NATIONAL IMAGERY EXPLOITATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B05171A000800020001-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 3, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 10, 1970
• Content Type: MF

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EXRAND-D-31
DEC 1970
NE.MORANDUM FOR: Chairman, COMIREX
SUBJECT . National Imagery Exploitation Research and
Development Objectives
REFERENCE . a. COMIREX-D-31.1/1, 26 April 1968
b. COMIREX-D-31.1/2 Tab B, 10 September 1968
1. The Exploitation Research and Development Subcommittee of COMIREX
has recently completed the revised EXRAND Objectives for Research and
Development which are attached for COMIREX approval'and community distri-
bution.
2. The EXRAND Objectives have now been completely staffed through
elements of the agencies represented on EXRAND. It is an updated work
which will be reviewed annually by EXRAND members. A special Technical
Task Team appointed by EXRAND has also reviewed and contributed to these
Objectives. The attached Objectives supersede those which were written
in 1968 and forwarded to the community by Reference A.
3. The EXRAND representatives are unanimous in recommending thatr
these Objectives receive wide distribution within the exploitation com-
munity and that they be used wherever they can be of value; for example,
the Objectives can be used as a basis for defining requirements or in
preparing an organization's R&D projects list and also for guidance in
preparing RFD budgets for the decade of the 1970's. Note that the
Objectives look to the future and provide for the 1970-1980-time period.
4. These Objectives, along with the EXRAND Third Annual Report:
"Consolidated R&D Projects FY-71 and FY-72", will provide valuable
documents for use of the entire exploitation community.
5., Reference B provided definitions and rationale for use in assign-
ing priorities to EXRAND Objectives. This definitions paper generally is
still valid although it needs updating to include color materials and
VHR/UHR.
6. Forty copies of the attachment are provided for distribution.
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Declass Review by
NIMA/DOD Colonel, US
Chairman, EXRAND
Attachment:
As Stated (40 cys)
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LL 11
7 December 1970
PROPOSED
NATIONAL IMAGERY EXPLOITATION RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES
A. General objective
1. Under the provisions.of DCID 1/13, the Exploitation
Research and Development Subcommittee (EXRAND) of the USIB
Committee on Imagery Requirements and Exploitation (COMIREX)
has prepared this Objectives Document for the 1970-1980 time
period to unify and guide the Research and Development
activities of those facilities participating in the
National Tasking Plan.
2. The intelligence community must insure that the
cost of supplying the information needed to support National
policy decisions is held to a minimum. This creates a
situation with many potential tradeoffs between accuracy,
speed, completeness, need, capability and cost. Exploitation
efficiency is the key to the appropriate mix of these elements.
Within this objective, the following principles must be
directly addressed in exploitation R&D plans:
a. Accuracy and reliability near one-hundred
percent.
b. Speed of response equal or faster than the
collection time.
c. Completeness sufficient to answer all recon-
naissance EEI's.
d. Clear understanding of man-machine relation-
ships in visual perception and in the extraction of
i nformat-i -- .C__---
B. Specific Objectives
1. High Volume, Large-Scale Ima ery Exploitation
a. Objective: Develop imagery exploitation
techniques and related equipment which will provide
an efficient and timely capability for exploiting
great volumes of large-scale imagery which will
result from future long focal-length, narrow viewing-
angle collection systems.
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b. Rationale: The developers of future collection
s
ste
h
y
ms
ave indicated that the trend in improving
reconnaissance systems will continue in a direction
which will produce large volumes of relatively large
scale imagery having very high ground resolution.
The result of this trend is that the volume of
imagery to be exploited will increase in direct
proportion to the increases in focal length and the
reduction in the angle of view. These huge quantities
of large-scale imagery present severe problems to
efficient, timely exploitation processes
Thus
it
.
,
will be necessary to develop significantly new approaches
to exploitation techniques, including the automation
of major portions of the tasks involved, if any reason-
able available force of image interpreters is to be
able to exploit these large volumes of imagery in an
efficient and timely manner.
2. National Multispectral Information Data Base
a. Objective: To develop and maintain an
advanced integrated multispectral data base system
to support the production of a timely, accurate,
collated finished intelligence product at the national
and departmental levels throughout the 1970's.
b. Rationale: Substantial improvement in the
timeliness and efficiency in the future imagery
exploitation system requires real-time accessibility
to both data and multispectral imagery-retrieval
records to insure effective exploitation support of
national and departmental needs.
3. Duplicating Equipment and Emulsions
a. Objective: To provide easy to use dupli-
cating materials and related equipment.
(1) Continue development of film emulsions
with emphasis on reversal materials with quality
of image recording equal to or better than emul-
sions in use today.
