IMAGERY INTERPRETATION PROCESS RESEARCH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B05171A000500010016-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 26, 2005
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: December 1, 1969
• Content Type: REPORT

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IMAGERY INTERPRETATION PROCESS RESEARCH
A. OBJECTIVES:
1. FY 69-76. Establish and maintain a data base of the skills of
the Center's imagery exploitation personnel.
Rationale: Apply this data, as well as related research find-
ings available in the literature and in the fuman /actors
munity, to determine and implement necessary improvements in
the exploitation process of present (conventional) imagery,
and to plan for the effective exploitation of future imagery
systems.
2. FY 71-76. Identify potential applications of automated and
semi-automated exploitation systems.
Rationale: A thorough understanding of the human exploitation
processes will provide information which can be applied to the
development of machine capabilities to augment productivity in
the face of increasingly greater demands for services.
3. FY 69-76. Develop psychophysical procedures for assessing image
quality.
Rationale: There is a continuing need to establish the psycho-
physical relations between current and future imaging systems
in order to optimize the design of acquisition and display systems.
4. FY 69-76. Develop and promote application of human factors state-
of-the-art principles to the design of photoexploitation equipments.
Declassification Review by NGA/DoD .
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Rationale: The limitations and capabilities of the Center's
human resources must be considered in the design specifications
of exploitation hardware in order to effect maximum system
performance.
B. PROGRESS--FY 1969-1970:
1. OBJECTIVE #1.
a. Results:
(1) A series of photo interpretation and photogrammetry
performance measures were developed and/or administered during
FY 1969.
(2) A statistically significant improvement in general
target search was shown to have occurred from 1967 to 1969.
(3) Twelve weeks of training for novice photo interpreters
in the Offutt Defense Sensor Interpretation and Applications
Training Program were found to be roughly equivalent to 22 years
of on-the-job experience for photo interpretation reasoning
ability.
(4) Mensuration accuracy statements were refined by means
of an intensive statistical analysis of operational research data.
b. Expected Results:
(1) A preliminary validation of an Agency administered PI
selection battery will be completed prior to 1 Dec.
(2) A PI target knowledge inventory will be made available
about
-prior--to 1 Dec. A cross section of targets typically read out by
area specialists were selected as test items in an evaluation of
identification performance. Results will indicate which type
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targets are to be included in a pilot training program to be
developed during FY 1970.
2. OBJECTIVE #2.
a. Results:
A five year projection of the possible role of Automated
collateral storage and retrieval systems for use by photo-
interpreters and collateral support personnel was developed.
b. Expected results:
A preliminary evaluation of a new semi-automated text and
graphics display system will be conducted in terms of its po-
tential application to photointerpretation, collateral support,
graphics and text display and manipulation.
3. OBJECTIVE #3.
a. Results:
Preliminary psychophysical relations between photography and
line-scan imagery resolution requirements were established by
comparing the exploitation of photographs and line-scan images of
the same ground-order-of-battle target models.
b. Expected results:
The above study will be replicated utilizing real G-O-B
targets for validation purposes.
4. OBJECTIVE #4.
Results:
(1) A comprehensive literature review of line-scan inter-
pretation research was conducted.
(2) The Human Engineering Design Guide, a document summariz-
ing basic physiological and engineering information applicable to
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inclusion of sections specific acoustics and comparators.
(3) Approximately 250 articles on imagery exploitation re-
search were reviewed and included in the Imagery Interpretation
Bibliography. These relevant to NPIC were abstracted and included
in the State-of-the-Art Review.
(4) A number of industrial and government research facil-
ities were contacted in search of relevant state-of-the-art in-
formation.
(5) Several European studies indicated that the convergence
angle of microscope eyepieces might influence visual performance.
