GPS World

Tag: GEOINT 2015 Symposium

  • USGIF Announces 2015 Award Program Recipients

    The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) announced the six recipients of its 2015 Awards Program on the main stage at the GEOINT 2015 Symposium, being held this week in Washington, D.C. The USGIF Awards Program annually recognizes the exceptional work of the geospatial intelligence tradecraft’s brightest minds.

    “Each year as the nominations come in, we are always amazed by the exceptional work of the individuals and teams from government, military, industry, and academia being submitted for consideration,” said Kevin Jackson, chair of the USGIF Awards Subcommittee. “The opportunity to review the dozens of nominations and to understand the significance of your accomplishments and the impact of your contributions to the community, our country, and the world — which most likely never make the news—is truly humbling. The 2015 USGIF Award winners represent a community that we should be very proud to be a part of.”

    The 2015 USGIF Award winners are:

    Military Achievement Award: Air Force/Director for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Interoperability(AF/A2I), Surveillance Intelligence Reconnaissance Information System (SIRIS) Team

    SIRIS is a government-owned, high-performance, web-based capability that enables open observation, lightweight visualization, and game-changing collaboration for dynamic mission planning and execution across multiple networks. SIRIS collaboration is conducted via a real-time, integrated display of correlated and fused data from National Reconnaissance Office joint collaboration cells, allowing tactical operators to create a tailored, user-defined operational picture. SIRIS reduces fratricide, protects noncombatants and increases combat capability, and saved valuable fire-fighting time during the California rim wildfire. SIRIS is managed by A2 Innovations Director James “Snake” Clark and was created by Chris McDonald and Tim Petronello.

    Government Achievement Award: U.S. Army Geospatial Center

    In late 2012, months of drought left water levels along a 180-mile stretch of the Mississippi River as much as 20 feet below normal, exposing rock pinnacles in the navigation channel and restricting barge traffic from St. Louis, Mo., to Cairo, Ill.—essentially halting commerce along the Mississippi River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is charged with keeping the river safe and navigable, and in this case needed to provide frequent updates to the White House on the progress of removing the pinnacles to restore navigation. The majority of geospatial products, although very accurate, were too complex for executive-level briefings. In a short timeframe, a team of Army Geospatial Center personnel synthesized the information gathered by the Corps and created geospatial products that enabled the President to quickly understand the problem and how it was being remedied.

    Industry Achievement Award: George “Guy” Thomas, C-SIGMA, LLC

    George “Guy” Thomas is a former U.S. science and technology advisor for maritime domain awareness and father of space-based automated identification systems (AIS). He also founded the Collaboration in Space for International Global Maritime Awareness (C-SIGMA) organization. Space-based AIS is changing how the maritime world operates by adding global transparency to operations. C-SIGMA works to increase safety and security in the maritime domain as well as protect the maritime environment and resources worldwide. Thomas’ 40-year career in surveillance includes positions with the U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, as well as with industry and Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory. He led the introduction of both the Navy’s EP-3E and the Air Force’s RC-135W—the first reconnaissance aircraft with mission-system computers.

    USGIF CEO Keith Masback (right) presents Bosarge with the USGIF Academic Research Award.
    USGIF CEO Keith Masback (right) presents Bosarge with the USGIF Academic Research Award.

    Academic Research Award: George Stanley Bosarge, University of South Alabama

    George “Stan” Bosarge is senior research laboratory manager for the Fisheries Ecology Lab of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, as well as the benthic habitat assessment program manager for the University of South Alabama’s department of marine sciences. Bosarge’s research is centered on a large-scale and long-term fisheries assessment project called the Fisheries Independent Ecosystem Survey. It’s designed to assess post-oil spill red snapper population recovery and the spatial relationships of red snapper to artificial and natural reef habitat off coastal Alabama. In 2016, he will join the Northeastern University faculty to teach a class on free and open-source GIS desktop applications in the university’s geographic information technology program.