(2) Develop duplication equipment for use
at the imagery exploitation station. This
equipment must be capable of producing film
or paper reproductions at contact or enlarged
scale from the original. Equipment must be
designed for ease of operation by the image
interpreter to permit rapid selection and repro-
duction of selected imagery and reduce material
handling problems.
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(3) Develop non-silver duplicating media for
all major aspects of image duplication including
line and continuous tone. This material must be
equal in performance to silver materials and less
costly to utilize. Dry processing is an important
collateral objective.
b. Rationale: The conventional silver halide
continuous-tone reproduction process, now universally
used, requires considerable time, cost, specialized
manpower, complex equipment, and extensive logistical
support. Prior and current R&D studies directed toward
the development of a rapid-access, dry photographic
material have produced emulsions with very high reso-
lutions and require only heat for development. This
development produces positive images from negative,
and vice versa. Studies indicate that a practical
reversal reproduction system can be developed which
can produce an image with the same polarity as that
of the original.
4. Exploitation of Imagery in Both Selected Area
and Roll Form
a. Objective: Develop systems to produce and
utilize Selected Area Duplicates (SAD) and Selected
Target Prints (STP) either in composite rolls or
separate pieces of cut film (chips).
b. Rationale: The vastly increased volumes of
film programmed for new acquisition systems indicate
that some changes in the initial duplication process
must be made. Such changes will doubtless limit
total reproduction copies for search and evaluation
purposes and provide selective copies for surveillance
read-out which are keyed to areas of responsibility
and/or specific targets. These limited reproductions
may be in composite rolls or specific cut film (chip)
forms. Thus, the R&D effort must provide adequate
techniques and equipment for the most efficient pro-
duction and use of both chips and roll film. The
very circumstances of when and how best to utilize each
of these imagery forms must be investigated. Roll film
may maintain a position of importance in initial
screening, scanning, and in the early phases of
exploitation; if so, then the techniques and equipment
for producing, viewing, handling and storing it must
be improved and further automated. The place of chips
as a reference material appears to be assured, thus,
the processes of rapidly and efficiently producing
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medium quality chips, storing and retrieving them, and
displaying them for comparative use in relation to
other imagery must be improved and automated. If high
quality, exploitation type chips are to find a place
in improving and increasing efficiency of detailed
analysis, breakthroughs in the technology of reproducing
imagery without loss and in a reasonably efficient
manner must be made. It appears that the best possi-
bilities for improving efficiency and timeliness in
image exploitation lie in significant improvements
in the interrelated use of all of these types of imagery
records. It also appears that, regardless of the final
size of chips which result from the R&D Program, the
CODIB concept of proportionality should receive serious
consideration.
5. Target Change Detection
a. Objective: Develop devices and techniques which
will assist the imagery analyst in detecting significant
changes to a target which has been photographed repeatedly.
b. Rationale: The increasing volume of recon-
naissance materials demands an acceleration in the
exploitation process. One means of acceleration is to
provide the imagery analyst with semi-automatic aids
which will assist him by performing routine, redundant,
and time consuming tasks such as the detection of
changes to a previously interpreted target.
6. Semi-Automatic Re orting
a. Objective: Develop an effective and efficient
interface with the National Base of Imagery Derived
Information (NBIDI) for use by the image interpreter.
b. Rationale: Imagery, line drawings and
sketches will be included in third phase reporting into
the NBIDI. Formats and information content for third
phase reporting are now being developed by the Exploita-
tion Subcommittee and National Imagery Data Base Working
Group. These formats will be designed primarily to be
human-readable but they will also be, to the extent
practical, machine-processable for reporting through
computer-based files. Effective interface with the
NBIDI by the image interpreter for inputs must be
provided.
7. Near Real-Time Data Extraction System
a. Objective: The objective is to provide the
equipment and techniques for a near real-time exploita-
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tion to efficiently and accurately exploit near real-
time imagery inputs in the 1970's.
b. Rationale: The potential uses of near
real-time imagery acquisition, transmission and delivery
dictate the need for major automation efforts to achieve
increased imagery exploitation efficiency in all phases
of the future operational exploitation process.
8. Image Manipulation and Transmission
a. Objective: Develop devices and techniques
which will fully exploit target signature transmissions,
including manipulation of the electronic signals.
(1) Development of recorder-processor viewer
(RPV) with ultra-high resolution output.
(2) Development of equipment to manipulate
and analyze the electronic target signature data.
