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The concept of geospatial predictive analysis is coming to life and will play a major role in making our world safer. According to a recent Fast Company article, experts are now using these cutting-edge algorithms and data analysis techniques to do everything from predicting terrorist activity, preventing auto theft and even anticipating where meth labs will open up.

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Last week, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta proposed cutting the budget by $487 billion over the next decade. According to the Washington Post, the cuts would result in slower production of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and fewer purchases of the new Littoral Combat Ship and the Joint High Speed Vessel. Though the Pentagon is aiming to protect spending for building unmanned systems and is even looking to develop new ones. Further underscoring the move towards the expanded use of UAVs, Wired Danger Room recently did a post about a Congressional Research Service report that showcases how “almost one in three U.S. warplanes is a robot.”

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With a tremendous amount of change happening in the GEOINT sector these days, we are always excited to connect with Intelligence Community (IC) veterans who can lend there perspective on things. Today, we are speaking Darryl Garrett, an IC veteran who had a 25-year career at the CIA, as well as played major R&D roles at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Mr. Garrett also consults for a number of companies and organizations in the GEOINT sector and sits on many boards.

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Google is creating gaming concept that brings us back to our childhood. Do you remember those games where you had to guide a marble through a maze by tilting and adjusting the game board? Google is creating virtual version of this where you guide a “digitized” marble through the streets and avenues on Google Maps. The as-yet-to-be-named game will launch next month and, of course, will be on Android-powered devices. Be sure to check out the video about this new game in this post.

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The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) recently issued a study that underscores how the U.S. space industry is losing its competitive edge and risks falling short of future national security requirements unless government reforms our export control system and promotes the international competitiveness of U.S. industry. The report, Competing for Space: Satellite Export Policy and U.S. National Security, surveys U.S. satellite systems and components manufacturers about the challenges the space industrial base faces as a result of U.S. export policies. Among the adverse impacts on industry are loss of global market share and dampening of satellite component sales opportunities to sustain U.S. space technology leadership.

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PBS NOVA recently ran a program that will captivate the most avid GEOINT history buff. The segment called “3D Spies of WWII” highlights how allied intelligence teamed up with brilliant minds from Britain and Hollywood to develop 3D GEOINT solutions that played a major role in crippling Germany’s rocket program and paved the way for a successful D-Day launch. Be sure to check out the entire program in this post. It is truly fascinating!

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We all know that one of the biggest challenges facing the GEOINT sector is being able to synthesize massive amounts of data and make it actionable in near real-time. Both industry and government have made tremendous strides in developing innovations that allow us to manage these data overload issues. Though the Army is now combining Boeing’s A160 Hummingbird unmanned helo and the Autonomous Real-time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance Imaging System (ARGUS) to create a surveillance system that can capture 80 years worth of video in one day. As Wired Danger Room points out, this new system is highly valuable and will allow us to see for “miles like we were Roger Daltrey.”

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Fully understanding our natural resources is vital to the health and sustainability of our planet. With this in mind, over the past six years, Josef Kellndorfer and Wayne Walker of the Woods Hole Research Center created a detailed map that shows actual tree cover over the U.S. With the help from data from the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Geological Survey, the forests were mapped down to a scale of 30 meters, or roughly 10 computer display pixels for every hectare of land (4 pixels per acre). And, researchers estimate that their mapping database now contains measurements of more than 5 million trees.

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Welcome to the Monday Morning News Kick Off post from got geoint? As always, we hope you had a restful weekend and are prepared to take on the world. Even the most dedicated GEOINT professional sometimes needs a little push in the right direction to get the work week started. Thus our ever-popular MMNKO post, which we serve up each Monday on a golden platter. So, we we always say, fire up that second cup of coffee and read on. Happy Monday!

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The U.S. Navy is moving forward with developing an unmanned vertical takeoff and landing program that would produce an aircraft capable of resupplying Marine units in isolated regions. Under the Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System (AACUS) program, the Navy is now soliciting bids for the development of what it is calling an unmanned vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) program that would include “a vehicle autonomously avoiding obstacles while finding and landing at an unprepared landing site in dynamic conditions, with goal-directed supervisory control by a field operator with no special training.” According to Flightglobal.com, bids are due by February 28th, and awards will be given to two teams in April 2012, and the first flight demonstration is expected in fiscal year 2014.

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