Google Earth

[SWJED]

1 Dec. Christian Science Monitor - Google's Open Skies Raise Cries.

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) encountered an unexpected backlash: complaints from government officials who believe easy availability of high- resolution satellite images compromises their national security...

[SWJED]

18 Dec. London Daily Telegraph - Insurgents 'Using Google Earth'.

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]

20 Dec. NY Times - Google Offers a Bird's-Eye View, and Some Governments Tremble.

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]

13 June Information Week - Google Earth Grows With New Hi-Res Imagery.

... 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]

13 June Information Week - Google Earth Grows With New Hi-Res Imagery.

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"?

[Jedburgh]

...and, to go with Google Earth:

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]

Not a news or commentary blog, but useful: Google Earth Blog

Recently posted is the Israel-Lebanon Conflict Illustrated in Google Earth, which is being continually updated.

[SWJED]

...is the Google Earth Community Discussion Group.

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]

29 August Los Angeles Times commentary - Google-Earthing the Hermit Kingdom 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, 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]

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]

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

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 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, 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]

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]

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]

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

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]

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]

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]

...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]

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]

Terrorists 'Use Google Maps to Hit U.K. Troops' - 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]

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