GEOINT

GEOINT stands for GEOspatial INTelligence, which is an intelligence discipline comprising the exploitation and analysis of satellite information to describe, assess, and visually depict physical features and geographically referenced activities on the Earth. GEOINT sources include imagery and mapping data, whether collected by commercial satellite, government satellite or by other means, such as UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) or reconnaissance aircraft.

There is no universally accepted definition of GEOINT. It has been considered that GEOINT is just a new term used to identify a broad range of outputs from organisations that use a variety of existing spatial skills and disciplines including Photogrammetry , Cartography , Photo Interpretation , Remote Sensing , and Terrain Analysis .

In particular, confusion and dissension is caused by the separation of 'imagery' or 'satellite information' from 'geospatial information' as imagery is generally considered just one of the forms which geospatial information might take.

GEOINT can probably best be described as a product occurring at the point of delivery. i.e. by the amount of analysis which occurs to resolve particular problems, not by the type of data used. For example, a database containing a list of measurements of bridges obtained from imagery is 'information' whilst the development of an output using analysis to determine those bridges which are able to be utilised for specific purposes could be termed 'intelligence'.

Similarly the simple measurement of beach profiles is a classical geographic information gathering activity, whilst the process of selecting a beach which matches a certain profile for a specific purpose is an analytical activity, and the output could be termed an intelligence product.

In this form it is considered to be generally used by Agencies requiring simple definitions of their outputs for descriptive and capability development purposes. (or, more cynically, as a marketing strategy).

Notably, the Digital Geographic Information Working Group [http://www.dgiwg.org] has twice rejected proposals to have 'Geographic Information' replaced with 'Geospatial Intelligence'.

GEOINT agencies

* USA: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
* Australia: Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO)
* United Kingdom: JARIC - The National Imagery Exploitation Centre
* Canada: CFJIC - Canadian Forces Joint Imagery Centre

GEOINT Units

* Australian Army: 1st Topographical Survey Squadron (1 TOPO SVY SQN) [http://events.oesr.qld.gov.au/registrations.nsf/0373ee1284b08ec34a256d510021011d/9561c03a0f15e5644a256d5200031e3e/$FILE/1%20Topo%20Brief.pdf] (Homeland Security: Army Spatial Information Capabilities)

* United States Marine Corps: 1st Topographic Platoon (1st TOPO) [http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/MHG/Intelbn/pna.asp] (1st Marine Expeditionary Force - Marine Headquarters Group - 1st Intelligence Battalion - Production and Analysis Company)

* United States Marine Corps: 2nd Topographic Platoon (2nd TOPO) [http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/public/iimefpublic.nsf/unitSites/2dIntelBn] (2nd Marine Expeditionary Force - Marine Headquarters Group - 2nd Intelligence Battalion - Production and Analysis Company)

* United States Marine Corps: 3rd Topographic Platoon (3rd TOPO) [http://www.iiimef.usmc.mil/3rdintel/index.html] (3rd Marine Expeditionary Force - Marine Headquarters Group - 3rd Intelligence Battalion - Production and Analysis Company)

ee also

* HUMINT: Human intelligence
* SIGINT: Signals intelligence
* ELINT: Electronic intelligence
* IMINT: Imagery intelligence
* MASINT: Measurement and signature intelligence, of which GEOINT is a subset.
* Geospatial engineering
* Google Earth
* Microsoft MapPoint
* WikiMapia
* Geospatial Information Officer

External links

* [http://www.dgieurope.com DGI - Defence Geospatial Intelligence Conference]
* [http://www.geoint2008.com GEOINT Symposium 2008]
* [http://www.geoint2007.com GEOINT Symposium 2007]
* [http://www.geoint2006.com GEOINT Symposium 2006]
* [http://www.geoint2005.com GEOINT Symposium 2005]
* [http://www.nga.mil National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)]
* [http://geoint.missouri.edu/ Center for Geospatial Intelligence]
* [http://www.defence.gov.au/digo/ Australian Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO)]
* [http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/GeospatialIntelligenceCertificate.shtml Penn State GEOINT post baccalaureate certificate program]
* [http://www.geog.missouri.edu/geointcert/index.shtml University of Missouri - Undergraduate GEOINT Certificate Program]