What is GEOINT and how has it evolved throughout the course of the modern-day conflict?
Geospatial intelligence or GEOINT is the “geographically referenced intelligence information about the spatial and temporal aspects of the Earth and human activity on it, which provides an advantage to any decision-maker. In the United States, the term includes both the all-source analytic process and the resulting product.” [source]
With the introduction of new technologies, GEOINT has continued to evolve and grow in the impact of warfighting and strategic efforts. In the Civil War, the use of GEOINT was limited to ground-based and small aerial visualizations. World War II showed increased use of GEOINT by utilizing aircraft to gather reconnaissance us. In the modern day, satellites and unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicles are utilized to collect intelligence.
What impact has GEOINT had on the counter-intelligence aspect of the Intelligence Community?
Continued advancements and growth in GEOINT have come not only from the United States but from nonfriendly nations. The increased use of unmanned surveillance vehicles and aircraft has proven to be instrumental in the strategic planning of nations. In order to combat this, the United States has had to develop new methods to disguise and hide areas that could be monitored by the enemy utilizing these methods.
How has the Intelligence Community adapted to the use of GEOINT regularly in strategic planning?
The Intelligence Community has continued to grow to implement new methods of intelligence collection and analysis. With the continued growth and necessity of GEOINT, new agencies have been formed to collect and analyze this intelligence discipline. With the introduction of the space race, the United States was competing to be the first nation to have a satellite in orbit. This has led to a never-ending competition for superiority in the GEOINT field.
What are the different tools and methods for collecting GEOINT?
In collecting geospatial intelligence, one must utilize many different sources and be able to synthesize the information to create a final product. With the introduction of geographic information system mapping (GIS), analysts can create a product with multiple inputs for a consumer to be analyzed as one. The use of GIS has impacted not only the IC but also the civilian user by utilizing GPS and map directions daily on their phones.
How has GEOINT evolved to the use of municipalities and civilian populations?
The different types of GEOINT have been impactful not only in the strategic use for the military but also for local organizations and cities. The sources of GEOINT can be utilized by local governments to help with zoning for their communities or by civilians to plan a hiking trip mapped out on a printed paper map.
What is the future of GEOINT?
The use of GEOINT will continue to grow into useful sources for the civilian population. Businesses will continue to utilize public sources of GEOINT to grow their hold on the market share. Municipalities and state governments can continue to work with GEOINT sources to help plan for natural disasters and implement strategies to prevent loss of property and life. While the use of GEOINT will continue to better civilization, the enemy will continue to utilize and exploit GEOINT. The open expanse of OSINT is going to enable the enemy to exploit GEOINT and will cause the United States and other allied nations to develop countermeasures to defeat the enemy.