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SWJED
12-01-2005, 10:01 AM
1 Dec. Christian Science Monitor - Google's Open Skies Raise Cries (http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1201/p13s01-stct.html).


When the popular search engine Google debuted a free global location tool in June, Internet users were given an opportunity to view full-color satellite photos from thousands of far-flung areas - from the Rocky Mountains to the Taj Mahal.

But this fall, Google Earth (www.earth. google.com) (http://earth.google.com/) encountered an unexpected backlash: complaints from government officials who believe easy availability of high- resolution satellite images compromises their national security...

SWJED
12-18-2005, 12:48 PM
18 Dec. London Daily Telegraph - Insurgents 'Using Google Earth' (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/12/18/ngoog18.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/12/18/ixhome.html).


Insurgents could be using satellite images from a popular website to mount attacks on British and American bases in Iraq, defence experts said last night.

Google Earth allows users to zoom in on almost any location in the world to such close range that cars can be recognised. The site even provides latitude and longitude co-ordinates for buildings.

Bill Sweetman, a technological warfare expert with Jane's, the military and intelligence specialist publisher, said the images could enable terrorists in Iraq to pinpoint targets inside military bases.

"Information gleaned from Google Earth can be of use to these people," he said. "They can use overhead images to get co-ordinates for a mortar attack or for a suicide bomber to try to figure out where a building is in the base so they don't get lost on their way in."

SWJED
12-20-2005, 12:03 PM
20 Dec. NY Times - Google Offers a Bird's-Eye View, and Some Governments Tremble (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/20/technology/20image.html?ei=5065&en=fca84aa48ed6bb3b&ex=1135659600&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print).


Google Earth is the most conspicuous recent instance of increased openness in a digitally networked world, where information that was once carefully guarded is now widely available on personal computers. Many security experts agree that such increased transparency - and the discomfort that it produces - is an inevitable byproduct of the Internet's power and reach.

American experts in and outside government generally agree that the focus on Google Earth as a security threat appears misplaced, as the same images that Google acquires from a variety of sources are available directly from the imaging companies, as well as from other sources. Google Earth licenses most of the satellite images, for instance, from DigitalGlobe, an imaging company in Longmont, Colorado.

SWJED
06-14-2006, 01:00 AM
13 June Information Week - Google Earth Grows With New Hi-Res Imagery (http://www.informationweek.com/internet/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=189400767).


... At Google's first Geo Developer Day on Monday, the company announced that it had increased its index of high-resolution satellite imagery by a factor of four, allowing users of Google Earth, and shortly Google Maps, to see the earth in much greater detail.

Over 20% of the earth's landmass can now be seen in high-resolution, according to John Hanke, director of Google Earth and Google Maps.

Google's geographic information keeps growing and it may eventually extend below the planet's surface, allowing users to navigate and visualize structures like utility pipes and undersea terrain. In response to a developer's question about the possibility of subterranean mapping, Hanke quipped, "Most of the ocean is below sea level. There's a lot of interesting stuff below that." ...

Merv Benson
06-14-2006, 01:10 AM
13 June Information Week - Google Earth Grows With New Hi-Res Imagery (http://www.informationweek.com/internet/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=189400767).


I am not sure my quote from the text got picked up, but I could not resist asking Who knew "that most of the ocean was below sea level"?:D

Jedburgh
06-14-2006, 01:49 AM
...and, to go with Google Earth:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/front/track-stick.jpg

This small GPS gadget can easily be placed in a car, boat, land speeder, or just about any moving object and will record its own time, date, location, speed, direction and altitude. The recorded information can then be downloaded to your computer through the USB port and optionally integrated with Google Earth or Mapquest. This feature allows you to "playback" the location points of the TrackStick and see a visual mapped history of its travels.

Containing 1MB of memory it can store up to 4000 records allowing for months of travel. When the TrackStick is not moving, memory is not used. The record interval is adjustable to anything between 1 and 15 minutes (this is used to save memory and will not extend the battery life). It’s so small you can hide it for covert applications. There are no special software applications to buy and the raw data can be exported in RTF, XLS, HTML, or Google Earth KML formats.

Also has these features.

- Records time, date, location, speed, direction and altitude
- Works with Google Earth, Mapquest, maps.google.com, Virtual Earth
- Location points are downloaded into its software and then mapped
- Battery duration is 5 to 7 days of typical operation (low power mode)
- Requires 2 AAA batteries (not included)
- Dimensions: 4"x 1 1/4" x 3/4"

Jedburgh
07-27-2006, 07:40 PM
Not a news or commentary blog, but useful: Google Earth Blog (http://www.gearthblog.com/)

Recently posted is the Israel-Lebanon Conflict Illustrated in Google Earth (http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2006/07/israellebanon_c.html), which is being continually updated.

