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SUBMISSION TO THE FIRST PRINCIPLES REVIEW OF DEFENCE
By Dr R.J.Williams
October 2014
This submission specifically addresses Issue for Consideration 1.c. (Examining the efficient arrangements of the intelligence functions, particularly those involving GEOSPATIAL INTELLIGENCE).
This submission addresses a key question and issue in Defence Issues Paper 2014 being what Science and Technology capabilities are critical to underpin our broader defence capabilities?
Embarrassing!
On the 4th October 2014 the Prime Minister received a briefing on the situation in Iraq using a paper map (above). Paper maps and sand models have been shown (in the media and on documentaries) as the visual product of choice in planning and conducting operations (Afghanistan and Iraq) and for search and rescue missions (MH370) in recent times.
This is clear evidence that the Australian Defence Organisation has failed to make the transition from using paper maps and charts to adopting a Geosptaial Information Infrastructure.
It is now forty years since the first major project with the objective of commencing this change was approved (Army’s MES (Major Equipment Submission) 42 – AUTOMAP Phase 1). Since then there have been several projects, numerous reviews (including the 1997 Defence Efficiency Review – Initiative 15), several
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organizational changes, and even an R&D project with the US that had Treaty Status - Digital Chart of the World – 1990/91). Yet, the transition has not occurred. So what are some of the issues?
GEOGRAPHY MATTERS
Everything and every event are spatially and temporally related and if you don’t understand the relationships you will never win the war!!
An enhanced version of a statement made by Dr Annette Kriegel (then) Director of the [US] Central Imagery Office at Canberra on 10th October 1995.
A UBIQUITOUS REQUIREMENT • No negotiations can be conducted, • no weapons can be brought to bear, • no forces can move, • no forces can be protected, and • no support and supplies can move
without a sense of location, an understanding of the surroundings, and an understanding of the influence of mission space on the operation.
US national Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) Geospatial Information Infrastructure Master Plan, Vol.1 Overview, Version 1.0, 17 October, 1997 in response to recommendations of the Report of the United States Defense Science Board on Defense Mapping for Future Operations, September 1995.
WHOLE-OF-DEFENCE / WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT / WHOLE-OF-NATION CAPABILITY
“Hello. I’m Joe Biden ….. before I begin I’d like to take a few moments to recognise that you not only convene on the fourth anniversary of 911 but at a time when devastation along the Gulf Coast from Katrina shows us just how much work we have to do to be prepared. After four years you’d think that we’d be in a better position to coordinate federally a response to such a disaster. Imagine if a bunch of terrorists had blown up a levee how much fundamentally different would that be. … we can all do a lot better than we’ve done; and we have to do better. We don’t have any choice quite frankly”.
Extract from an address (given via video-conferencing) at the 2005 [US] Homeland Security GIS Summit on September 11th 2005 at Denver Colorado by Senator Joe Biden
INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY - BORDER SECURITY
2000 After activity by secessionist groups in the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya (now West Papua), the Australian Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, made statements and had discussions with Indonesia's President, Mr Abdurrahan Wahid concerning Australia's position on the issue.
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ABC News Online reported on Thursday, June 8, 2000 that "the Prime Minister, John Howard, is moving to reassure Indonesia that he will not be supporting secessionist moves in the Province of Papua”. The Prime Minister has made the commitment ahead of talks with Indonesian President Abdurrahan Wahid. Mr Howard says he will tell the Indonesian President that he respect's Indonesia's present borders".
Where exactly are the borders?
UNDERPINNED BY AN ENDURING CAPABILITY - MC&G
The term MC&G (Mapping, Charting and Geodesy) described the specialist capability of surveyors, cartographers and hydrographers from after the end of WW2 until a decade and a half ago when new terms entered our lexicon such as ‘spatial’ and ‘GEOINT’. With the introduction of these terms came a decline of domain specialists (and their expertise).
A matter of an urgent and pressing nature
The capability within Defence is now in disarray. There are critical deficiencies in education and training in specialist skills (with role-on effects with academic institution involvement); management arrangements across ADF elements and Intelligence agencies (specifically the AGO); and S&T support to agencies and capability (specifically from DSTO).