(3) Development of broad band, high
frequency (200-500 megahertz) recording devices.
b. Rationale : Future reconnaissance systems
which are now in the planning stage are being designed
to utilize electro-optical systems with real-time or
near real-time transmission of target signature data to
the reconnaissance interpretation facility. Real-time
or near real-time transmission of electronic signals
will insure immediate availability of intelligence data
for Cold War crisis management. Since the target data
will be transmitted in an electrical form, considerable
information of intelligence value may be gained by
electrically manipulating the signals to enhance and
identify the target signature data.
9. Multi-Spectral Exploitation
a. Objective: Develop the equipment and tech-
niques needed to fully exploit the spectral signature
of targets. Exploratory and advanced development efforts
are required to produce equipment for use in the 1970's
to give the necessary capabilities to fully exploit
the multi-spectral imagery.
b. Rationale: High-altitude reconnaissance has
used silver halide photography almost exclusively to
record spatial image variations. However, this photo-
graphy produces imagery that represents radiance fluctua-
tions as averaged in the emulsion over a wide wavelength
band. Such photography ignores a characteristic of the
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object that may contain as much information as the
spatial and tonal variations--its spectral reflectance
or emission. Multi-spectral collection and exploitation
techniques may make it possible to detect and identify
objects that may otherwise go unnoticed.
10. Coding Imagery
a. Objective: To devise a system and recommend
techniques and procedures to allow machine correlation
between various imagery records and ground coordinates.
b. Rationale: The speed and accuracy of first
and second phase exploitation may be increased through
the use of a technique to provide rapid correlation of
different imagery records with each other and with
ground and map coordinates. This coding system may
be utilized to correlate Inertial Navigation Systems,
previous coverage, ephemeris data, magnetic tape recording,
Elint data and other sensors.
11. Film Base Reclamation, Silver
Polluti
on Control
Recovery, and
a. Objective: Develop or select efficient, standard,
pollution-controlled systems for the disposal of large
volumes of classified photographic film materials, the
reclamation of the film base and the recovery of silver
from the film emulsion. (NOTE: Developments of non-
silver photographic systems are applicable to this
objective.)
b. Rationale: U.S. intelligence collection systems
produce an increasingly high volume of imagery which is
normally duplicated in multiple copies on materials having
estar polyester, cellulose acetate butyrate, or triace-
tate bases. When this imagery becomes obsolete or further
storage is impractical due to space limitations, the
residual materials must be reclaimed in a manner which
eliminates any chance of security compromise. Existin
disposal devices and techniques are considered to be g
inefficient and, in general, lack capability to recover
silver from the film emulsion.
12. Mensuration
a. Objective: Develop equipment and procedures
for imagery measurement to accommodate projected imagery
collection systems with emphasis on speed and simplicity
of operation.
b. Rationale: Mensuration, at all levels of accuracy,
is an integral part of interpretation and should be
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formed by both the Image Interpreter and Photogrammetrist.
Routine measurements for identification and analysis are
a necessary part of the inductive reasoning process per-
formed by the interpreter, while measurements for reeports
having calculated statistical accuracies must be derived
by specialists in mensuration.
13. Stereo Viewing
a. Objective: Develop display device suitable for
viewing large quantities of black and white and color stereo
imagery, in a wide range of formats and scales, and capable
of accommodating the distortions inherent in projected
collection systems. Emphasis should be placed on optical
efficiency and simplicity and reliability of operation.
b. Rationale: Stereo viewing is vital to imagery
interpretation and mensuration. Complex or "busy" images,
such as camouflaged targets, industrial plants, construc-
tion sites, etc., benefit most from stereo viewing but
most targets can be analyzed and identified satisfactorily
through perspective and shadow relationships in a mono-
cular mode. The real need, therefore, is to have a stereo
viewing capability which can be quickly brought into use
when monocular relationships in the image fail to form
accurate spatial relationships in the mind of the inter-
preter. Accurate vertical measurements, of course, require
conjugate stereo images and mensuration viewers in order
to perform the necessary geometric solutions.
14. Imagery Evaluation
a. Objective: To develop procedures and techniques
for systematic evaluation of image quality resulting from
operational reconnaissance missions, using both subjective
and objective methods, and including dissemination to
appropriate collection and exploitation activities.
b. Rationale: Monitoring the performance of active
camera systems, particularly when new or recently modi-
fied, requires a periodic analysis of operational imagery
and subsequent feed-back to system designers. This
applies to both reconnaissance satellite and airborne
collection systems. Systematic analysis of the resulting
imagery can also be used to evaluate the performance of
the collection platform as well as the camera system.
The evaluation results are also of value to the image
interpreter as a
content t of f a given ge
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be accomplished to develop objective and subjective
techniques which are capable of analyzing the various
factors affecting image quality. Such techniques must be
sensitive to changing conditions throughout a mission.