SWJED
07-28-2006, 03:12 PM
...is the Google Earth Community Discussion Group (http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php/Cat/0).

On edit - though you have to wade through a lot of chaf to find the gems... Like many discussion groups - excepting this one of course.:)

SWJED
08-29-2006, 09:12 AM
29 August Los Angeles Times commentary - Google-Earthing the Hermit Kingdom (http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-efron29aug29,0,5849972.story?coll=la-opinion-rightrail) by Sonni Efron.


I am soaring over North Korea, looking down on a denuded landscape and zooming in to hover over missile batteries, nuclear sites, huge palaces and prison camps. It's a cyber tour, courtesy of Google Earth. I once visited North Korea as a reporter, yet this virtual view is far more revealing than anything I was permitted to see.

Has the Hermit Kingdom finally met its match? Software allowing users to cruise through satellite imagery of the world's most secretive nation, cost-free at this beta moment, has attracted a talented crowd of photo reconnaissance buffs from around the world. They have dotted the patchwork of satellite photos with notes, helpfully identifying fascinating landmarks for e-gawkers like me. And they're having a vigorous online debate over what some of the more mysterious looking items might be. (To join in, go to earth.google.com, (http://earth.google.com/) download the program, click on Google Earth Community, then search for North Korea.)

An intrepid German poster named "wonders" has flagged more than 332 sites of interest. Most are military — the vast air defenses ringing Pyongyang, the artillery along the demilitarized zone, the Yongbyon nuclear facilities, tunnels, caves and weird earthworks. He's labeled a gigantic buried half-cylinder as "Underground parking garage — not!" and an ominous-looking lump as a "Not too friendly looking thing."

A more casual tourist can fly over Pyongyang and check out other sights, including the massive Kim Il Sung stadium, the Korean People's Army Circus and the broad, traffic-free boulevards. Click on down into South Korea and the barren, deforested mountaintops give way to lush forests, the dusty valleys to emerald rice fields, the surface-to-air missiles to factories, houses and cars.

Of course we know the ugly facts about North Korea — in the abstract: That it's one of the poorest, most highly militarized nations in the world, with a malnourished population and a thirst for nukes. That it sends children of the disloyal to be worked to death in camps. That visible earthworks are most likely telltale signs of vast underground cities it has dug to hide its military facilities from Western spy satellites...

RTK
01-01-2007, 03:37 PM
Anyone used Google Earth in conjunction with SIPR SIGACTS on a local computer to conduct pattern anaysis? Does anyone else see the utility in this?

I know that there is a system coming online which is similar to Google Earth for SIGACT tracking as I tested it for the Army in October. However, has anyone used existing technologies to do the same thing in the interim?

Jedburgh
01-01-2007, 04:35 PM
Anyone used Google Earth in conjunction with SIPR SIGACTS on a local computer to conduct pattern anaysis? Does anyone else see the utility in this?

I know that there is a system coming online which is similar to Google Earth for SIGACT tracking as I tested it for the Army in October. However, has anyone used existing technologies to do the same thing in the interim?
There is definite utility to be mined in the conduct of pattern analysis and geo-profiling with SIGACTS.

Google Earth is a good system, as far as it goes, and can be fun to work with. However, it is not really set up for true geographic analysis - you definitely need dedicated GIS software for that. Along with the commonly used (and pricey) ArcViewGIS etc. etc., there are also decent free software downloads that you can use.

Here's a good FREE DOWNLOAD package, intended for the LE community, but certainly of use for the type of analysis you mention:

Crime Analysis Unit Developer Kit (http://www.crimeanalysts.net/caudk.htm)

Developed by NLECTC-Rocky Mountain's Crime Mapping & Analysis Program (CMAP)

The Crime Analysis Unit Developer Kit includes a collection of documents, publications, examples, and tools has been researched, collected, and made publicly available by the Crime Mapping & Analysis Program (CMAP). The CAU Developer's Kit contains numerous free software applications, including:

* Two GIS programs - A complete, self-contained desktop Geographic Information Systems.
* Two Geographic Profiling utilities - Dragnet-K, the stand-alone original GP software from the University of Liverpool, and Ian Oldfield’s GP Spreadsheet for Excel.
* The Crime Analysis Spatial Extension - Tactical crime analysis tools for ArcGIS similar to the USGS Animal Movements Extension for ArcView.
* Two Link-charting programs - Network, organizational, flow, and linkage diagram design software utilities with analytical functions.
* Six Statistics programs - Complete and robust statistics as powerful as any expensive application.
* OpenOffice - A complete office program suite that includes a word processor, spreadsheet/grapher, relational database, presentation/slideshow, diagram tool, and mathematical modeling utility.

