I saw a quick demo of Intergraph’s ImageStation which provides image analysts the ability to view in stereo. Intergraph has provided a solution for softcopy photogrammetry for many years. What is different however is the price point. The combination of stereo glasses, a video card using OpenGL technology, a single high-resolution monitor and software will cost under $10K. In the early days of Intergraph’s Z/I Imaging softcopy photogrammetry solutions, the price exceeded $100K.
by Joe Francica on 10/19 at 10:16 PM |
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Brig. General (ret.) James Clapper, the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence alluded to the multiple types and numbers of unmanned airborne vehicles (UAV’s) being deployed in the skies. "We’re going to create an eclipse with all the collection platforms with all that we’re doing in Afghanistan." Clapper is also the former director of the National Geospatial-intelligence Agency.
He also made these remarks about the anticipated budget crunch for intelligence funding: "How do we get the military intelligence and DNI [Director of National Intelligence] budgets to coincide? Because OMB told us to." Clapper remarked that he is trying to do more to synchronize those two programs.
by Joe Francica on 10/19 at 09:32 PM |
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Among the dark suits at GEOINT 2009 was a familiar face seen for the last few years at this conference. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, a national security consultant and ex-Doobie Brother band member, opened the conference with a rendition of "America the Beautiful" on guitar. The juxtaposition of Baxter at a geospatial technology conference always seems incongruous, to say the least, but as a fan of the Doobies, it’s always great to see him.
by Joe Francica on 10/19 at 09:08 PM |
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The “persistent intelligence” panel at GEOINT probably needs some explanation if you are not in the intelligence community. The obvious definition probably works best: it’s “constant” acquisition of human, signal, geospatial, or measurement data. The geospatial intelligence-gathering component often involves image acquisition and most recently is the availability of full-motion video in real-time.
Various members of the intelligence and military branches comprised the panel and each stressed the needed for “MULTI-INT” or the integration of all forms of intelligence. With this capability of course involves coordination of data acquisition and getting “buy-in” to share the intelligence. However, this panel appeared to be on the same page in saying that over the past year, there has been much improvement in working together in sharing resources. “I’ve seen a lot of progress in the last year. I’ve seen a change in the way we work as a community. We’re becoming more effective at working together,” said Mary Irvin, Director of Source Operations for the NGA. In addition, the panel said they are making sure that training new intelligence officers involve a much better understanding of how each form of intelligence contributes to analyzing the full picture of the threat. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Tom Dostie of the US Army Intelligence Center at Fort Huachuca stressed that “we’re creating a brand new career field in intelligence. Forty days after graduating, they are in the battlefield.”
What will change given all of this available data? Will it help the warfighter? The change will come from a better common operating picture of the battlefield. “If you are not following [what’s going on in] the battlefield, you are of no value,” said Dostie.
by Joe Francica on 10/19 at 05:15 PM |
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Adena Schutzberg interviewed the Open Geospatial Consortium’s Carl Reed about the status of KML, OGC’s new role in enabling discipline focussed efforts, why GeoRSS seems so hidden, INTERGEO and why the US is behind in using standards. This is the first in a series of interviews with geospatial insiders and outsiders.
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by Adena Schutzberg on 10/19 at 10:52 AM |
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