Imagery analysis: Difference between revisions

    Imagery Analysis
            The successful extraction of useful information from mostly bi-dimensional graphic formats, including screen shots. In 
       it's broadest sense it includes both color, and black & white photographs, infra-red photographs and video, radar screens and 
       synthetic aperture radar formats, ultrasound, EKG, EEG, MRI, echo cardiograms, seismographs and others. In short, any type of
       sensor-related data projected in 2 & 3D formats qualifies as imagery.
    
    I. The origin of Imagery Analysis.
            Prior to the invention of early photography, military commanders depended on scouts that would explore, and from high 
       ground would survey or reconnoiter enemy activity, depending on simple eyesight and human memory.
            Once photography became available, tactical information became frozen in time, details could be preserved, enhancing the
       quality of available information.

            1. World war I saw the start of ground based and aerial photographic collection. For the first time commanders were able
       to access timely and accurate intelligence. Such was the value of this type of information that observers in tethered 
       balloons and scout planes were attacked, first with crude weapons and later escalating to machine guns and the development of
       the fighter. Frank Luke, an american pilot procured incendiary ammunition and used it to destroy numerous enemy observation
       balloons, gaining the title of Balloon Buster.
            The end of the war resulted in the scaling down of tactical and strategic capabilities, resulting in almost dormant 
       state in the development of photographic analysis. The perceived threat from Germany and Japan revived the collection and
       analytical  capabilities of the major powers and helped military planners prepare for the next war.

            2. In the 1930's experiments with film media and it's processing resulted in the introduction of film that could now 
       detect non-visible wavelengths in the Infra-red spectrum. One of the first applications was the use by those associated with 
       rare art collections. Previously invisible details made it possible to detect and deter forgeries.
            Radar made its appearance during World War II, primarily in its early warning capability. Int he early days of the cold     
       war, soviet troops would use a directional radar beacon to lure aircrews toward their airspace in order to shoot them down.
            By this time radar scopes became available in larger aircraft monitoring soviet-controlled border areas. Having these
       scopes made early radar navigation possible, indeed, in photos released by the Air Force, pictures were taken of the
       screens, documenting this use.

            3. The Post-Vietnam era saw the introduction of airborne infra-red sensors. Differences in temperatures between objects 
       and their surroundings made it possible to detect targets on the ground. These early systems would record data which would be
       accessed once the aerial platform would land. Later developments in transmission technology would provide periodic data
       dumps and would further evolve into real-time collection.
          
            4. Synthetic Aperture Radar would soon be developed in the later part of the Cold War. The concept of an optical camera
       aperture affecting the image acquisition process would be emulated with radar waves, providing an undisclosed amount of
       detail. One clue would be the NASA photo released in the late 1980's showing a previously hidden african dry riverbed.

            5. This is also about the time when ultrasound would make it's appearance. For the first time it was possible to view
       variations in tissue density which made it possible to detect possible tissue and organ anomalies. Another application was
       that of detecting material flaws in manufacturing.

     II.   Computers and how it affected Imagery Analysis.
            1. Experimentation with monochromatic imagery(Black & White) imagery revealed the potential of exploiting the hundreds 
       of shades of grey available in this medium. The next step would be to digitally manipulate the grey scale to enhance the
       acquisition of usable information. The first applications of this new technology would be by the intelligence community and
       by medical researchers who would refine and further develop the technology, resulting in the introduction of the CAT Scan.

            2. Another technology introduced roughly at this time would be that of the echocardiograph, which could show heart 
       movements and the actual bloodflow through its chambers. One of the more recent developments has been that of Magnetic 
       Resonance Imaging(MRI), where tissue and bloodflow anomalies could be detected. Evidence of spinal chord injuries and even 
       complex neurochemical reactions in the brain could now be detected and documented. Scientists have also explored the 
       possibilities of multi-spectral imaging such as the 1970's LandSat, and yet more parts of the electromagnetic spectrum such 
       as astronomical gamma-ray imaging.

     III.  The development of Analytical techniques.
            
            1. The first use of tactical imagery obtained during th first world war readily revealed the straight man-made lines of
       roads, cites, airfields and trenches. Finding concealed high-value targets like artillery, ammo dumps and other logistical
       sites was quite another matter. This was a process that was strictly by trial and error, with the resulting body of knowledge
       transmitted to new recruits and officers. Terrain and the proximity to supported units would dictate probable locations of
       logistical routes, ammo dumps, supply depots and assembly areas.
            Being that the military by definition embraces uniformity, patterns of emplacement and concealment, once discovered 
       would result in widespread targeting by artillery and air strikes. The size, shape, and surroundings of items frequently gave
       away the location of military assets, with shadows only making it that much easier to identify targets.
            The development of analytical techniques is really a part of the evaluation of the new technology itself. The first 
       photograph to be taken was that of a french neighborhood. It was crude, yet it clearly showed the outline of the houses.
       Immediately it was apparent how the new technology, that is, the chemical film plate was of immediate usefulness.