All software is provided free of charge by CMAP and the developers for use by the US law enforcement community.
Of course, effectively implementing any type of geographic analysis and integrating it seamlessly into overall ops requires a trained and experienced intel analyst who understands GEOINT in the context of the mission. Unfortunately, they're in short supply.

In the second time in as many days, I find myself recommending another list-serve from the LE community. The CrimeMap List-Serve (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/maps/listserv.html) is invaluable for putting you in touch with the wider LE, academic and research community for this subject area. If you post your GEOINT RFIs to this list-serve, you will definitely receive a wealth of expert opinion in return. As with the ORIML list-serve I recommended in the other thread (http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/showthread.php?p=7187#post7187), this list-serve is not heavy on traffic, so you will not end up with your e-mail clogged with messages.

CRIMEMAP, the MAPS program listserv, serves as an information dissemination tool. CRIMEMAP was established by in order to get crime analysts, researchers, geographers, and other interested parties communicating about crime mapping technologies related to criminal justice applications. The listserv enables subscribers to post and respond to questions, and also serves as a vehicle for MAPS staff to announce upcoming conferences and new publications.

Bill Moore
01-01-2007, 05:18 PM
http://www.globalincidentmap.com/home.php

RTK I believe that has been done already, but I can't recall the name of the program. I'll take a look on WED and let you know. Not exactly an analytical tool, the link above is still a useful service. Let me know what you think, it is more than skin deep.

Bill

jcustis
01-01-2007, 05:39 PM
Anyone used Google Earth in conjunction with SIPR SIGACTS on a local computer to conduct pattern anaysis? Does anyone else see the utility in this?

I know that there is a system coming online which is similar to Google Earth for SIGACT tracking as I tested it for the Army in October. However, has anyone used existing technologies to do the same thing in the interim?

Having used GE, Falconview, and C2PC, I would not use GE as a stand-alone SIGACTS platform. I haven't seen functionality like you have on Falconview, which is actually a pretty easy piece of gear to use and is almost a must these days for ops in an urban environment.

I use GE currently as a training tool, where I produce SIGACTS overhead views as a product given out with FTX opords (developing the enemy sit). It's met with acceptance because the training audience knows they'll have to work with near-real time imagery in the future.

I'm not sure a GEOINT guy is necessary for integration into current ops. It would be a nice thing, but we've pulled a lot of capability out without even tapping into heavy GIS. I hear what you're saying Jedburgh, just believe a lot of capability is already there.

It's pretty easy to tie this stuff into Kilcullen, but that's for another post (and likely lengthy).

Jedburgh
01-01-2007, 05:48 PM
http://www.globalincidentmap.com/home.php

RTK I believe that has been done already, but I can't recall the name of the program. I'll take a look on WED and let you know. Not exactly an analytical tool, the link above is still a useful service. Let me know what you think, it is more than skin deep.

Bill
Funny thing is, I belive the creation of the site you linked to was driven by this one, out of Budapest, Hungary, which appeared online first:

RSOE Havaria Information Service - Alertmap (http://visz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert.php?lang=eng)

If you compare the two, they are not identical; although they do track many of the same incidents, there is unique content on each. However, as you stated, this type of program does not have the capability to function as an analytic tool, but it does provide a good visual of current incidents.

Where I work, an office near mine keeps both of these sites up all day long on two big flat-screens mounted on the wall. It doesn't really serve a useful purpose that way - but it looks cool.

jcustis
01-01-2007, 06:07 PM
I downloaded the CMAP stuff today and will dig through it at some point. I'm sure there are going to be plenty of gems in it, but the greatest problem I can foresee getting it loaded onto our silly NMCI machines.

Although each company HQ should have access to a deployable laptop, I begin to wonder if we have shot ourselves in the foot during the information war aspect of the current fight, by limiting ourselves to "approved" tools and AIS. I mean, I could see it right now. Motivated company commander goes to his S-6 and says that he wants the CMAP stuff loaded onto his laptop, but the S-6's hands are tied because these tools weren't on the approved list of software for the deployable seat. Despite their enabling capabilities, they could require a lengthy approval process which in turn prevents timely training and use, and thus said company commander finds himself stuck with a tool that is perhaps 5-6 years old and actually archaic.

