Abstract

Geo-analytical Capabilities for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
Track: Defense and Intelligence
Authors: Gerhard Joos

The NATO geospatial enterprise infrastructure 'NATO CoreGIS' provides geospatial information and services to a variety of C2 systems in ISAF at headquarter and regional command levels. It serves quality assured geospatial data - referred to as designated geospatial data - to make sure that all users base their decisions and planning on the same geospatial information.

The US Army Geospatial Center has developed geo-analytical tools in a project called Common Ground, which need to run on designated geospatial data. The Common Ground tools consist of terrain analysis capabilities such as cross-country mobility, concealment areas, and other terrain analytics for operational planning in theatre.

The NATO Consultation Command and Control Agency (NC3A) adapted the Common Ground tools to operate on NATO designated geospatial data. The deployment to Afghanistan will take place in March 2012 and is expected to strengthen NATO's geospatial information superiority.