Specialized equipment must also be developed, to support
the various image evaluation techniques, such as micro-
densitometers, comparators, and special viewing equipment.
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attachment 1
EXRAND-M-38
Special Briefing -- 18 November 1970
Future Color Materials Projects -- Exploitation R&D
Why do we have a Research and Development Color Program???
R&D in NPIC has two major responsibilities:
a. To provide hardware and techniques for use today
b. To anticipate the questions that need to be answered
to build hardware for use tomorrow
What are some of these questions???
Is the IEG copy of the color dupe the same color as the IAS copy?
- Why do I see this red tone better through this microscope?
How long can I leave this ON in the enlarger without fading the
dyes?
- How do I design a comparator to get good measurements on color
film?
- How am I going to match the color on the DP with an opaque Munsell
chip?
- What ground resolution in color does this camera system give us?
- How does PI performance in color differ from black and white?
- Why aren't the lab prints the same color as I see on the film?
- What targets do you want flown in color?
- What kind of eye testing do you want done on PI applicants?
- What type of light source do you want to specify for light tables?
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- How do you get an MTF for color film? What does it mean?
- How many colors does the PI have to be able to discriminate?
- If the original is shifted in color balance, how do you want the
duplicate processed?
To answer and anticipate other questions of this type, we have an R&D
program.
We began in FY-70 with some basics to start to define the problem:
STANDARDS Calibration of APSD color Micro-densitometer
Specification of standards for color image quality
Standard color vocabulary
TRAINING Defining training needs
MENSURATION Evaluation of present mensuration systems for color
Study of film stability during mensuration
The present status of the 1971 program is shown on the following graphic.
These programs are in a dynamic status and are modified and updated fre-
quently. Tentative levels of effort for FY-72 are shown for those projects
in the FY-71 plan but do not represent the entire FY-72 effort.
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EXRAND-M-38
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FY-1971 COLOR PROGRAM
HUMAN FACTORS
Color Imagery Interpretation Performance Analysis
Color Training Program Development (continued)
Subjective Color Value Study
Color Imagery Intelligence
IMAGE ANALYSIS
Color Image Quality Evaluation System Development
IMAGE INTERPRETATION INSTRUMENTS AND TECHNIQUES
Color Control Cell Development
Color Imagery Interpretation Instrumentation Study
Microscope Colorimeter Development
Development of Laboratory Controlled Imagery
REPRODUCTION
Dry processed Color Reproduction Material Development
Film Color Stability Study
Color Densitometer Development
Color Technology Implementation
TEST AND EVALUATION
Color Photo Reproduction Analyzer Development
Colorimetric Target Development
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CRITERIA USED TO SELECT THOSE COLOR SYSTEMS THAT MIGHT BE USED FOR
A COLOR VOCABULARY
- How would the color of a target by designated in this color system?
- Can this color designation system by used in its present form for
both color prints and transparencies?
- Is this a continuous or a discrete color designation system?
- Can the color of a target by measured or designated independently
of the areas surrounding it?
- Do adequate standards exist for this color system and can they be
maintained in the typical laboratory?
- How are differences in color determined and specified in this color
system?
- Are the color designations in this color system independent of the
viewer and the viewing conditions he used?
- Can the color designations in this system be transformed to other
color systems?
- Would the Sponsor be required to use specialized and complex equip-
ment if this color system were selected?
- Can the source or target conditions be inferred by inverting the
color designation in this color system?
- Can an area averaged color be measured or designated by using
this color system?
- Is there a relationship between this color system and color vision?
- Can target signatures be catalogued according to the color
designations generated by this color system?
- How much difficulty would be experienced by the members of the
Sponsor's staff in learning to use this color system?
- How many different organizations and professions presently use
this color system?
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- Can all of the potential colors that would be recorded on the
film be designated by this color system?
- How would the color designation of a target be made or determined?
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EXRAND-A-39
8 December 1970
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EXPLOITATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
PLACE: NRTSC Conference Room TIME: 0900
Suitland, Maryland
DATE : Wednesday, 16 December 1970 THIRTY-NINTH MEETING
1. Welcome.
2. Special Briefing.
NRTSC's Digital Image Processing
3. Approval of Minutes.
4. Announcements.
USN, Host to EXRAND
a. Presentations to COMIREX --
b. End of Year report --
c. Comments from members
5. Old Business.
a. Report by Chairman, Technical Task Team
b. Report by Chairman, Procurement Coordinating Team
c. Tabling by members of recommended items for CY 1971 EXRAND program.
6. Tour of NRTSC.
25X1 7. Christmas Message.
8. Adjourn for 1970: Success to EXRAND 19711
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Executive Secretary, URAND
AUTOMATIC D
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