That's an unfortunate reality of the cumbersome AIS blanket we wear with NMCI. Does anyone have any experience with streamlining this process through the appropriate waivers?

GIMpublisher
01-01-2007, 07:17 PM
Hello all.

I am the owner/publisher of www.globalincidentmap.com - noted traffic to my site coming from here so I came to see what it was.

Thanks Bill, for linking to us.

While the public version of the site does not have much analytical use, we can create custom versions that do. We have been creating custom versions of the map for leo/gov/mil users that do different things. Whether a military joint op center just wants a version that displays nicely 'up on the wall', or someone wants a version that can create reports, its not too difficult to do.
We recently added a search feature that lets users create reports based on searching our database by date, location, incident type, or any combination.

On request from more than one military outfit we are currently building a system that doesnt rely on human hand-jabbed data, but instead goes out and scours the net for terrorism related news items automatically, using sets of rules.

The public version is limited, but the same system can be used, and is being used, by a growing number of law enforcement, government, and military organizations. And it can do alot more than what you see on the public version. While I garnered some inspiration from the RSOE Hungarian map, the maps are indeed very different in terms of content and functionality.

A good example of an expanded system would be something like this - every military intel analyst we have could have their own map for tracking their own incidents, and all of those maps could 'talk' to eachother displaying all of the aggregate data from all the individual analysts. Then you can add whatever reporting or analytical modules you need to evaluate the data as a whole.

One railway police user is taking it a step futher, such that the mapping system becomes more of an incident management system - allowing first responders to add comments to an incident indicating what they are seeing on the ground and what resources they need, and the ability to chat with their centers via the map system. They had us add a display of all the various types of rail cars with images so they could easily identify which rail cars might have hazmat threats from chemicals and such. They hope to get all of the railroads to use the system to share incident data amongst themselves. The system is really only limited by ones imagination.

The beauty of the system we have now is that its flexible, and cheap. It uses Googlemaps now but can work practically any GIS system that accepts lat/long coordinates. It certainly can be modified to output its data into whatever format your existing analytical tools require. Its cheap enough that I built it having no funding from anyone whatsoever. And apparently its useful, 27% of our web traffic comes from .mil domains, and 6% from .gov domains.

I would love to hear from you folks with your ideas and suggestions on how we can make it a better & more useful project, and would welcome any requests for custom versions that do different things. To date all of the custom versions we have built have been completed at no charge to the user.
If any of you are in the Arlington VA area I'll be up there this week and would be happy to discuss the system, have been invited to the Pentagon to discuss military use of the mapping system.

All the best,
Morgan Clements
Publisher GlobalIncidentMap.com / TerroristWarning.com /TransitSecurityReport.com
news@terroristwarning.com

Jedburgh
01-02-2007, 01:33 AM
...I'm not sure a GEOINT guy is necessary for integration into current ops. It would be a nice thing, but we've pulled a lot of capability out without even tapping into heavy GIS. I hear what you're saying Jedburgh, just believe a lot of capability is already there....
JC, I didn't mean that we needed a lot of dedicated GEOINT specialists - any good intel soldier can do the job, if he possesses a decent familiarity with GEOINT.

On the other hand, referring to your last statement about capabilities, I'd have to agree wholeheartedly. Combat ops tend to separate the wheat from the chaff, and there are plenty of "trained" intel soldiers out there who don't really have a knack for the job - and plenty of soldiers in other fields that, when given the opportunity, truly shine.

An example of the former would be the NCOIC of the terrain team at CJTF-180 in Afghanistan a while back - when I requested tac terrain products for certain sites, he just kept repeating "I can get ya overhead imagery". When I explained that I wanted an analytic product, he looked at me like I had something growing out of my forehead.

An example of the latter would be the young FA CPT at a large FOB in Iraq who, with no prep or specialized training, was thrust into the FP officer position. He did an outstanding job of conducting a pattern analysis of friendly patrol activity and threat mortar attacks - complete with the most important part of all, a concise written report specifying the exact nature of the threat and a recommendation for a direct and simple solution. Unfortunately, the CPT's solution required a COL to change the way he did business, which didn't happen - and the rounds kept coming in, and a few more troops were wounded before outsiders with weight came in and made a recommendation which couldn't be refused...