The organizational issue itself has a very long history and there has long been debate about whether the capability should be an engineer capability or an intelligence capability. The point is that cartography has an intelligence view but requires engineering skills! [As an aside this issue of an intelligence function versus an engineering function was noted in correspondence to the Chief of the General Staff exactly one hundred years ago. This dilemma was addressed, in a practical sense, by establishing a specialist Army Survey Corps on 1 July 1915 – disestablished in 1996].
In addition there are disruptive technologies and procedures; some having unexpected consequences. Consider just a couple of topics:
• Google Maps uses spherical development of ellipsoidal coordinates. The MAPublisher Pseudo-Mercator coordinate system is based on the WGS84 ellipsoid and a projection called "pseudo-mercator" which mathematically treats WGS84 as a sphere and then applies the Mercator projection equations. Pseudo-Mercator is not a recognised geodetic system.
“This message outlines the risks associated with the use of Web Mercator [MAPublisher] applications for US DoD and GEOINT user community operations. The NGA Geomatics Office has assessed the use of Web Mercator and other non-WGS 84 spatial reference systems may cause geo-location / geo-coordinate errors up to 40,000 meters. This erroneous geospatial positioning information poses an unacceptable risk to global safety of navigation activities, and department of defense, intelligence community, and allied partner systems, missions, and operations that require accurate and precise positioning and navigation information. The NGA Geomatics Office reminds the community to use DoD approved World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84) applications for all mission critical activities”.
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[US] National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Advisory Notice on "Web Mercator"
October 01, 2014
• Out-sourcing has been a way to overcome effects of downsizing of organisations for undertaking work perceived to have lower levels of priority. This activity can have consequences!
For example, the combined effects of downsizing of agencies and the increased demands of intelligence establishments post 911 resulted in Defence using Geoscience Australia for mainland mapping. In recent years downsizing in that agency has meant that work has been undertaken via the Government tender process.
For their Government contract work, companies need to be a part of a panel that has expanded greatly in recent years. The OGRE (Optical Geospatial Radar Elevation) panel has about 50 companies listed at the moment (https://www.tenders.gov.au/?event=public.SON.view&SONUUID=15FC1B30-D3C3-03C2-B821918E2911C416) a number of whom are NOT Australian companies. A number of the Australian companies listed have become receipt/dispatch offices for offshore entities where they tender for work and then sub-contract it offshore anyway. Part of the bidding process involves receiving high resolution imagery, digital geospatial data and elevation models and coverage includes northern Australia - and its infrastructure (roads, ports, airports, mines and industry, communication facilities, etc).
Just take a few moments to 'think that through' - we are, potentially, giving overseas bodies important (perhaps vitally important information in terms of intelligence and national security) nationally significant information. I and some of my old associates have been concerned by this process for some time, and feel that few people seem to be aware of national security concerns.
The outsourcing as described above is just symptomatic of a capability that is a core function of government (the surveying and mapping of the nation for national development and defence purposes) that is in serious decay.
A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
It’s time to set an (aspirational) vision for the future addressing the breadth and depth of geographic information and its applications.
Geography is concerned with the description of the earth’s surface, treating of its form and physical features, its natural and political divisions, climate, productions, populations, etc. of the various countries. Geography includes themes such as Administration and institution; Population and habitation; Road infrastructure; Rail infrastructure, Air infrastructure; Sea infrastructure; Telecommunications; Power and fuel; Water resource;, Industry and commerce; Health and medical; Tourism, recreation and entertainment; Physiography; Hydrography; Oceanography; Vegetation and cultivation; and Meteorology.
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Williams, R.J. (1989). Analysis of Geographic Information: A Cognitive Approach, A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, The University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy.
It’s now time to REVIEW past studies and ramifications of many ill-informed decisions over many years!
It’s time to implement a Geospatial Information Infrastructure designed to address
Whole-of-Defence / Whole-of-Government / Whole-of-Nation Challenges
Figure 1: Geospatial Information Infrastructure
It’s time for imagination and innovation!
