got geoint?

Welcome to the Monday Morning Kick Off post from got geoint? Well, last week was quite a whirlwind for all of us in the GEOINT sector. By topping off GEOINT Community Week with the GeoGala, we have officially had our fix — or whetted our appetites, as they say — and now to the horizon to GEOINT 2011. Though before you start packing your bags for San Antonio, be sure to make got geoint? your only destination for GEOINT-related news. And, we have a most excellent MMNKO post for you today. So, as we always say, be sure to fire up that second cup of coffee and read on. Happy Monday!

US House Passes Bill to Fund Spy Agencies
The House on Friday overwhelmingly passed a bill to fund U.S. spy agencies, using the legislation as an opportunity to commend the operatives who were critical in hunting down al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. The vote was 392-15, a reflection of the strong bipartisan support and the goodwill toward the intelligence community after bin Laden’s death. New House Republican rules prohibit the resolutions of commendation that lawmakers would often offer to congratulate everyone from the military to winning sports teams. Instead, lawmakers added a provision to the bill praising the intelligence community for the successful operation in bringing bin Laden to justice. The provision was based on the Senate resolution that passed 97-0. Read the full AP story here.

Next-Generation Tools for Delivering On-Demand Geospatial Assets
Every year, organizations around the world spend tens of billions of dollars on the collection, analysis, and management of geospatial data. Despite this significant investment, the geospatial intelligence sector faces some major challenges. Historically much of the geospatial intelligence effort has focused on the collection and analysis of data, whereas the timely distribution and sharing of the resulting information with those outside the GIS department often takes a back seat. Organizations need to be able to provide rapid self-service and increasingly proactive delivery of spatial information, enable end-users to personalize intelligence, collect additional intelligence in the context of their missions, and effectively share new intelligence with others in the field and across the extended enterprise. Otherwise, the base data and analysis never return their full potential value to the enterprise. Read the full GIS Cafe post from Rick Cobb, CEO of TerraGo Technologies here.

The Bulletproof Dog That Stormed Bin Laden’s Lair
If you see this dog coming for you, run. Thanks to his extensive training–and customized body armor that can run upwards of $30,000–he’s bulletproof, can hear through concrete, and can record high-def video of missions, even in the dead of night. Since the moment it was revealed that the “nation’s most courageous dog” served alongside the 80 Navy SEALs who took out Osama bin Laden, America’s fascination with war dogs has hit a fevered pitch. And while the heart-tugging photos of these four-legged heroes are worth a look, so is the high-tech gear that helps them do their job. Last year, the military spent $86,000 on four tactical vests to outfit Navy Seal dogs. Read more from Fast Company here.

Opening GAMBIT: The Development of the KH-7 Reconnaissance Satellite
Last year the Director of National Intelligence quietly declassified the “fact of” the GAMBIT and HEXAGON reconnaissance satellite programs. This is a bureaucratic affectation of covert programs—some things are so secret that the US government will not acknowledge their existence, so acknowledging that they exist is the required first step towards talking about them. If declassification plans do not get derailed, this fall the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) will release information on these two formerly top secret reconnaissance satellite programs that operated until the mid-1980s. Read the full Space Review article here.

Israel Plans Big Boost for Spy Satellites
Israel has disclosed that a large, but unspecified, chunk of the funding for its upcoming multiyear defense plan will go to launching spy satellites to provide round-the-clock real-time surveillance of Iran and other “areas of interest.” The air force, which has been responsible for all launches from Israel, says there are six “observational satellites” in orbit, four owned by the state and two privately owned craft. These provide imagery and other data to the military’s Intelligence Corps, which has operational control of the satellites once they’re in orbit. Read the full UPI story here.

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Aids Flood, Tornado Disasters
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies in responding to the flooding and tornadoes that have caused catastrophic damage in the United States. In the aftermath of the tornadoes, NGA has provided damage assessments and other geospatial intelligence products crucial in disaster response and debris cleanup in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. NGA is providing daily updates in support of FEMA requirements. In connection with the Mississippi River flooding, NGA has been producing both predictive analyses and damage assessments as water levels rise and diversion efforts proceed along the river. Read the full article from the NGA here.

Tags: Bulletproof dog and bin laden, GAMBIT and HEXAGON reconnaissance satellite programs, GEOINT Community Week, got geoint?, House Intelligence Funding, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, NGA, TerraGo, TerraGo Technologies, USGIF