reconnaissance and surveillance leaders course imagery

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

IMAGERY


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


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


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



Enabling LearningObjective A


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.


Echelon Support

• Echelons above corps

– National level assets, civil and commercial systems

• Corps

• Division


Types of Imagery

• RADAR (to include SAR)

• Infrared (thermal)

• Optical

• Electro optical

• Multi-spectral


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


Radar

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


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


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


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


• 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


Optical Imagery


Soft Copy (electro-optical) Capabilities

• Excellent resolution

• Near-Real-Time (NTR) capability

• Same capabilities as optical


• Requires large amount of memory and storage

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

Soft Copy (electro-optical) Limitations


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


• 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


Map Mosaic


Perspective View


Summary

• IMINT Mission

• Four types of aerial imagery

• Capabilities and limitations of each type


QUESTIONS???


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?


Enabling LearningObjective B

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




Angles of Photography

• Vertical (topographical)

• Oblique (low and high)

• Panoramic


Vertical (overhead)


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


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


Low Oblique


High Oblique


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


Oblique Disadvantages

• Scale variations

• Measurement difficult

• Terrain masking


Panoramic


Panoramic Advantages

• Large area coverage

• Satisfies both vertical and oblique mission requirements

• Limited stand-off


Panoramic Disadvantages

• Scale varies

• Measurements difficult


IR Capabilities


Blossoming, Halation, and Bleed-over effect


IR Imagery Distortions

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

B


QUESTIONS???


Check on Learning

• What are the five types of imagery?

• What are the advantages of oblique imagery?

• What are the advantages of vertical imagery?

reconnaissance and surveillance leaders course imagery

Documents