The Beginnings of GEOINT

Cartography is the science and art of graphically representing a geographical area. It was invented in ancient Greece around the date of 330 B.C.

Cartography can be utilized for many different purposes. They are used to map and observe different terrains in locations. The Digital Elevation Model is a matrix of numbers to represent a specific point on the surface. This is utilized to create a topographic map. Another use for cartography is navigation. In the early days, navigation was conducted utilizing celestial means. Later, it has evolved to implement the use of radio and later satellites using global positioning system.

Aristotle argued the Earth was round opposing the common theme of the Earth being flat. This influenced later philosophers in their beginning creations of maps. Eratosthenes was the first recorded to estimate the circumference of the Earth and created the theory of latitude and longitude lines to determine location at a specific location. Claudius Ptolemaus utilized the theory of latitude and longitude lines to pinpoint specific locations on a map.

There are several different types of maps. They are:

· Gnomic

· Mercator (most commonly seen)

· Equal area

· Universal Transverse Mercator

Geopolitics has become essential in the terms of national power and security. While effectively implement GEOINT, the thought of geopolitics is an essential tool in diplomacy and strategic planning.