    Academic Achievement Award: Professor Dorota A. Grejner-Brzezinska & Dr. Charles Toth, Ohio State University

    In the past 15 years, professors Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska and Charles Toth of the Ohio State University have significantly influenced the future of geospatial intelligence by advancing state-of-the-art geospatial data acquisition and processing technologies. Their most significant achievements include pioneering work on high-accuracy, direct sensor georeferencing algorithms and methodology; developing state-of-the-art sensor error models; developing novel compression technology for LiDAR data; and introducing an innovative and automated waveform processing method to support better point cloud generation and land-cover classification. This is the second time the duo has received a USGIF award, the first being the 2005 Academic Research Award for research on a personal navigator relevant to national security.

    Outstanding Administrative/Support Award: Donna L. Pelle, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

    As the executive officer for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Support Team (NST) to the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Pelle plays a significant behind-the-scenes role in advancing the relationship between the two organizations and demonstrating the importance of GEOINT. Pelle consistently takes action to achieve outcomes and results that are superior in quality, quantity, and have an impact on the NST. She handles worldwide travel, regulatory file planning, security, calendar administration for senior executives, and is responsible for more than 200 taskers a year.

    To learn more about the USGIF Awards Program, visit USGIF.org.

  • Art Kalinski Reports from GEOINT 2015

    GEOINT-2015

    Editor’s Note:This week, Geointelligence Insider’s Art Kalinski reports from GEOINT 2015, being held in Washington, D.C., June 22-25.

    GEOINT 2015 is not your daddy’s geospatial conference. If there is a common theme to this convention, it’s the problem of too much data and not enough analysts, so there are many exhibitors addressing the issue with automated systems that merge the “man and machine,” taking advantage of the best capabilities of each.

    Introduction

     NGA Director Robert Cardillo on the Agency’s Strategy

    NGA Director Robert Cardillo discusses the agency’s new strategy at GEOINT 2015. Cardillo became the sixth director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in October 2014.

    A Demonstration of Esri’s ArcGIS Full Motion Video Add-In

    Geointelligence Insider’s Art Kalinski talks with Craig Cleveland, Esri solution engineer, about the ability to geo-register full motion video inside an ArcMap.

    Thad Allen Discusses eLoran at GEOINT 2015

    In this interview Admiral Thad Allen, former commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, discusses PNT alternatives to GPS for navigation, including eLoran and the activation June 19 of a signal on an eLoran tower in preparation for a timing signal trial.

    Allan is an executive vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton, and a leader in the firm’s Departments of Justice and Homeland Security business in the civil market. In 2010, President Obama selected him to serve as the National Incident Commander for the unified response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

    Geoweb 3D Demonstration at GEOINT 2015

    Vincent Autieri, vice president and CEO of Geoweb 3D, explains the company’s 3D mapping engine.

    CACI Predictive Tool Using Social Media Discussed at GEOINT 2015

    Andrew Doyle, engineering senior manager of CACI, describes the EMBERS system, which uses social media to predict socially significant events such as protests or disease outbreaks.

  • PTFS to Rebrand ArchivalWare as Knowvation at GEOINT 2015

    Progressive Technology Federal Systems Inc. (PTFS), a provider of Enterprise Content Management (ECM) solutions, has upgraded and rebranded ArchivalWare, its flagship product line, as Knowvation. PTFS will demonstrate the enhanced Knowvation ECM offering and the roles it can play in Activity-Based Intelligence at GEOINT 2015, which will be held June 22-25 in Washington, D.C.

    “In response to client feedback, we have improved the Knowvation graphical user interface making it faster and easier to query and retrieve content from vast enterprise repositories,” said Dan Quinn, PTFS vice president. “Knowvation will continue to appeal to government agencies, commercial organizations and libraries.”

    PTFS will demonstrate the new Knowvation ECM solution in booth #2083 at the GEOINT 2015 Symposium.

    Knowvation ECM is a web-based federated search and discovery application that manages structured and unstructured content, including born-digital and digitized files, in many databases at multiple locations across the enterprise. Fully modular, Knowvation enables users to interrogate and retrieve content by searching on metadata, full text, or geospatial parameters. Searchable content includes documents, books, newspapers, video, audio, photographs and raster/vector geospatial files in all formats.

