, would be across-the-board cuts that could devastate critical areas. Clapper cited the 1990’s drawdown and how it resulted in a diminished workforce and a diminished overhead constellation. He said this time around we cannot “salami slice” programs as a way of reducing budgets.

One way to increase efficiencies, according to Clapper, could be through the use of cloud computing – which may help reduce costs and improve intelligence integration. Director Clapper mentioned the commitment to commercial satellite imagery and the need to sustain this portion of the industrial base. Commercial satellite imagery, he noted, has great utility because it is unclassified and easily shared with allies. In addition, even with budget challenges, Clapper argued that a robust national overhead architecture is essential.

The Director of the National Reconnaissance Office, Bruce Carlson, described a leaner NRO that today utilizes each taxpayer dollar with great care. Carlson described that the NRO as very serious about cost reductions and was one of the largest donors of efficiencies. According to Carlson, it will be important to balance new technology development with the need to maintain core industrial base capabilities. One way to achieve efficiencies is through quantity buys that enhance predictability and stability as new capability is folded in when it becomes available.

Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Letitia Long, described GEOINT as the “lynchpin” of integrated intelligence. Director Long showcased new NGA “apps” designed to provide federal emergency responders with commercial satellite imagery and information needed for disaster response. She described how these types of products will help NGA provide cost effective information to FEMA, airplane pilots, humanitarian relief agencies, and others.

During a breakout session on commercial satellite imagery, the CEO’s of a variety of commercial imagery firms – including AIA member company DigitalGlobe – discussed the importance of GEOINT and the threat of federal budget cuts. One executive mentioned that this industry helps us see a better world by delivering information to the warfighter, intelligence professionals, and emergency responders. Another executive described how the U.S. commercial satellite industry is the result of a public-private partnership; it provides an affordable capability to commercial and government customers as well as jobs with significant contributions to the economy.

GEOINT Symposium Kicks Off in San Antonio, TX

U.S. troops utilizing geospatial information.

“The term "geospatial intelligence" means the exploitation and analysis of imagery and geospatial information to describe, assess, and visually depict physical features and geographically referenced activities on the earth. Geospatial intelligence consists of imagery, imagery intelligence, and geospatial information.”