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One of the biggest challenges facing the GEOINT community is providing the ability to share vital information with the right people at the right time. And with the proliferation of GEOINT information gathering technologies, and drone data, there is no shortage of live video and other data streaming from air- and ground-level sensors. And what comes with this challenge is that analysts need to assess the data, then share it with the warfighters in a timely fashion. According to this recent Defense Systems article, the pendulum is swinging toward giving warfighters greater access to raw data, even as the debate continues over how to make that information useful. Along these lines, check out this DoD Buzz article that highlights how a new program called Valiant Angel aims to sort and move the massive amounts of still and video imagery collected by dozens of aerial drones and other aircraft orbiting around Afghanistan. What do you all think of this trend of providing raw data to the warfighter? The role of analysts is critical in compiling the right intelligence, which can minimize error. But if there is too much of a lag time, the intelligence is moot. Very much of a double-edge sword.

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As many GEOINTers know, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) began consolidating its eastern facilities, in accordance with the Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). As such the NGA is in the process of bringing together its eastern operations in the Springfield, Virginia area on the Engineer Proving Ground of Fort Belvoir. And by September 15, 2011, the NGA will open its “New Campus East” and will close its primary sites in Bethesda, Reston, and the Washington Navy Yard. We were able to get some satellite images of the New Campus East provided by DigitalGlobe.

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If only every week was like this week. Think about it. We have a packed week with very exciting things happening as a result of USGIF Tech Days. Right now, the NGA Technology Day is going on and it’s an amazing opportunity to see how NGA’s products and services are uniting the intelligence, defense and homeland security communities through an integrated GIS architecture for web-based dissemination, analysis and visualization. Please note though that mission partners cleared SI//TK are allowed to attend! Read more about the event here and, as always, stay tuned for more USGIF Tech Days news!

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