Search Coverage

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Air OperationsBranch Director Course

• Managing Aerial Imaging Missions

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What of value do we offer?What is the purpose of
CAP aerial imaging?

• Provide intelligence for decision support
• Primary Support other agencies
• Law enforcement organizations
• State and county emergency management
• State, county, and federal agencies
• Secondary Enhance CAP Operations
• Aerial photos for ground teams
• Potential applications SAR, DR, HS, CD

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Potential Mission Profiles

• Storm Damage Assessment
• Wildfire Suppression
• Haz-Mat/Chemical Spill Incident Response
• Flood Mitigation
• Search and Rescue
• Counter Drug Recon
• Homeland Security Recon

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Fundamental Questions

• What is the mission?
• Who needs the photo?
• What question does the photo need to answer?
• When is the photo needed?
• How do we deliver it?
• Carry-down
• Sat-phone (e-mail or web)
• SSTV (point-to-point radio communication)

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Decision Support

• Providing decision support is the central theme
  of this training
• We need to answer the following questions
• What is the product we need to produce?
• How do we make it a good product?
• How do we organize ourselves to accomplish this?

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Requirements of Decision Support

• Area to be imaged usually small
• How large is the incident?
• How large is the area of interest within the
  incident?
• Information needed quickly
• Tactical vs. Strategic timing
• Photos dont need to be pretty, but do need to be
  clear
• Photos must usually be accompanied by meta-data
  i.e. descriptive text and information

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CAP Photo General Characteristics

• Taken out of a window looking down at an angle
• Taken from 1000 ft AGL
• Almost always a close-up
• Motion limits the amount of zoom we can
  practically use
• May not have ideal lighting

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Area Imaged
Areaimaged
180 ft
100 ft

• Dependent on
• Altitude
• Focal length of lens (i.e. zoom factor)
• Oblique photos (i.e. not straight down)
• Different scales at top of photo than at bottom
• Angle affects how much difference

Angle of photo
Altitude (AGL)
Center of image
Area imaged
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Area Imaged Example

• 1000 ft AGL
• 320 mm focal length
• Max zoom for Cannon EOS D with 200 mm lens
• Near max zoom for Olympus C750
• Shooting picture 45 degrees down

About 150 ft side to sideat center of photo
200 mm is focal length of the EOS lens when
used with Cannon EOS 35 mm camera a 1.6x
conversion factor is applied to the lens focal
length when used with a Cannon EOS digital camera.
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Area Imaged Example

• The lesson here is that we will very often want
  to be at maximum zoom
• 150ft covers a fairly large area many incidents
  will fit inside that frame

About 150 ft side to sideat center of photo
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Windows

• To avoid glare, avoid taking pictures through
  Plexiglas if at all possible
• Photos are best taken through open windows (or
  camera portals)
• Right-front seat should be normal position for
  photographer
• Left-rear seat is an option for aircraft equipped
  with camera portals
• Cold weather, precipitation, or other factors may
  be reasons, however, to leave the windows closed
  and take the pictures though them
• If picture must be taken through window, make
  sure window is clean

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Decision support photos are not like other kinds
of aerial photos

• Mapping photography
• Imaging large areas
• Photos taken straight down with mounted cameras
• Concerned with geometry of stretching photo
  onto a map
• Flight executed at any ideal time, in no rush
• Real-estate/personal photography
• Typically somewhat wide-angle
• Aesthetics count

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Logging / Flight Profiles

• For decision support, it is vital that the images
  can all be interpreted in context
• When the images are examined on the ground, we
  need to be able to identify what are we looking at

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Logging / Flight Profiles

• Three general approaches identified so far
• PLANNED CIRCUIT
• A pre-programmed collection of images
• Pre-identified target or targets
• May use a standardized 4 points survey
• Well suited for repeated surveys allows
  comparison of images
• Anticipated application HS, SAR
• LOGGED RECON
• When the crew needs to determine the most
  important images to capture
• Exact targets unknown in advance or moving
• More detailed log required
• Anticipated application DR (wildfire, hazmat,
  etc.), HS
• INTERACTIVE TASKING
• Real-time interaction with customer (by radio)
• Anticipated application HS and other assistance
  to LE

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Example Planned CircuitDRAFT - HS Plan for
Critical Infrastructure Survey Missions

• The aircraft will enter an orbit over the target.
  The direction of the orbit will depend on whether
  the airplane has a camera window or not. A camera
  window in the left rear seat will require a
  counter clockwise orbit, whereas a 172 without a
  camera window will require a clockwise orbit.
• The airplane will enter the orbit from the north
  at 3,000 AGL spaced at about 0.75 miles
  laterally from the target.
• Approximately 30-40 photos should be taken during
  each orbit maintaining the same lateral spacing
  (can you say turns around a point). This gives
  the high altitude, low angle shots covering the
  whole of the target site.
• After a complete orbit, the second orbit is at
  the same altitude, but with a lateral spacing of
  0.1-0.25 miles. This gives the high altitude,
  high angle shots covering the whole of the target
  site.