It’s time to develop Command Support Systems Within a National Geospatial Information Infrastructure
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Figure 2: Command Support System
FIRST PRINCIPLES
A first principle is a basic, foundational assumption that cannot be deduced from any other proposition or assumption.
US Intelligence Reform “When asked last fall about pending intelligence reform, former Director of Central Intelligence GEORGE TENET said he felt like a patient on an operating table who, while being prepared for brain surgery, found himself surrounded by 12 surgeons, NON of whom had gone to medical school”.
Scottie Barnes, GeoIntelligence, Jan 1, 2005
It is time to restore fundamental knowledge and skills in the foundation scientific disciplines.
The surveying, mapping and charting capability with the specialist skills of Geodesy, Cartography and Hydrography is fundamental and is an enduring capability.
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Surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them.
Mapping is concerned with creating graphic representations of information using spatial relationships within the graphic to represent some relationships within the data. The common and original practice of mapping is the scaled portrayal of geographical features, that is, cartography.
Geodesy is the science of accurately measuring and understanding the Earth's geometric shape, orientation in space, and gravity field.
Cartography is the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modelled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively.
It is time to replace paper maps (as in the opening image) with intelligent systems reporting situation awareness in real time using 3 and 4 dimensional visualization.
It’s time to restore the specialist skills of enduring scientific and engineering disciplines important in utilizing emerging capabilities embracing reasoning, modelling and simulation, planning and rehearsal and emerging autonomous platforms and systems.
Figure 3: Strategic Situation Awareness
It is then that our national leaders will be briefed to a level of sophistication not experienced before resulting in more informed decision-making.
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FINAL COMMENT
“Perhaps the most challenging problem facing Defence today is not so much the performance capabilities of equipment and the logistics support systems required, but the management and coordination of the geographic information about which the operation of such equipment is becoming increasingly more dependent. It is of no value to have highly complex weapons systems capable, inter alia, of high positional accuracy, unable to relate to essential geographic information from other sources. Command and control systems become useless if they cannot correlate real time dynamic information against updated static data in a timely and coherent manner. The coordination of scientific intelligence on a geographic basis is vital to the conduct of defence operations”.
Burrows, K.G. 1987. “The Implications of Hydrography in the Management of Geographic Information for Defence”, SDSC Workshop on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Australian Defence Requirements. The Australian National University, Canberra, 20-21 August 1987.
A quarter of a century later, this closing comment is still valid!
VIDERE PARARE EST
PLANNING FOR THE EVACUATION AFGHANISTAN [2013]
A FEW COMMENTS BY DR BOB WILLIAMS
March 2013
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013 Page 31
A scaled mudmap helps with preparation for Mentoring Team – Deltaʼs troop move from Forward Operating Base Mirais to Tarin Kot
GEOINT
The United States of America’s National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency recently published a Mission Video showing their capabilities …
… so how far have we actually advanced in the last century…
Published on Feb 12, 2013 NGA delivers world-class geospatial intelligence that provides a decisive advantage to warfighters, policymakers, intelligence professionals and first responders. This video provides information about NGA's mission and value to national security.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZz5HBALMqE
PLANNING OF THE BATTLFIELD
Prepared by the Topographical Section of II ANZAC Corps April 1917
[US] NGA - 2013
[AU] Army Survey - 1917
… so how far have we actually advanced in the last century…
PLANNING OF THE BATTLFIELD
… so how far have we actually advanced in the last century…
[US] NGA - 2013
Right - Segment of the 1:63,360 map of Albury (1931 edition, printed in 1933), which was the first military map produced in Australia in which significant use had been made of aerial photography. (National Library of Australia)
[AU] Army Survey – 1910 & 1931 Left - Segment of the 1:63,360 map of Western Port, Victoria, drawn by Survey Section c.1910 and regarded as a prototype for the standard military series
… so how far have we actually advanced in the last century…
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) - 2012
[AU] Army Survey - 1917
Troops of the Australian 13th Brigade study a map model near Petit Pont, Belgium, on 6 June 1917 in preparation for the next morning’s attack on Messines. Construction and updating of the model was the work of engineers and members of the Survey Corps Topographical Section. (AWM E00632)
AUSTRALIAN officer briefing on training Afghans
- Note paper maps on the wall with ‘pins’ and hand drawn annotation
FRENCH troops conducting training sessions prior to withdrawal - Note SAND MODELS as a means of planning for operations
SBS World News – 25 October 2012
Behind the glitz of imagery and high-speed communications, the products haven't changed much at all. Indeed, there are still paper maps on walls.