    “Combining full-text and geospatial queries sets Knowvation apart from many other Enterprise Content Management systems,” said Quinn. “The geospatial search and discovery capability has made Knowvation a trusted all source tool relied upon by government agencies with large GIS and satellite imagery archives, especially in the Intelligence Community.”

    Knowvation users can perform geospatial searches on data archives containing over 200 different types of file formats. Format-agnostic geospatial queries can be initiated by typing a geographic name, entering latitude/longitude coordinates or drawing a polygon on a map interface. Once the analyst has retrieved required data their ELT of choice is launched with one click to perform analysis and build timely actionable intelligence.

    PTFS offers the option of deploying Knowvation as the client’s repository of record in which all content is ingested, stored, managed and searched. Or the client may keep its content in other applications and shared drives with the ECM solution deployed externally to index the information for easy search and retrieval. The Knowvation server can be located behind the client firewall or hosted by PTFS offsite or in the Amazon cloud in a Software-as-a-Service business model.

    Introduced 11 years ago as ArchivalWare, Knowvation is deployed in government agencies, libraries, academic institutions, and labor unions. The largest installations are within the U.S. federal government at DoD sites.

    PTFS President John Yokley and Global Marketing Insights President Dr. Shawana Johnson will participate in a video at GEOINT 2015 discussing emerging technologies in the Federal/Civilian space and Knowvation’s move into the Amazon Marketplace.

    Concurrent with GEOINT, Dan Quinn will speak on GeoPDF technology at 11 am on Thursday, June 25, at the U.S. government’s 9th Geospatial PDF Working Group meeting at the Washington Convention Center.

  • GEOINT 2015 Offers Continuing Education, Training

    GEOINT 2015 attendees have the opportunity to sign up for the GEOINT Foreword pre-conference session, earn Continuing Education Units in 80+ hours of training, be among the first to take Universal GEOINT Certification exams, and much more. The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) has once again expanded its dedicated professional development offerings at the GEOINT 2015 Symposium, to be held June 22-25 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

    GEOINT Foreword

    GEOINT 2015 kicks off with GEOINT Foreword, a pre-symposium science and technology-focused day designed to highlight advances in GEOINT tradecraft and innovation. In addition to a keynote speaker, lightning talks, and networking breaks, GEOINT Foreword will host 14 panel sessions on topics such as: utilizing commercial space and SmallSat assets; data science acquisition models; modeling and simulation; open-source apps; interoperability; and more. GEOINT Foreword requires separate registration.

    Training & Education

    The GEOINT 2015 agenda offers more than 80 hours of training and education sessions, which have more than doubled since last year’s Symposium. Two-hour training and education sessions will be conducted in both the morning and afternoon June 23-25. Session topics include crisis mapping, full-motion video, LiDAR, game engines, spatial literacy, GEOINT 101, commercial electro-optical imagery, point cloud technology, cognitive computing, and more. To participate in training, attendees must add desired sessions to their GEOINT 2015 registration. Training and education sessions are accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training. Attendees will receive 0.2 Continuing Education Units per session courtesy of USGIF Member Riverside Research.

    Universal GEOINT Certification

    This fall, USGIF will launch its Universal GEOINT Certification.Each of the three exams required to achieve the certification will require beta testers. Pilot versions of the GIS and remote sensing exams will be administered at GEOINT 2015. Qualified symposium attendees will have the opportunity to take one or both exams for free to count toward their Universal GEOINT Certification. Attendees can add pilot exams to their GEOINT 2015 registration or email [email protected] to learn more.

    Family Day

    The GEOINT Symposium will for the first time feature a family day June 25 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Attendees are invited to bring their families to explore the exhibit hall and participate in fun, interactive activities. USGIF’s Young Professionals Group will host a ScavenGeo Dash in the exhibit hall from 1-3 p.m. The dash is an educational scavenger hunt offering families a unique opportunity to learn about the GEOINT Community through an exciting competition. To sign up for the ScavenGeo Dash, email [email protected] and include the names and ages of your team members. Teams should not exceed six members.

    To learn more about these educational offerings, view the full symposium agenda, or to register for GEOINT 2015, visit geoint2015.com.