Since the CENTER employs a variety of optical instruments, many cif
which were designed with high convergence angles, preliminary re-
search was conducted on the effect of convergence angle upon
photointerpretation performance. The results were far from con-
clusive, but there were sufficient indications of excessive ocular
accommodative actively to warrant continuation of the research.
b. Expected results:
(1) The Human Engineering Design Guide will be further up-
dated and republished during FY 1970.
(2~ The literature review and site visits discussed above
will continue. Unaided stereo projection display possibilities
and unconventional imagery exploitation state-of-the-art will be
emphasized.
(3) Research shall continue on microscope convergence angle,
and an investigation of the effects of microscope field-of-view on
PT performance-=will be designed.
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C. PROGRAM PLANS:
1. Alternatives:
2. Approaches Selected:
a. Objective # 1
(1) Target knowledge training:
FY 70-73. Broaden the scope of the current development
of PI target knowledge training programs. The approach(es)
to be followed will be established during the current contract.
(2) Critical Skills:
FY 70-76. The long-range research objectives of the
Imagery Interpretation Research Program are to remain re-
sponsive to the priority needs of the operational components
of the CENTER. It is intended that future exploitation
oriented research topics evolve as they have in the past ---
the production groups take stock of their critical skills on
their critical skills on an annual basis, and in coordination
with the HUMAN FACTORS SECTION, select those skills which
appear to require immediate improvement or which should be de-
veloped in preparation for advanced hardware or procedural
changes. If the request is compatible with HFS resources, a
research plan is developed and implemented to evaluate current
skill level; where applicable, performance under simulated
conditions of advanced technology are also evaluated. On the
basis of the research findings, a decision is then made by
the operational group initiating the request to maintain the
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c. OBJECTIVE #3.
(1)
Acquisition System Parameters:
FY 70-76. Collection of exploitation data on intelligence
information extraction as a function of image quality will con-
tinue. Such data gathering must be target, requirement, and
sensor specific, and must produce results which will enable
future acquisition system planners to devise objective design
specifications, based upon known user image quality needs.
in the program, with
to follow as each becomes appropriate.
(2) Display System Parameters:
FY 70-76. Research efforts will be concerned with an ob-
jective determination of quality requirements of imagery in
anticipation of new acquisition system products for display
and exploitation. As in collecting the data for C.3.a., in-
terpreter information needs will be the primary criterion.
Consideration of line-scan and
parameters will be emphasized earlie0l
displays will occur 25X1
earliest in the program, with succeeding studies to be dependent
upon subsequent acquisition system developments.
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(3)
Image Manipulation:
FY 70-76. Continuing support shall be lent to ITS/ATB
efforts to define optimum image processing procedures. Image
quality tradeoffs based upon user needs must be objectively
designated, and where feasible, artificial manipulations of
image rendition may be found appropriate if exploitation
efficiency is demonstrated to be enhanced.
d. OBJECTIVE #4.
(1) Relevant R&D Advances:
FY 70-76. Efforts will be made to maintain cognizance
of human factors research results and their potential applica-
tion to CENTER requirements. Emphasis will be on research
and information assemblage in support of decisionmakers an-
ticipating CENTER environment alternatives. Techniques for
upgrading the performance of CENTER human resources will also
be priority targets for consideration.
(2) Human Engineering Design Guide:
FY 70-76. This document will be updated with revised
human engineering design data as available, and with new bodies
of information as required to support new system developments.
The Guide will be maintained for the Intelligence Community as
a central source of human engineering design specifications 25X1
for image exploitation hardware development.
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1. Alternatives
Several alternative contractual approaches to accomplish the objectives
cited herein are available. A single contractor could be selected to con-
duct all R&D activities to improve the human interpretation process, thereby
focusing all research activities at a single point, but limiting the pro-
gram quality to contractor capabilities. Separate commercial sources for
each research question would, provide maximum research quality, but would
prove to be administratively cumbersome. The recommended solution is a
compromise -- employ several major contractors, each demonstrating broad
technical & management resources in image interpretation research, and
introduce several human factors contractor specialists for limited research
areas.
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