Although I belive that both cases tend to be the exception (although not so rare) rather than the rule, it is those non-MI soldiers who are the latter exception that really provide us with a huge advantage at the company level - when their leaders are wise enough to discover and exploit their talents.

makatak
01-13-2007, 11:24 AM
There are already programs on line in Iraq for this purpose. A couple I'm aware of include Combined Information Data Network Exchange (CIDNE) and Marine-Link. FusionNet also provided this capability. I know MNF-W is also looking at NASA WorldWind.

SWJED
01-13-2007, 01:07 PM
Terrorists 'Use Google Maps to Hit U.K. Troops' (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/01/13/wgoogle13.xml) - 13 January London Daily Telegraph. By Thomas Harding.


Terrorists attacking British bases in Basra are using aerial footage displayed by the Google Earth internet tool to pinpoint their attacks, say Army intelligence sources.

Documents seized during raids on the homes of insurgents last week uncovered print-outs from photographs taken from Google.

The satellite photographs show in detail the buildings inside the bases and vulnerable areas such as tented accommodation, lavatory blocks and where lightly armoured Land Rovers are parked.

Written on the back of one set of photographs taken of the Shatt al Arab Hotel, headquarters for the 1,000 men of the Staffordshire Regiment battle group, officers found the camp's precise longitude and latitude...

Uboat509
01-13-2007, 05:17 PM
Arc View is a phenomenal piece of software. It has incredible tools for analysis. The only real limitations are the price which should not be an issue because Uncle Suger should be providing this and the computer that runs it needs to have a) a fairly large hard drive b) a lot of ram and c) a good graphics card. Oh and you will definitely need some training on it. It is not something you figure out by trial and error.

SFC W

BNopsSgt
01-16-2007, 05:50 PM
Its not surprising that the same technology that has helped make us become a world power is being used by an insurgent force. Keeping within asymetric techniques of attacking the weaknesses of a superior force the enemy has not only learned to attack our weaknesses he has adapted to using our own systems. The weakness he has attacked here is our open democratic system of capitalism. The American free market enterpirse and laws that protect it create an open source environment that can fuel the enemy intelligience machine for as long as the war continues. This same system is also a HUMINT paradise to the insurgent intelligence community, the American melting pot and open system we live in is very condusive for HUMINT operations.

BHG

Shek
01-16-2007, 06:41 PM
Its not surprising that the same technology that has helped make us become a world power is being used by an insurgent force. Keeping within asymetric techniques of attacking the weaknesses of a superior force the enemy has not only learned to attack our weaknesses he has adapted to using our own systems. The weakness he has attacked here is our open democratic system of capitalism. The American free market enterpirse and laws that protect it create an open source environment that can fuel the enemy intelligience machine for as long as the war continues. This same system is also a HUMINT paradise to the insurgent intelligence community, the American melting pot and open system we live in is very condusive for HUMINT operations.

BHG

Why not turn the tables? What prevents us from working with Google to capture foreign IP addresses of those who query military installation imagery? Get Google to post some misleading imagery for certain installations? Accidentally lose bogus high resolution imagery maps while on patrol?

The first two options above may or may not be possible, but the third possibility is always available. Depending on the sophistication, the misinformation campaign could also sow mistrust - was the bogus map an honest mistake or was the deliverer an agent of the infidels? Heck, even a simple rumor that the Google Earth images are purposely altered might do the trick or at least force insurgents to spend more time and effort confirming the Google Earth stuff.

marct
01-16-2007, 06:55 PM
Hi Shek,


Why not turn the tables? What prevents us from working with Google to capture foreign IP addresses of those who query military installation imagery? Get Google to post some misleading imagery for certain installations? Accidentally lose bogus high resolution imagery maps while on patrol?

The first two options above may or may not be possible, but the third possibility is always available. Depending on the sophistication, the misinformation campaign could also sow mistrust - was the bogus map an honest mistake or was the deliverer an agent of the infidels? Heck, even a simple rumor that the Google Earth images are purposely altered might do the trick or at least force insurgents to spend more time and effort confirming the Google Earth stuff.

Personally, I'd go with the rumour combined with a sattelite version of a Potemkin Village - Google is notorious for telling the government to mind their own business.

Marc

dusty
01-18-2007, 05:22 PM
Our S2 shop has a variety of different machines to choose from- ASAS-L, CIDNE, JIOC, Falconview and ArcGis. We are supposed to be getting a new one next week, CPOF. The problem with these machines is that they all utilize SIPR, and as soon as you discover that it doesn't have the map datum for the area that you need, a contractor has to be called etc etc. Our S6 can't fix it because of the classification. Frustrating.

