ASCOPE Analysis

[slapout9]

I am working on an LE project that deals with adpating the ASCOPE analysis for LE use,so with that in mind I am looking for information that:

How an ASCOPE Analysis is actually done.
1-Is it done manually with forms?
2-Is is done with a computer?
3-Is there software for this?
4-How often and in what manner are they updated?

I have seen all the field manual references (FM 3-24-2 Tactics for COIN,etc.) so any examples,references or links would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[OfTheTroops]

I think I left you hanging on this. ASCOPE is just one running assessment. The LE/ MP's use POLICE (corny right) Its in the new FM 3-19.50 (public release). Hope it doesn't trap you in a thought box. I would love to hear what you develop. CHP 1-16through

[Sullivoss]

Currently, most ASCOPE analysis is done manually in the form of the Civil Affairs Estimate and Annex. While ASCOPE is relatively new to the rest of the Army, it has been part of the CA Estimate/Annex for decades. Check out FM 3-05.40 (Civil Affairs Operations) and 3-05.401 (Civil Affairs TTP) for examples of the estimate and annex. This includes the sub sections of each major area as well that is typically not included in FM 3-0, FM 3-24, FM 3-07, etc. Now, all of that being said, this is simply how ASCOPE is catalogued, or written for an order. What, I am sure you have more interest in, is how ASCOPE is/can/should be used.

The best way to use it is in what we call a "nodal analysis" where you look at both ASCOPE and PMESII (Political, Military, Economic, Social, Infrastructure, Information) as if they are on perpendicular axis. So, for example, you would look at political areas, political structures, political capabilities, etc. military areas, military structures, military capabilities, etc. You get the picture. When you can map these "nodes" geo-spatially and layer then on top of one another, you can begin to see where you have overlap, and where you have people who are influential in certain areas, or in certain sectors, etc. This gives you the "so what" and provides the true analysis of the civil component of the battlefield.

Now, realistically, I am not sure how many units, or even how many CA folks out there are doing this. We are moving in this direction though... Hope this helps!

[slapout9]

All, thanks for the info, and keep it coming if you have anything else,had a late night so I will review them and comment later. Should have put this in my original post but the general idea is to apply ASCOPE to an individual criminal as in manhunting Later.

[slapout9]

I think I left you hanging on this. ASCOPE is just one running assessment. The LE/ MP's use POLICE (corny right) Its in the new FM 3-19.50 (public release). Hope it doesn't trap you in a thought box. I would love to hear what you develop. CHP 1-16through

No problem, I know your busy. tpd-597 Clear

[slapout9]

This is somewhat what I was thinking about....any thoughts?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HTCA...&feature=feedu

[davidbfpo]

Slap,

I was puzzled what ASCOPE meant and so found it was: Area Structures Capabilities Organizations People and Events. Not an acronym I'd heard before.

There is a lot of commentary on whether modern electronic society has removed anonymity and reduced privacy. See a US perspective, from one of the more astute observer and participants:http://jeffjonas.typepad.com/

Back to the film clip. Yes such modern devices can yield up masses of data, but are you sure Phone 'A' is with Subject 'A' ? We know that mobile / cell phones can be used in ways to evade identification. Really thoughtful criminals will avoid anything electronic. Thankfully few engage in deception.

[selil]

Back to the film clip. Yes such modern devices can yield up masses of data, but are you sure Phone 'A' is with Subject 'A' ? We know that mobile / cell phones can be used in ways to evade identification. Really thoughtful criminals will avoid anything electronic. Thankfully few engage in deception.

Go ahead and try. Drive a modern car? Gothcha. Buy groceries. Gotcha. Pay with cash... gotcha. Walk naked down US50 in Nevada (loneliest highway in American) still gotcha. That is really what the intersection cyber means.

[slapout9]

Slap,

I was puzzled what ASCOPE meant and so found it was: Area Structures Capabilities Organizations People and Events. Not an acronym I'd heard before.

I been working on this since the first GPS monitoring systems came out, some ten years ago. Wanted to apply it to domestic violence/stalking cases( I was literally laughed at for thinking about this some ten years ago). but I do it (have done it ) by hand. Used to plot locations on a city map based on peoples checkbooks,date books and address books. Cross reference to known locations where businesses had CCTV systems and or known offenders or crime locations. Very time/labor intensive.

[Oppenheimer]

Interesting theory since most of COIN theory is the application of LE principles.
1-Any form I've seen is self generated
2-Generally because of the volume of information.
3-Pick your poison. I've used Google Earth and spreadsheets to maintain data (about a 200km square area in Iraq), final presentation was always in PowerPoint...isn't it always.
4-ASCOPE in respect to the IPB process is a continuous process, depending on the amount of time you dedicate to the process it can be a daily update. We learned something new about our AO everyday, but we also focused on that.

Hope that helps.

[Jason Port]

The largest challenge in this arena is the competing interests of the "left brain" and the "right brain" From what I have seen, systems that try to address these topics either fall heavily into the qualitative data - lots of beautiful prose, and no ability to extract it, OR into the quantitative data - lots of how many did how much to whom, or the building can hold n-widgets and we have x-buildings . . .Unfortunately, I would suggest that DoD has struggled to find the happy medium - or moreover, found a method of collection that influences users to contribute both.

For example, were one to look at the data from Iraq, you might encounter spot reports where all of the data is shoved into the collection platforms into a text blob. This blob may even be segmented within the text, or in a certain format. But if you are a researcher looking at a system for how many beds are there for women in hospitals, you might not find it.

But with that being said, this is solvable for sure. I can probably dig up an unclassified schema for much of what you might want to collect on, that you could use as a starting point from what we did working with the CA/HTS community. PM me with your email address, and I will get a copy over to you.

We would also be very interested in helping - my first job out of grad school was working in the Prosecutor's office for a major city, and I still have a ton of cop friends, who are feeling like they are facing a losing battle - To quote a detective I know with about 20 years in - "I don't even know why I bother any more - this city is going to eat itself, and there ain't nothing we can do to stop it. . ." I would love to help change that mindset.

[slapout9]

Still looking through the CA manuals but the Civil Affairs Workbook that can be kept by hand is looking good!!! I would keep the ASCOPE acronym and divide the workbook up by those categories. I also want to keep it low tech and cheap (no batteries required). More later.