DHS taps BAE Systems for geospatial imagery and analysis
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BAE Systems' intelligence experts will process and disseminate geospatial data and airborne imagery to produce high-resolution maps that reflect current environmental conditions.
The Homeland Security Department is looking to improve geospatial imagery and analysis to support emergency management and security planning for special events.
DHS’ Geospatial Management Office has selected BAE Systems to provide geospatial imagery for real-time intelligence as part of DHS’ Remote Sensing Services to Support Incident Management and Homeland Security contract, according to a company release. BAE Systems is one of four prime contractors in the $50 million, five-year IDIQ contract.
BAE Systems’ intelligence experts will use geospatial data and airborne imagery to produce high-resolution maps that reflect current environmental conditions, BAE officials said. The data will be used to produce real-time intelligence products to support a variety of DHS missions, including emergency management of natural and man-made disasters, and possibly security planning for special events. The geospatial intelligence products might also be used to assist public safety and law enforcement with tactical planning and incident response.
As part of the contract, BAE Systems’ supported the Federal Emergency Management Agency in its response to the tornadoes in Oklahoma. BAE provided high-resolution, color imagery along the entire path of destruction -- information that is critical to the recovery and cleanup efforts, a BAE official said.
BAE Systems works with geospatial firms, universities and government agencies on geospatial intelligence solutions as part of its Geospatial Operation for a Secure Homeland – Awareness, Workflow, Knowledge (GOSHAWK) program. GOSHAWK develops hybrid teams of data providers, systems integrators and IT professionals to rapidly transform geospatial data into actionable intelligence, company officials said.
In December 2012, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency awarded BAE Systems a multi-year 60 million dollar contract to provide Activity-Based Intelligence systems, tools and support.
BAE Systems’ ABI solution uses advanced software analysis tools and commercial, off-the-shelf computing infrastructures to automate the ingestion, storage and processing of large volumes of intelligence data across multiple sources. ABI helps intelligence analysts better identify adversarial activity patterns and gives them a greater understanding of the relationships between individuals, their activities and their transactions, company officials said.