A 96B who had some emphasis on GEOINT training would be incredibly useful, but I don't see that happening unless I figure out a way to teach them.

Jedburgh
01-31-2007, 08:11 PM
Google tailors Earth for DOD users (http://www.fcw.com/article97467-01-24-07-Web)

Google wants to help Defense Department users fuse and distribute their geospatial data with the same technology that powers the Google Earth application used by 200 million people worldwide...

...In the past year, Google has beefed up its team focused on DOD and other federal agencies, more than tripling its staff to 14 people from four a year ago, Painter said. He was reluctant to disclose customers, but said the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, the Coast Guard and the state of Alabama through a grant from the Homeland Security Department use Google Earth products.
Slapout?

slapout9
02-01-2007, 12:26 AM
Some time in the future there might be some public announcements but in the meantime I will say this:
1-The new head of the Alabama Department of Public Safety(besides State Troopers also covers roads and critical infrastructure) is the retired SAC (special agent in charge) of the Secret Service in Montgomery,Al. The first time in their history they went outside the department, not to mention he came from federal LE.
2-The lead Law Enforcement Agency at DHS is the Secret Service.
3-For obvious reasons for years the Secret Service has had "one of a kind" surveillance and tracking capabilities.
4-The terrorist and all bad guys in general are going to experience Boots on the ground, Eyes on the people!!, and mind on the Mission like it has never been done before.
Me and Bubba been busy:wry:

Jedburgh
02-17-2007, 05:41 PM
FYI:

The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (http://www.usgif.org/) (USGIF) is now accepting applications for its 2007 USGIF Scholarship Program. USGIF will award more than $50,000 in scholarships this year. The deadline is 01 June 07.

All graduate and undergraduate students studying fields relating to the geospatial intelligence tradecraft are encouraged to apply.

Applications can be found on the Foundation's website at www.usgif.org/Education_Scholarships.aspx.

USGIF is also awarding scholarships to well-qualified high school seniors planning to enter a geospatial intelligence or GIS-related program at the college or university level.

Questions can be directed to scholarships@usgif.org.

Jedburgh
03-07-2007, 03:33 PM
...and yet more exploitation - from the useful to the ridiculous - of Google Earth:

Google Earth Hacks (http://www.gearthhacks.com/)

Lots of file downloads, as well as blog and forum features.

Jedburgh
03-09-2007, 10:12 PM
...another educational FYI:

The Departments of Geography, Psychology, and Justice Studies at the University of Regina have developed an institute for the advanced training of participants in the statistical and geographical information systems (GIS) analysis of crime and justice data. (with the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (http://www.sshrc.ca/web/home_e.asp) (SSHRCC) and Statistics Canada (http://www.statcan.ca/menu-en.htm)).

The National Summer Institute (http://www.uregina.ca/arts/NSI/) (NSI) is an intensive, hands-on workshop held in Regina, Canada's "Queen City", over seven days: June 17-23, 2007.

The NSI is open to approximately 40 participants, including academics, researchers, graduate students, and practitioners in the field (such as police, justice workers, etc.) Participants should have some background preparation in statistics (such as a university course), however, no background in GIS (mapping data) is required.

Funding, academic credit, and RCMP continuing education credit are available.

More information and an application form can be found at: http://www.uregina.ca/arts/NSI/

MountainRunner
03-10-2007, 05:27 AM
Another GIS display can be found at http://press.jrc.it/NewsExplorer/home/en/latest.html, an EU project. Between overlaying news geo-spatially (with the option of linking to Google Earth), it also provides a human network analysis (e.g. http://press.jrc.it/NewsExplorer/flash/visual.jsp?id=53651, or perhaps http://press.jrc.it/NewsExplorer/entities/en/1267.html )

Both of these features I'm working to integrate into http://conflictwiki.org

Note: they seem to be having a licensing problem because an error message with yesterday's date pops up on each use.

Jedburgh
04-17-2007, 01:34 PM
11 Apr 07 WSJ article on this site mentioned earlier in the thread:

RSOE Havaria Information Service - Alertmap (http://visz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert.php?lang=eng)

Real-Time Map Monitors Disasters Across the Globe (http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117460135695746023-WlevYCjSFW7zOHyKd1G5_gvpNbQ_20080409.html)

...A small team of emergency-preparedness professionals maintains the map around the clock while performing other responsibilities for their work with the NGO. "We are always trying to look for information that is confirmed, either by an authority or an official, competent organization," says Mr. Rafael. "We do not take information from blogs or other unconfirmed reports."

