remote sensing in modern military operations

Remote Sensing in Remote Sensing in Modern Military Modern Military

OperationsOperations

►What is a GIS?What is a GIS?►A GIS is a computer system capable of A GIS is a computer system capable of

capturing, storing, analyzing, and capturing, storing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced displaying geographically referenced information; that is, data identified information; that is, data identified according to location. Practitioners according to location. Practitioners also define a GIS as including the also define a GIS as including the procedures, operating personnel, and procedures, operating personnel, and spatial data that go into the system.spatial data that go into the system.

►A GIS makes it possible to link, or A GIS makes it possible to link, or integrate, information that is difficult integrate, information that is difficult to associate through any other means. to associate through any other means. Thus, a GIS can use combinations of Thus, a GIS can use combinations of mapped variables to build and analyze mapped variables to build and analyze new variables .new variables .

Former Cruise Missile Former Cruise Missile TechnologyTechnology

►NavigationNavigation Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM)Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) (later) Global Positioning System (GPS)(later) Global Positioning System (GPS)

►Terminal phaseTerminal phase Digital Scene Matching Area Correlator Digital Scene Matching Area Correlator

(DSMAC)(DSMAC)

TERCOMTERCOMTerrain Contour MatchingTerrain Contour Matching, or , or TERCOMTERCOM, is a , is a

navigation system used primarily by navigation system used primarily by cruise missiles. It uses a pre-recorded . It uses a pre-recorded contour map of the terrain that is compared to of the terrain that is compared to measurements made during flight by an on-measurements made during flight by an on-board board radar altimeter. A TERCOM system . A TERCOM system considerably increases the accuracy of a considerably increases the accuracy of a missile. The increased accuracy allows a missile. The increased accuracy allows a TERCOM-equipped missile to fly closer to TERCOM-equipped missile to fly closer to obstacles and generally lower altitudes, making obstacles and generally lower altitudes, making it harder to detect by ground radar.it harder to detect by ground radar.

TERCOMTERCOM

Target

Launch

INS Navigation

Waypoint fix

Stored map

Missile track

•Multiple raster maps stored (all with same dimensions)

•Maps are DEMS of areas that have distinct topography

•Spatial resolution increases with each successive map—“precision funneling”

Tomahawk Cruise Missile Track using

TERCOM

DSMAC and TERCOMDSMAC and TERCOM

High-resolution imagery (spatial and radiometric)

Radar-altimeter used to compare elevation of terrain with stored data

Generate DEM from high-resolution satellite imagery

Right time of day—correct range of contrast

•Accurate 30-100 m

•Must obtain data for entire land surface of earth

•Very inefficient over flat areas—circuitous route necessary

GIS on the Battlefield: ESRIGIS on the Battlefield: ESRI

Command and ControlCommand and Control


Mission Planning—Threat DomesMission Planning—Threat Domes


Military Operations in Urbanized TerrainMilitary Operations in Urbanized Terrain


Tracking and MonitoringTracking and Monitoring

► The GIS imagery product can serve a number of The GIS imagery product can serve a number of functions. Local installation officials can use the functions. Local installation officials can use the multilayered GIS product to plan additional security multilayered GIS product to plan additional security measures to deal with new terrorist threats. These measures to deal with new terrorist threats. These local officials also can examine infrastructure local officials also can examine infrastructure issues, such as expansion or return of land to issues, such as expansion or return of land to civilian use, in the context of the effects these civilian use, in the context of the effects these changes would have in a variety of environmental changes would have in a variety of environmental areas. And, Defense Department officials can areas. And, Defense Department officials can consider all of these factors in determining base consider all of these factors in determining base realignment or closure.realignment or closure.

The Future: GIS Integrated with The Future: GIS Integrated with Land WarriorLand Warrior

► Land Warrior SystemLand Warrior System

What GIS can do for small units:What GIS can do for small units:

► Command and controlCommand and control For company commanders, For company commanders,

platoon and squad leadersplatoon and squad leaders Track movements and Track movements and

status of each person and status of each person and unitunit

Transmit messages, images, Transmit messages, images, maps, to individualsmaps, to individuals

► NavigationNavigation View 2D or 3D maps of current View 2D or 3D maps of current

location in multiple viewslocation in multiple views GPS to direct toward waypointsGPS to direct toward waypoints

► Soldier identification and target Soldier identification and target discriminationdiscrimination Friendly troopsFriendly troops Enemy troopsEnemy troops CiviliansCivilians

GIS for small units:GIS for small units:

► Terrain analysisTerrain analysis Cross-country mobilityCross-country mobility Patrol base analysis—OCOKAPatrol base analysis—OCOKA

► OObservation and fields of firebservation and fields of fire► CCover and concealmentover and concealment► OObstaclesbstacles► KKey terrainey terrain► AAvenues of approachvenues of approach

Automated real-time data correctionAutomated real-time data correction

► Communication with command centerCommunication with command center Field commanders can query GIS analysts at Field commanders can query GIS analysts at

command center to conduct terrain analysis or command center to conduct terrain analysis or least cost pathleast cost path

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remote sensing in modern military operations

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