THE EFFECTS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC GROUND RESOLUTION ON PHOTO INTERPRETATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B00873A001600040043-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 22, 2012
• Sequence Number: 43
• Publication Date: January 20, 1970
• Content Type: MISC

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/22 : CIA-RDP79B00873A001600040043-7
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PROPOSAL FOR EXTENSION IN SCOPE ON
THE EFFECTS OF
PHOTOGRAPHIC 'GROUND RESOLUTION
ON PHOTOINTERPRETATION
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PROPOSAL FOR EXTENSION IN SCOPE ON
THE EFFECTS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC GROUND RESOLUTION
ON PHOTOINTERPRETATION
20 January 1970
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ABSTRACT iii
INTRODUCTION 1
TECHNICAL DISCUSSION 4
WORK STATEMENT 5
DELIVERABLE ITEMS 6
PERSONNEL 6
ESTIMATED COSTS AND FEE 7
NOTES 8
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ABSTRACT
This is a proposal for an extension in scope
of Contract The Effects of
Photographic Ground Resolution on Photointerpreta-
tion. The purpose of the extension will be to
design and conduct an experimental study of the
ettects of photographic ground resolution on the
identification of ground order-of-battle targets.
The high resolution photography of Aberdeen
Proving Ground already obtained under the con-
tract will be used to prepare photographs
representing five appropriate ground resolutions.
Pt6fessional photointerpreters will view them
for the purpose of identifying vehicles and
artillery pieces. A report and briefing describ-
ing the results will be prepared. Tn
The estimated costs are as follows:
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PROPOSAL FOR EXTENSION IN SCOPE ON
THE EFFECTS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC GROUND RESOLUTION
ON PHOTOINTERPRETATION
Contract
;IXTRODUCTION
The Effects of Photographic
Ground Resolution on Photointerpretation, was written pri-
marily for the purpose of obtaining high-resolution, aerial
photographs of ground order-:f-battle targets to be used
subsequently in an experimental study of the effects of
ground resolution on photointerpretation. The specific
tasks to be performed were as follows:
Task 1 Selection and procurement of the re-
quired aircraft and camera.
Task 2. Selection, procurement, and placement
of appropriate targets.
Task 3. Construction or procurement and place-
ment of test targets.
Task 4. Collection of "ground truth" informa?
tion.
Task 5. Collection,of photography.
e q trt
The contract thus ealled only for the collection and
preparation of photographic and other materials required
for an experimental study in which professional photoin-
-terpreters (PIs) would serve as subjects. Most of that
preparatory work has been done: an aircraft/camera system
was obtained from the sponsor's parent organization;
arrangements were made to photograph the tank/artilI6ry
museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground; test targets were pre-
pared and placed adjacent to the museum; test flights were
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flown to determine the altitude And camera settings required
to achieve the desired ground resolution; and the photo-
graphic acquisition flights were flown while luminance
measures of the targets and their background were being
made on the ground. In addition, part of the required
ground-truth information was obtained.
This proposal for extension in scope is to conduct and
report the experimental study. In it, the effects of photo-
graphic ground resolution on PI identification of ground
order-of-battle targets will be investigated.
The relevance of the work was described in the origi-
nal proposal as follows:
Modern photographic reconnaissance systems are
-
enormously expensive, and'the-attainment of
better ground resolutions implies greater ex-
pense.- The relation between resolution and
expense probably is not a linear one; improving
ground resolution by a factor of two, for ex-
ample, probably means-an-increase in system
expense by much more than a factor of two.
Furthermore, improvements in ground resolution
may-imply a decrease.in area coverage:
Far these reasons, the intelligence community
should continue the effort to determine what
additional significant intelligence informa-
tion is obtained with improvements in ground
resolution. Such knowledge is vital to the
evaluation of proposed systems.
No one has yet been able to develop an objec-
tive relation between intelligence information
and dollars. For one reason, the value of in-
telligence information varies over time and it
is difficult, if not impossible, to foresee
entirely what information will be valuable in
the future. Nevertheless, the effort to deter-
mine-what information better ground resolutions
permit the photointerpreter to obtain-should
continue, so as to provide the people responsi-
ble for designing and evaluating systems with
an additional source of relevant data.