AlertMap is funded and staffed by the Hungarian National Association of Radio Distress-Signaling and Infocommunications, a nonprofit group where Mr. Rafael serves as deputy secretary-general. The group works with and receives funding from some of Hungary's government agencies and the European Union, for which it performs various emergency-related services.

Mr. Rafael's group, known by its Hungarian initials RSOE, provides emergency updates to the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to warn tourists of trouble spots abroad. His organization also has the obscure but vital responsibility of coordinating navigation on the Danube River and Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Europe....

Jedburgh
10-08-2007, 02:43 PM
....The public version is limited, but the same system can be used, and is being used, by a growing number of law enforcement, government, and military organizations. And it can do alot more than what you see on the public version.....
Here's a version that they've put together for the Tenneessee Regional Information Center:

TRIC Incident Tracking Map (http://tnfusion.globalincidentmap.com/home.php)

....The mapping system is open to the public at large for access and viewing based on its open source content. It is currently linked within the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) Tennessee and Law Enforcement portals. The map URL will soon be linked to the TN Bureau of Investigation website, the TN Dept. of Safety and TN Office of Homeland Security websites.

Two additional maps are being developed; a Sex Offender Registry map and a Violent Offender map. These maps will be used operationally to assist with the investigations of Amber Alerts and violent crimes in progress....

As an aside, but keeping to the topic, NASA's World Wind (http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/download.html) is available for free download.

3D Engine: World Wind allows any user to zoom from satellite altitude into any place on Earth, leveraging high resolution LandSat imagery and SRTM elevation data to experience Earth in visually rich 3D, just as if they were really there....

Blue Marble: World Wind has a full copy of the Blue Marble, a spectacular true-color image of the entire Earth as seen on NASA's Earth Observatory: The Blue Marble (http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/BlueMarble/)....

Land Sat 7: Using World Wind, you can continue to zoom past Blue Marble and reveal the extremely detailed seamless mosaic of LandSat 7 (http://onearth.jpl.nasa.gov/) data....

SRTM: Combining LandSat 7 imagery with Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/) (SRTM) Data, World Wind can display a dramatic view of the Earth at eye level. Users will literally be able to fly across the world in any direction....

NASA SVS: Goddard Space Flight Center (http://aes.gsfc.nasa.gov/) (GSFC) has produced a set of visually intense animations that demonstrate a variety of subjects such as hurricane dynamics and seasonal changes across the globe....

MODIS: Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/) or MODIS produces a set of time relevant data that's updated every day. MODIS catalogs fires, floods, dust, smoke, storms and even volcanic activity....

GLOBE: World Wind is capable of browsing through and displaying GLOBE (http://www.globe.gov/) data based on any time the user wants. For example, a user can download today's (or any previous day's) temperature across the world....
...and more.

pcmfr
10-08-2007, 07:25 PM
Learning the buttonology for GIS software is one thing, but making sense of the data and illustrating in a matter useful to decision makers is what separates a techie from an analyst. I recommend training for your GEOINT folks from guys who do this full time. That, or you can outsource the mapping. These guys seem to have some interesting approaches that are working for the corporate risk management and security world: Geocritical (www.georiskmap.com)

Jedburgh
10-08-2007, 08:31 PM
Learning the buttonology for GIS software is one thing, but making sense of the data and illustrating in a matter useful to decision makers is what separates a techie from an analyst. I recommend training for your GEOINT folks from guys who do this full time.
I fully agree with you there - and the training opportunities for GEOINT are expanding as the field grows along with its spectrum of application. There are a lot of programs out there dedicated for LE GIS analysts, but the availability of broad-spectrum training is increasing as well.

That, or you can outsource the mapping. These guys seem to have some interesting approaches that are working for the corporate risk management and security world: Geocritical
There is a lot of outsourcing going on. Much of it is crap, because many of those looking for support have no idea what they're looking for, or how to define quality product. Worse, much support is provided through the old boy network within the senior executive chain rather than by competitive bidding to select those best able to fulfill support requirements. Hordes of incompetent amateurs maintain comfortable lifestyles despite the complete lack of a quality product due to connections they made in college or while in government service earlier in life. Like in many other walks of life, ethics is serious problem, despite much exhortation to the contrary.

