REQUIREMENTS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-01154A000200040005-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 15, 2001
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: November 25, 1970
• Content Type: MEMO

ApprQved For Rajease 2002/01/PEU
P79-01154AV60200040005-0
25 November 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director of Basic and Geographic Intelligence
SUBJECT : Requirements for Research and Development
A review has been made of Geography Division's priority needs
in the field of intelligence research and development. The
following are judged to be the most significant:
I. Requirements for substantive information:
A. Population (Priority 1)
This information should be detailed enough to permit
a more valid description of distribution and density of
population in any given area; information is needed on
ethnic'differentiations -- physical characteristics,
language, dress, housing. Even more elusive is knowledge
on religious affiliation, tribal affiliation, minority
groups, attitudes, objectives, mores, and technical abilities.
Some method is needed for applying this information to the
population of particular urban areas to identify active or
potential members of the urban insurgency.
B. Food Supply (Priority 2)
Detailed information is needed on the distribution of
different kinds of crops, their normal yield in an optimum
growing period, the effect of weather and disasters on
their yield, programs of innovation (Green Revolution).
Growth areas, yield, and acreage of other significant
crops with intelligence significance -- such as for narcotics are also needed. Maritime fisheries, pond culture of fish,
and developments in synthetic protein must also be followed.
C. Oceanographic Information (Priority 1)
As underwater capabilities of the technically developed
nations increase, so will the need for accurate intelligence
on the national security implications of these capabilities.
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D. Environmental Pollution Data (Priority 3)
Issues involving pollution in the environment are
increasingly likely to become sources of contention
among nations. As they do, the lack of basic data, or
th
ithh
e w
olding of it, may become a serious problem.
II. Information collecting and processing requirements.
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A. Photography (Priority 1)
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If increasing tensions or an upsurge in nationalistic
forces enlarge the areas denied to our usual methods of
information procurement, we will be forced to rely increasingly
on aerial photography. In addition, photography may be the
sole source of certain types of data, especially in under-
developed areas. Procedures should be developed for identifying
from photography the population characteristics enumerated
above (number, distribution, housing) as well as less tangible
characteristics such as loyalties and mores. If the anticipated
uses of photography are to come to fruition, retrieval methods
will need to be designed so that they will permit quick and
accurate determination of which coverage is desired and provide
ie
imme-3 s-i-l--
s
cop
areas now available but likely to be denied is urgently needed.
Good quality large scale topographic maps are not available
for much of the underdeveloped world. Aerial photography holds
the key to correcting this deficiency.
Some type of rapid reconnaissance mapping photo rah f
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A device for use with
aerial photography wou facilitate identification of
significant changes shown on the newer photography.
B. Computerized Data Base (Priority 2)
Development of a computerized geographic intelligence
data base and a retrieval system with all area information
coded by geographic coordinates or grid cells is needed.
The development of a better optical character reader (OCR)
for inputting the data is a critical bottleneck. There
is a need for an OCR capable of handling all types of
fonts, which will obviate the need to retype the data 25X1 B
before inputting the file. The system should have the
capability for storing and retrieving both uuntitative
and qualitative information by areas,
and should incor orate the map-making
An analyst in the Magazine Building should be able to
remotely view the CIA Library's and Map Library's title-
holdings on a topic of interest and by pressing a button
on the console automatically place an order for a book or
map, charge it to the particular analyst, and make possible
the rapid delivery of the book to the analyst.
capabilities of existing systems
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let, Geography uivision
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