            2. In the case of infra-red photography, the new details made available were puzzling at first, and took some time to
       explain. In the pictures taken of works of art, the strange images would eventually be interpreted as showing a feature being
       painted over and finished. Simultaneous aerial coverage by photo and IR of a given target would reveal how a warm vehicle
       would warm up the ground and once moved, the warmed plot would stay warm for some time, giving the illusion of more vehicles.
       Just as in the case of an experienced scientist, once you have a new observation, you then have to explain it.
            In the case of the application of radar, all you had at the beginning was a variation of the cathode ray tube which 
       would show only the distance to a single target. Only with the introduction of the more familiar round screen format would 
       radar reach it's full potential. So, you have the raw data but without the use of a readable 2 or 3D format, you can't make 
       that much use of this information. One thing to remember about radar is that when it comes to illuminating aircraft, most of 
       the energy is deflected. Only the existence of corners, air intakes and flat surfaces that face the radar makes it possible 
       to detect these aircraft. What is actually seen by traffic controllers is the return beep from the aircraft's IFF. As in the 
       case of 911, once the hijacked aircraft's IFF was turned off, there wasn't much to see.
            You can also see this in the use of radar reflectors that are routinely added to power lines in order to avoid crashes     
       by low-flying aircraft. The actual characteristics of synthetic aperture radar is of course, classified, so one can only 
       speculate on what is actually observable.

            3. For the development of CATScans, computer aided design,CAD, had to come first. Pictures were publicized in the 1960's
       showing design engineers using light pens to draw proposed design features to be evaluated for fit and aerodynamics before 
       costly manufacturing jigs had to be built. In the case of CATScans, if you don't have a 3D capability, the information from 
       Xrays is useless.

            4. For the development of ultrasound, the use of anatomical studies, dissections and autopsies would have been necessary
       to provide insight and confirmation of what was now visible. It would have taken some time to establish average dimensions 
       for organs and body dimensions in the case of pre-natal scans. 

            5. The development Magnetic Resonance Imaging would have been a question of comparing their data with that of CATScans 
       and ultrasound. As far as how they established the visiblity of neurochemical reactions, that would have been dependent on 
       current knowledge of neurological and physiological processes. Now we have a situation where a new technology that is based 
       on previous understanding actually increases those fields of knowledge that made it possible.

            6. The current emphasis of multi-spectral imaging is really a question of maximizing the amount of data available for 
       geological, agricultural and environmental research. This means that you would only have to cover a given area once, making 
       global coverage a more economical proposition.

            7. The latest imaging technolgies are driven by nuclear physics and astronomic research. You can see this in the
       evaluation of particle acceleration, where theoretical physics helps to make sense of the collected data. As in the case of
       particle physics, multispectral orbital imaging is driven by theoretical research, only to be confirmed by actual collection.

       IV. Current Applications.
            1. Besides the traditional tactical and strategic use by civilian and military intelligence, other entities have made
       extensive use of this discipline. Law enforcement has made use of imagery in forensic crime scene documentation in order to 
       determine how crimes were commited to include how the assailant approached and left the crime scene. Also, bullet
       trajectories can be detected in order to determine the location of a sharpshooter.
     
            2. Highway departments make use of stereo and terrain analysis techniques to determine potential highway routes. As in    
       the case of Google Earth, imagery is include with other types of information to create detailed maps useful for commerce,
       taxation, city planning and infrastructure.
      
            3. The most important application has been for medical and research purposes. Many advances in diagnostics and 
       monitoring have contributed to the ever-increasing body of knowledge and treatment options. The only problem is that with the   
       increase in diagnostic capability, the aspect of accountability and malpractice has made necessary the costly regimen of 
       multiple-discipline testing. This is not about to change. The positive side of developing new imaging technologies is that 
       enhanced observation and understanding that will result in better diagnostics and treatments.

            4. The introduction of LandSat in the mid '70s made possible new applications in the fields of agriculture, geology, 
       mining, and the environment. The actual resolution would not be great, but sufficient for these types of applications. The 
       raw data would include the grey scale, and information from a variety of sensors. The designers would find it necessary to 
       assign colors for each type of return, creating a multicolored map.

            5. Meteorological imagery since the '60s has made it possible to detect and monitor severe weather well in advance of 
       it's arrival, saving numerous lives.

       V. Future applications.