The preceding slides support my view that, although contemporary terms like SPATIAL and GEOINT are used by agencies and professional bodies, there remains a MAJOR PROBLEM. Agencies and some professional bodies have failed to transition from a paradigm of making standard maps and charts to the paradigm to CREATING AND MANAGING GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION and the INFRASTRUCTURE related to the new paradigm. A new paradigm would enable us to embrace modelling and simulation and a wealth of innovative capabilities.
GEOINT – ‘Planning For The Evacuation’ AFGHANISTAN [2013]
[US] NGA -2013
It is worth looking at the "amazing" NGA promotional 2013 video frame by frame. Below is a clip that demonstrates just how poor things are. NGA didn't even bother to undertake the photogrammetric process to adjust the image and the vector (line) detail.
Since 911, NGA has made an amazing contribution to imagery and communication capabilities but just a glance at NGA’s history reveals a lack of MC&G (Mapping, Charting and Geodesy) experts in key positions resulting in capabilities that are little more than an electronic version of legacy products. And, because of multi-national participation in Afghanistan and Iraq, other nations, including Australia, have had to follow the NGA model. Does Defence have any formally qualified (academically, and technologically) officers in the surveying and mapping disciplines? Similarly, the question should be asked, does Defence have any formally qualified (academically, and technologically) officers in highly specialised fields such as geodesy? It seems to be impossible to talk of precision unless we have geodesists, photogrammetrists and cartographers (academically, and technologically qualified).
During World War II, the United States and Great Britain produced in excess of 3.5 million silk maps and cloth maps for Allied military personnel to use as escape maps. In 1940, the British military intelligence unit, known as MI 9, started issuing silk maps for use by British aircrews shot down over enemy occupied territory in Europe.
Australia’s RAAF Cartographic Section and the Army Survey Corps also produced silk maps (right) NOVEMBER 1944
… so how far have we actually advanced in the last half century…
“Imagine a U.S. pilot on an aerial reconnaissance mission over hostile territory when the engines of his aircraft shut down. He ejects and lands safely in unfamiliar enemy terrain. Suddenly, heʼs very grateful for the evasion chart and “blood chit” stowed in the pockets of his flight suit”. … … “Because of the work the agencies do, todayʼs pilots carry EVCs and chits made of a highly versatile and durable material. They can be used to hold water, haul food, stay warm, block the sun and cover wounds. EVCs cover all sorts of terrain, like jungles, deserts, islands and mountains. Pilots carry those most suited to the areas over which they will be flying. On the chart, the pilots will find some fairly common features, like a map with a legend, time zone information, contour interval information, and instructions on orientation and navigating, day or night, without a compass”.
SUMMER 2013 Approved for Public Release, 13-292 Modified for use in Pathfinder
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Mary M. Irvin Head, Vision Implementation Team Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Boston College Master of Science degree in technology management from the University of Maryland University College.
InnoVision Director Bert Beaulieu BS in Forestry from the University of Massachusetts, two years of graduate studies in Tree Physiology at the University of Minnesota, and an MBA from Virginia Tech.
[US] NGA -2013
Behind the glitz of imagery and high-speed communications, the products haven't changed much at all over decades.
APPS and ʻsmart phonesʼ might well be the current technology, but who will manage the process. The trend is that IT people are determining services and DIRECTION of a core discipline/capability fundamental of a Nation.
THE SCIENCE IS FLAWED! CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT IS FLAWED!
Leaders of one of the worldʼs largest SPATIAL R&D groups ʻspatialʼ disciplines include geodesy and surveying, cartography, photogrammetry, remote sensing