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Thus far, three studies of the effects of ground,
resolution on the -interpretation of targets have'been
pleted. The targets in the first were domestic, offensive
ICBM sites; the targets in the second were scale models
of mobile radars; and the targets in the third were models
of tanks?and other military.vehicles. Technical reports
describing these studies have been submitted to the'sponsor.
In addition, briefings on these studies have been given to
both. the sponsor and other organizations in the,intelli-
gence community.
Domestic, offensive ICBM sites were selected as tar-
gets for the first study because of the significance of
that type of target to the intelligence community. The
results showed that because of their relatively simple
external configurations "very .good" ground resolutions
were not required to exploit fully the intelligence in
overhead photographs of them.1-
The,fact was recognized then, and still is, that the
effects of ground'resolution on interpretation is "target
specific." One class of targets requirea"better-ground
resolution than another for the complete exploitation of,
overhead photography.
For that reason, a similar study was done'with models
of mobile radars serving as targets. They Were selected
because of the greater detail in their external configura-
tions--the antennas, horns, feeder lines, and so on. The
results showed that significantly better ground resolutions
are required for radars' than for missile sites to exploit
fully the intelligence information available in overhead
photography.
1The specific results are" notpreaented here because of
security.
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It was suggested by representatives of the sponsor and
other intelligence organizations that ground order-of-battle
targets might require even.better ground resolutions than
radars for the complete exploitation of photography.. Con-
sequently, a third study of the effects of photographic
ground resolution was conducted using scale models of tanks
and other military.vehicles as targets.2 The dependent
measure was percent correct target identification.
TECHNICAL DISCUSSION
_In general,,the experimental study proposed here will
be an extension of the previous photographic ground4'esolu-
tion studies. However,,real military vehicles available
in the Aberdeen photography will be used as targets.
The method will be essentially the same as that used
in themprevious studies. Experienced PIs will view the
targets at each ground resolution, starting with the poorest
and ending with the best. At each resolution they'will
attempt to identify each target by comparing its image in
the photographs with "ground-truth" information The data
will be analyzed to determine the mean and standard devia-
tion of percent correct identifications at each ground
resolution. Tests of the statistican,significance of dif-
ferences in identification performances between and abong,
ground resolutions will be made. A description of the
method and the results plus their impli.Cations will be
presented in a technical report.
2In this study, the effects of line-scan images that varied
in signal-to-noise ratio and number of scans per target
were investigated simultaneously.
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It is expected that the expenditure rate will be
However, the rate during the execution of Task 1 could
be somewhat less due to delays in preparing the photo-
graphic materials. It could be somewhat greater during
the execution of Task 2 due to possible conflicts with
operations.
_
DELIVERABLE ITEMS
1. The photographic stimulus materials.
2. A 'book containing the "ground-truth"
data.
3. Bimonthly progress reports.
4. A technic41zreport and briefings requested
by the sponsor.
5. A final,_summary report:
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NOTES
1. The overhead rate shown in this proposal is a bidding
rate. Overhead is allocated to contracts on the
basis of a rate derived from actual overhead expenses
allowable under cost-type contracts in accordance with
ASPR XV, and is audited each calendar year by the
Defense Contract Audit Agency, 11099 La Cienega,
Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. 90045.
2 Bidder is not dominant in its field of operation
and with affiliates employs fewer than 500 employees
3 The prices of the items covered do not exceed those
paid by any other purchaser from the contractor and
the Government is placed in the most favored price
category.
4. Prices are based on straight time.
5. Bidder represents that he has not employed or re-
tained a company or person (other than a full-time
employee) to solicit or secure this contract and
agrees to furnish information thereto as'requested
by the Contracting Officer:
6. Bidder is incorporated in the State of Nevada.
7. Bidder is a profit institution as determined by the
Bureau of Internal Revenue.
8. Government contract administration is handled by the
26 January 1970
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WORK STATEMENT
The work in this proposed extension in scope would in-
clude the following tasks.:
Task 1. Preparation of-the experimental and
statistical design,.books containing
the "ground-truth" information, sub-
0 ject requirements and instructions,.
and data collection forms.
Task 2. Collection of the experimental data.
using the customer's facilities and.
PI personnel as subjects.
Task 3:- Analysis of the experiMOtal data.
Task 4. Preparation of a technical report and
briefing describing the methods,,the
results, and.their implications.
Task 5. Briefings.
Task 6. 6. Preparation of the final report.
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