What is geospatial intelligence? A geographer explains the powerful melding of maps and data

Subject: Science and Technology

Section: Space technology

Context:

Geospatial intelligence has offered valuable insights to help governments and organizations protect communities from extreme weather events.

Geospatial intelligence:

It is the collection and integration of data from a network of technologies, including satellites, mobile sensors, ground-control stations and aerial images.
The data is used to produce real-time maps and simulations to help identify when, where and to what extent a threat is likely to emerge.
Government officials, individuals or both can use this information to make informed decisions.
Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) is intelligence about the human activity on earth derived from the exploitation and analysis of imagery, signals, or signatures with geospatial information.
The geospatial intelligence industry is projected to grow from a US$61 billion enterprise in 2020 to more than $209 billion in 2030.

Applications of Geospatial Intelligence:

It contributes to emergency preparedness and response.
The National Hurricane Center actively monitors the location, formation and trajectory of tropical cyclones.
- Detailed information on the timing, location and strength of a given hurricane helps officials distribute resources and personnel, as well as issue storm warnings and evacuation orders.
Geospatial intelligence also provides valuable guidance for search-and-rescue and recovery efforts following a disaster.
They helps first responders locate access points in the transportation network to rescue survivors, set up aid stations and provide emergency supplies.
It is also used for environmental monitoring.
- Monitoring temperature, precipitation, snowpack and polar ice helps scientists and government officials anticipate and prepare for potential disturbances.

Military and civilian logistics:

It has also made contributions in the Russian-Ukraine war.
- A commercial satellite imagery reported the 40-mile-long convoy of Russian ground forces heading toward Kyiv in February 2022.
It is also used in transportation, logistics and global supply chains.
- GPS provides governments, businesses and people with detailed information on the time, location and destination of ships and cargo. This leads to greater efficiency and more consistent and reliable operations.
Geospatial intelligence is also helping with the rollout of autonomous vehicles.
- The city planners and engineers are able to detect markings and features on the ground such as bicycle lanes and traffic direction. It helps planners build safer, smarter, more efficient and better-connected communities.
It also helps in the development, implementation and evaluation of digital twins. Digital twins are virtual representations of real systems that mimic the systems’ characteristics and can be updated in real time to reflect changing conditions in the systems. They are useful in: decision making, modeling changes and predicting outcomes, simulating weather and terrain to evolve a strategy.

Source: TH