reconnaissance and surveillance leaders course imagery

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

IMAGERY

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Action: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various types of aerial imagery

Condition: Given intelligence handout and group discussion in a classroom environment.

Standard: Score 70% on a 50 question multiple choice test.

Terminal LearningObjective

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS: GENERAL SAFETY

RISK ASSESSMENT: LOW

ENVIRONMENT CONSIDERATIONS: IF YOU BROUGHT IN, TAKE IT WITH YOU!!

EVALUATION: Students will be evaluated during a written exam following the exam and during the graded FTX.

General Admin

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Action: Learn types of imagery, and various aspects of each type of imagery.

Condition: Given intelligence handout and group discussion in a classroom environment.

Standard: Score 70% on a 50 question multiple choice test.

Enabling LearningObjective A

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Photographic Imagery

Intelligence and combat information are required by commanders at all echelons to satisfy their needs. Timely, accurate information is the cornerstone on which sound tactical decisions are made. Imagery provides information or intelligence that is not only timely, but, in most cases, accurate and detailed.

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Echelon Support

• Echelons above corps

– National level assets, civil and commercial systems

• Corps

• Division

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Types of Imagery

• RADAR (to include SAR)

• Infrared (thermal)

• Optical

• Electro optical

• Multi-spectral

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Radar

• Best for detecting objects at night and in bad weather• Capabilities

– All-weather capability• Can penetrate fog, haze, clouds, smoke

– Good stand-off capability– Large area coverage– Can detect movement– Does not rely on visible light nor thermal radiation

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Radar

• Limitations– Requires skilled analysis– Can be jammed or intercepted– Terrain masking

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

IR Capabilities

• Best for night time, clear weather, detailed analysis

• Finds objects by the heat they radiate

• Can detect objects at night

• Can locate personnel and equipment under camouflage

• Passive sensor

• Provides good resolution

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

IR Limitations

• Thermal/temp cross-over twice each day

• Bloom of heat sources can obscure or hide nearby objects

• Weather severely degrades resolution

• Tactical platforms vulnerable to enemy air defense

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Hard Copy (Optical) Capabilities

• Best tool for daytime, clear weather, detailed analysis

• Highest resolution

• Affords familiar view of scene

• Preferred for detailed analysis

• Offers stereographic viewing

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

• Processing time

• Can be deceived by employment of camouflage and concealment techniques

• Restricted by weather conditions; Visible light cannot penetrate clouds or fog

• Restricted by terrain and vegetation

• Limited to daytime use only

Hard Copy (Optical) Limitations

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Optical Imagery

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Soft Copy (electro-optical) Capabilities

• Excellent resolution

• Near-Real-Time (NTR) capability

• Same capabilities as optical

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

• Requires large amount of memory and storage

• Same as for optical (with exception of processing time)

Soft Copy (electro-optical) Limitations

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Multi-spectralCapabilities

• Best tool for mapping purposes and terrain analysis

• Large database available• Wide area coverage• Band combinations can be manipulated to

display desired requirements• Images can be merged with other digital data to

provide higher resolution

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

• Poor resolution

• Current platforms commercially owned– Scenes must be purchased

• Computer manipulation requires large amount of memory and storage

• Image quality degraded by same weather factors for visible and IR

Multi-spectralLimitations

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Map Mosaic

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Perspective View

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Summary

• IMINT Mission

• Four types of aerial imagery

• Capabilities and limitations of each type

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

QUESTIONS???

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Check on Learning

• What are the four types of aerial imagery?

• What is the disadvantage of Electro-optical over optical?

• What are two advantages of radar imagery?

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Enabling LearningObjective B

Action: Learn the various angles imagery photos can be taken at and the advantages and disadvantages of each type.

Condition: Given intelligence handout and group discussion in a classroom environment.

Standard: Score 70% on a 50 question multiple choice test.

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Angles of Photography

• Vertical (topographical)

• Oblique (low and high)

• Panoramic

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Vertical (overhead)

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Vertical Capabilities

• Fairly constant scale• Can see what is all around an object as opposed to

just one side• Can be used as a map substitute• Can construct mosaics• Obtain accurate measurements• Allows stereographic viewing• Accurate interpretation

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Vertical Limitations

• Difficult to see slopes• Depth perception lacking• Aircraft or air vehicles must fly directly over target • Objects under overhead cover cannot be viewed• Unnatural view angle• Some targets cannot be viewed due to restrictions on

over-flights

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Low Oblique

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

High Oblique

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Oblique Advantages

• More natural viewing angle

• Can “see” the slope of the terrain

• Can determine heights of objects

• Can see under cover

• Large area coverage

• Stand-off capability

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Oblique Disadvantages

• Scale variations

• Measurement difficult

• Terrain masking

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Panoramic

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Panoramic Advantages

• Large area coverage

• Satisfies both vertical and oblique mission requirements

• Limited stand-off

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Panoramic Disadvantages

• Scale varies

• Measurements difficult

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

IR Capabilities

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Blossoming, Halation, and Bleed-over effect

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

IR Imagery Distortions

• A - IR shadow (ghost effect)• B - halation

B

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

QUESTIONS???

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Check on Learning

• What are the five types of imagery?

• What are the advantages of oblique imagery?

• What are the advantages of vertical imagery?