Today's battlefield is no longer just a place of physical clash and exchange of fire, but a more and more space where information, the velocity of its flow and the effectiveness of analysis play a key role. In a time of dynamic technological development, IT systems have become an indispensable component of modern military operations – from designation and command to logistics to combat activities. decently designed and integrated IT systems based on GIS platforms increase operational efficiency, enable faster decision making and supply information advantage over the opponent. This article brings together the function of information systems utilizing geospatial information in modern armed forces and discusses their impact on the improvement of modern battlefields.
Classical GIS solutions for recognition and imaging can be utilized to monitor long complex borders of countries. Effective border protection requires continuous monitoring of vast and frequently hard areas available. Technologies based on geospatial information analysis are crucial here. Advanced tools specified as ERDAS IMAGINE, automate the field change detection process, allowing analysts to effectively monitor activity in large areas, regardless of the terrain. Thanks to the possibilities of processing immense data volumes, ERDAS IMAGINE is utilized in operational planning, critical infrastructure monitoring and crisis response.
The width of the reflection corridor of the protection of the border belt is adapted to the topographical characteristics and the degree of danger – possible intrusions can happen not only by land but besides by underground or air. A number of monitoring tools are integrated to safe and defend the border – from conventional radars and cameras to advanced radio surveillance and integrated sensor networks. Technology LUCIAD supports the integration of these sources, combining data from sensors into real-time operational images available to the user through multiple different interfaces.
Another usage of GIS systems, this time class BI, is the monitoring of offshore infrastructure. Submarine infrastructure has become highly crucial due to global dependence on the net – about 99% of global communication and data traffic presently flows through submarine cables. The exact location of many underwater cables is unclear, making their monitoring and protection difficult. Similarly, offshore energy infrastructure (gas pipelines and electrical pipelines) is susceptible to external attacks.
The threats to sub-marine infrastructure have led to NATO initiatives specified as the Baltic Sentry and Joint Expeditionary Force’s Nordic Warden, which strengthen surveillance, exchange of intelligence and fast response.
Monitoring of ships – including weather data, floats, currents and satellite images – can be managed utilizing GIS BI navigation panels based on a platform M.App Enterprise.
Thanks to the integration of ERDAS IMAGINE, LUCIAD and M.App Enterprise technologies within wider command and data analysis systems it is possible to creating a comprehensive situational environment – from natural data acquisition, analysis and visualization to real-time support of operational decisions. These complex issues fall within a broader framework multi-domain operations (MDOs). MDO operations include coordination between military and civilian agencies operating in all domains: land, air, sea, space and cyberspace.