My viewpoint is driven by the fact that I currently work security/risk intelligence in the corporate world myself. Given that perspective, I found the products shown as examples on the GeoCritical site to be less than impressive. Any reasonably smart guy with a computer and 'net connection could put those maps together. Hell, updated equivalents or better of their samples on Avian Influenza, Earthquakes, and Hurricanes are readily found for free on specialty sites on the open web. Unless they're hiding their real product from the casual viewer (which doesn't make sense from a marketing standpoint), it does not appear that it requires either dedicated GIS software or true GEOINT analytic capability to duplicate (or improve upon) their efforts.

Jedburgh
11-10-2007, 01:17 PM
....interesting blog, along the lines of the thread topic area: IMINT & Analysis (http://geimint.blogspot.com/)

Open source military analysis, strategic thinking, and Google Earth imagery interpretation. Comments are welcome and encouraged.

Rex Brynen
11-10-2007, 04:04 PM
....interesting blog, along the lines of the thread topic area: IMINT & Analysis (http://geimint.blogspot.com/)

Very cool website.... thanks for digging it up!

Sean Osborne
12-08-2007, 03:49 PM
Anyone used Google Earth in conjunction with SIPR SIGACTS on a local computer to conduct pattern anaysis?


In conjunction with SIPR SIGACTS, why not use BFT/FBCB2 data? All reported SIGACTS are displayed on the real-time BFT/FBCB2 map/overlay.

RTK
12-08-2007, 07:30 PM
In conjunction with SIPR SIGACTS, why not use BFT/FBCB2 data? All reported SIGACTS are displayed on the real-time BFT/FBCB2 map/overlay.

Because BFT doesn't always have clear 1M CIB.

Penta
12-08-2007, 07:32 PM
...Translate that for the rest of us, please? <blinks>

Rex Brynen
12-08-2007, 08:10 PM
...Translate that for the rest of us, please? <blinks>

CIB = Controlled Image Base (essentially, aerial/satellite photography, stored digitally)

1M = CIB sampled at 1 metre ground sample distance.

...I think *lol*

Sean Osborne
12-09-2007, 04:51 PM
Because BFT doesn't always have clear 1M CIB.

Ok. I didn't mean to give the impression of BFT/FBCB2 SIGACTS being the "sole source" in the pattern analysis, but rather that BFT/FBCB2 SIGACTS data be included as part of an "all source" collated pattern analysis effort.

Just an idea.

Ron Humphrey
12-09-2007, 04:56 PM
Ok. I didn't mean to give the impression of BFT/FBCB2 SIGACTS being the "sole source" in the pattern analysis, but rather that BFT/FBCB2 SIGACTS data be included as part of an "all source" collated pattern analysis effort.

Just an idea.

As a tool Google Earth provides varying possibilities which have been used , I think however that the eventual movement will be more towards integration and development of tie-in apps for World Wind being that it can be used standalone or online ad is open source.

It would allow many of the possibilities sought here.

just my 1 1/2 ...

Cavguy
12-09-2007, 05:17 PM
Ok. I didn't mean to give the impression of BFT/FBCB2 SIGACTS being the "sole source" in the pattern analysis, but rather that BFT/FBCB2 SIGACTS data be included as part of an "all source" collated pattern analysis effort.

Just an idea.

FBCB2 icons are notoriously inaccurate and subjective in my uses due to the delay inherent in the system. FBCB2 is mostly useful for blue force tracking at present - still a ways to go on enemy sit. Then again, I was never in a "digitized" unit and received the equipment with minimal training.

We were fielding CPOF (Command Post of the Future - which is now) near the end of my last tour (again without training). The guys who replaced us did know how to use it, and it can integrate BFT data with a common situational picture down to BN level. It required a fair amount of bandwidth though, and I'm not sure how well it will work outside of a fixed site.

Sean Osborne
12-09-2007, 09:15 PM
FBCB2 icons are notoriously inaccurate and subjective in my uses due to the delay inherent in the system. FBCB2 is mostly useful for blue force tracking at present - still a ways to go on enemy sit. Then again, I was never in a "digitized" unit and received the equipment with minimal training.

We were fielding CPOF (Command Post of the Future - which is now) near the end of my last tour (again without training). The guys who replaced us did know how to use it, and it can integrate BFT data with a common situational picture down to BN level. It required a fair amount of bandwidth though, and I'm not sure how well it will work outside of a fixed site.

Just FYI and as an aside to the crux of this discussion.

With respect to BFT/FBCB2 and the SIGACTS the icons, prarticularly those for CBNRE, once propagated through the system they are persistent and very near real-time as the system updates every 120 seconds or so. I have seen this demonstrated repeatedly in recent months.

In an all source analytical function this aspect is irrelevant I think.