     

  • USGIF Hosts First GEOINT Hackathon June 12-14

    Hackathons have captured the imagination and participation of coders around the world. But there has yet to be a geospatial intelligence-focused hackathon. The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF), along with its partners and sponsors, will offer coders, data scientists and thought leaders the first-ever GEOINT Hackathon Friday, June 12, through Sunday, June 14, at its offices in Herndon, Va. Individuals and teams will partner, program and pitch solutions as they compete for a $15,000 prize.

    There is no cost to register for the GEOINT Hackathon. Just visit connect.usgif.org, create an account, and select “Upcoming Events” from the sidebar menu. The “USGIF Hackathon” is listed at the bottom of this page. Full details are available here.

    GEOINT Hackathon participants will be challenged to create an open-source solution within a roughly 40-hour timeframe of Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. This is a GEOINT hack, so location matters. The geography of interest and specific hack goal will be announced Friday evening during the 6 p.m. kick-off briefing.

    USGIF provides this hint: “We are more interested in fostering collaboration than creating apps. All collaboration-centric coders are encouraged to sign up. The winning team will not only receive the cash prize but also passes to attend GEOINT Foreword and the GEOINT Symposium, where they will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with industry, government, and academic leaders.”

    “This is a fabulous opportunity for our global GEOINT Community to continue the ongoing process of reinventing itself and opening its doors to collaboration and transparency,” said Darryl Murdock, USGIF vice president of professional development. “It is also a super venue for trying things we never before thought possible.”

    USGIF, OGSystems, DigitalGlobe, Esri and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) are sponsoring and supporting the event through donations, infrastructure support and judges.

    This is intended to be the first in a series of GEOINT-focused hackathons. USGIF plans to hold another hackathon during GEOINT Community Week in November.

  • Clapper, Cardillo to Speak at GEOINT 2015

    NGA Director Robert Cardillo.
    NGA Director Robert Cardillo.

    Top national security officials and authors will be delivering keynote addresses at the GEOINT 2015 Symposium, sponsored by the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF).

    USGIF’s GEOINT Symposium is the largest intelligence event in the U.S., uniting the defense, intelligence, and homeland security communities for a week of knowledge sharing, discussion, training and education, technology demonstrations, business opportunities and networking. The GEOINT 2015 Symposium will be held June 22-25 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

    Confirmed keynotes for GEOINT 2015 include:

    • Robert Cardillo, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, became the sixth NGA Director in October 2014. He leads the agency under the authorities of the Secretary of Defense and ODNI. He was previously the first Deputy Director for Intelligence Integration at ODNI, working alongside Clapper.
    • James R. Clapper, director of National Intelligence, was sworn in as the fourth Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in August 2010. As DNI, Clapper leads the Intelligence Community and serves as the principal intelligence advisor to the president.
    • Robert D. Kaplan is a bestselling author of 15 books on foreign affairs and travel. He is currently a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a contributing editor at The Atlantic. One of his most well-known books is “The Revenge of Geography: What the Map Tells Us About Coming Conflicts and the Battle Against Fate.”
    • Marcel Lettre was recently named Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, serving as the principal intelligence advisor to the Secretary of Defense. He previously served as Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.
    • Michael D. Lumpkin is the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict. He has more than 20 years of active duty military service as a U.S. Navy SEAL as well as significant experience in the private sector.
    • Gen. Stan McChrystal, a retired four-star general, was commander of the U.S. and International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan as well as former commander of the Joint Special Operations Command. He is also co-founder of the McChrystal Group and recently published the book “Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World.
    • Adam Schiff represents California’s 28th Congressional District and is the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He is also a member of the Benghazi Select Committee.

    Kaplan and McChrystal’s books will be on sale throughout the week at GEOINT 2015. Both authors will sign copies of their books directly following their respective keynote addresses.

    Both Cardillo and Clapper have spoken at past GEOINT Symposia, while this is Kaplan, Lettre, Lumpkin, McChrystal and Schiff’s first speaking engagement with USGIF. Visit GEOINTv.com to view videos from the GEOINT 2013* Symposium, including keynote addresses by Clapper and Cardillo.

    More keynotes are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. To learn more about GEOINT 2015, view the agenda, or to register for the event, visit geoint2015.com.