STAFF STUDY - IMAGERY EXPLOITATION MODULE CONCEPT STUDY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04747A000300070009-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 21, 2001
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: March 24, 1966
• Content Type: STUDY

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24 March 1966
STAFF STUDY - LOGERY ='_OITF.TION MODULE CONCEPT STUDY
1. PROBLEM :
To provide t_c _ aan imagery interpreter with egui)meat,
accommodations and procedures in an environment that insui:?e!s his optimum
effectiveness by providing him with the best possible work, station and
all the tools, aids and support that he needs in forms optimized
for his use.
2. FACTS BEARING ON THE PROBT-vT:
The steadily increasi g volume of reconnaissance imagery
to be interpreted.
b. The improv` _ i:p c: ghat .imagery
r: e 25X1 D
c. increasing :_sv c_' .:: corventior~al types oJ' recon-
naissance imagery such as
d. The incr i_,? ra ,uir ^ts levied upon the. interpreters
for more and more in-format-4-on no be extracted from the higher
quality imagery.
e. The limited number of cgsalified interpreters who
often are ineffic_'c-:__ r 7 ized. Instead of spending most of their
time in the -:;asks inter. e and reporting they often
._ wnlcn consume a dis-
are recuireu no perform many co1ual;ira_
proportl-_ute amount of e._ time and energy. __ese tasks are:
admire -:native paperwork; per_'onmin~ minor logistics "problems,
Declass Review By NIMA/DOD
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searching for and assimulating raw collateral intelligence, report
editing and re-writing, etc.)
f. The limitations of the techniques customarily adopted
in the past when an attempt was made to solve this type of problem -
i.e. through trial-and-error experimentation. Under the pressure of
ever-increasing work loads, off-the-shelf items and hastily developed
techniques such as rear-projection viewers, stereo microscopes, new
mensuration techniques, etc. have been tried empirically with varying
degrees of success and improvement to the system.
3. DISCUSSION:
a. Overall, the basic concept or purpose in the creation
of I'PIC can be said to have been that of ensuring the most effective,
timely and economic exploitation of photography for foreign intel-
ligence relating to national security. In order to implement this
purpose, NPIC Was been authorized to engage in or sponsor, as
appropriate, the development of specialized equipment for the
intelligence exploitation of _2hotogra hy.
b. While the existing techniques for the exploitation of
photography which have been developed through the years at NPIC do,
undeniably get the job done, they are not necessarily the most
iT
effective, timely L__u economical? exploitation techniques and
procedures. The essence of the study program proposed by
-
is to develop a concept for a highly
25X1A
tutcaaned system, which will accept larger volumes and increasing variety
of better quality imagery, both conventional and unconventional,
2
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correlate the inputs with the collateral data and extract the
expanding detail of information required to produce timely intelligence
reports. This proposed program clearly falls within the scope of NPIC's
authorized field of development.
c. Mnen the proposed study program has been carried out
solid design criteria for imagery exploitation modules will have been
established. NPIC will be prepared to pass on to Phase II of the
program in which an experimental mock-up will be fabricated and a
program of realistic imagery exploitation experiments will be conducted
in the mock-up. The planners of NPIC will be able to commence a
construction program -~_-aader which as many imagery exploitation modules
can be built as are needed secure in the knowledge that they have
determined the real requirements for the modules through proper R&D
procedures.
d. Selection of Contractor. In November of 1.965 an R&D
Objectives document was sen out to 14 companies asking all those
interested to submit proposals. Seven proposals were received and a
comprehensive review was undertaken by NPIC's technical personnel to
determine which held the best promise for achieving i?IC's objectives.
It was concluded that proposal 25X1A
was best for the following reasons:
1. Their broaJ receen experience in related work.
was rri?.e contractor in the develop-
meat of the `R-71 eaagery exploitation set-up at
Beale the Air Ponce. also developed
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the "IN" and the Mobile Wing Recce-Tech system
for R Dc, and a very successful Electro-Optical
Rectifier currently used by ACIC.
2,.', Their know-how in just about every phase of the
-planned study effort.
Their proposal displays a great familiarity
with DOD-type operational procedures, materials and
outputs of image interpretation systems. They
discussed, at least to some degree, just about every
point mentioned in the RPP.
3. The caliber of the people proposed to head the program.
the proposed program manager, and
his boss are felt, by people in P&DS25X1A
who know them, to be able engineers and managers
with whom we should be able to get some good work
done. The two proposed consultants for the program,
are men wit25X1 A
toy-draw an reput:=.tions.
quoted a price of which 25X1A
seems to be abour right for what we had planned.
Among other services, this figure will pay for about
3.2 man-years of engineering support.
%GNC...USIONS
4.
It is unlikely that the projected variety and volume of imagery
inputs (especially in the light of the ever-increasing information-
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packing density capabilities of the imagery) can be handled efficiently
by the interpreters of IN IC in the near future if they continue using
existing procedures and equipment. The need for a study effort
which would investigate the concept of an-imagery exploitation module
which will maximize the efficiency of the human interpreters in
his primary task of extracting and reporting intelligence from various
types of imagery has been recognized for the past several years. It
is therefore essential that this research program be initiated at the
earliest possible date.
5. RED CO N E NDATION?:
25
It is recommended that approval be granted to contract with
in FY-1966.
X1A
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