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Example Planned Circuit Cont.DRAFT - HS Plan
for Critical Infrastructure Survey Missions

• Descend to 2,000 AGL widening back to about 0.75
  mile lateral distance from the target. Note the
  time on the log.
• Complete another wide orbit starting from the
  north followed by a tight orbit. Note the time at
  the start of the descent.
• Descend to 1,000 AGL and repeat the wide and
  tight orbits stating again from the North. Note
  the time at the conclusion of the tight orbit.
• Continue to orbit at 1,000 AGL and take selected
  close up shots of interesting elements of the
  target.
• Gradually widen the orbit to lower the angle of
  the shots of the target.

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Three means of delivering photos from the
aircraft to the ground

• Carry-down
• Near real-time options
• SSTV
• SDIS

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What is SSTV Slow Scan TV?

• Point-to-point still-image transmission on a
  voice radio channel
• Requires transmission and reception radio
  stations that are in range of each other
• Analog encoding of picture into sounds
• Originally developed by HAM radio operators as a
  way to send images on radio channels designed for
  voice (i.e. with limited bandwidth)
• Old-style SSTV required specialized hardware
  modems and used video cameras
• CAP began experimenting with this old-style SSTV
  in the mid 90s
• Modern SSTV uses ordinary computer sound cards
  and specialized software

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What is SDIS?

• Satellite Digital Imaging System
• CAP NHQs custom software and computer hardware
  package for transmitting digital pictures via
  satellite phone
• Concept
• Works anywhere in the world, at any altitude
• Approach
• Satellite phone functions as a modem for the
  computer to connect to the Internet
• Satellite time is like cell phone time we pay
  for it.
• Minnesota Wing has an SDIS-equivalent capability
  that we will sometimes call SDIS for simplicity.

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SDIS Status in 2009

• GlobalStar satellite phone service has
  deteriorated from past years
• It worked well when we first got it
• Now our phones are rarely able to get a
  connection
• Satellite components damaged by radiation
• Additional satellites put into service this past
  year helped little
• Software tool on web can be used by IC to predict
  service windows (i.e. based on satellite
  positions)
• Service windows as predicted are often brief and
  actual service realized even briefer

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SDIS Into the Future

• Next generation satellites scheduled for launch
  in 2009
• CAP Negotiated no charge for GlobalStar service
  through October 2010
• Service (such as it is) available at no charge
  until then
• New Cessna aircraft will not have GlobalStar
  package installed

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Types of Aerial Imaging

• Visible Spectrum Digital Photos
• Carry-down photos
• Photos with near-real time delivery
• Point-to-Point SSTV downlink
• Satellite phone (SDIS) internet web/e-mail
• Other imaging
• Hyper-spectral
• Infrared

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Minnesota Wing Equipment

• Each Minnesota Wing squadron is assigned one of
  the following imaging assets
• A 4 Mega Pixel Olympus Camera
• A 6 Mega Pixel Cannon Camera
• An Aerial Imaging Kit
• An Aerial Imaging Kit with Ground Station
• Other Equipment in Wing
• Nikon cameras
• ARCHER

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Minnesota Wing Equipment Acquired with State
Grant Funds

• 10 AI Aerial Imaging Kits
• Each kit can be used three ways
• SSTV Air station
• SSTV ground station (when combined with ground
  kit)
• In-flight Internet computer (when used in
  aircraft with satellite telephone)
• Components
• HP Laptop computer power supply
• Olympus C750 camera
• Tate VHF transceiver
• SSTV computer software
• Software to support use with satellite phone
• Water resistant hard shell case
• Custom SSTV interface circuit power
  distribution
• Multi-format memory card reader

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Minnesota Wing Equipment Acquired with State
Grand Funds

• 6 SSTV Ground Kits
• Antenna and co-ax
• Tripod
• Mast
• Power supply
• 6 Cannon EOS Rebel D cameras with F4 70-200mm
  lens and filters
• 320mm effective focal length
• 9 Additional Olympus C750 camera kits
• 1 Satellite telephone installed in C172

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Special Resources Supplied by Squadrons

• Automated SSTV ground receiving stations
• Red Wing
• Winsted

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Minnesota Wing Equipment Assigned from CAP
National HQ

• Aircraft upgrades to support SSTV (whole fleet)
• Power supplies and connectors
• Dedicated antennas
• Nikon Coolpix cameras
• Sat phone in Glass cockpit C182 Nav III
• Same sat-phone type as wing system
• Came with SDIS (Satellite Digital Imaging
  System), NHQs software package
• Sat phone, SDIS, and ARCHER in Gippsland GA-8
  aircraft

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Web Resources

• National HQs WMIRS system
• Minnesota Wing Intranet

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Relevant Camera Differences

• Memory size
• Resolution
• Memory write speed
• Focal length/zoom
• Aperture (ability to work in low light)

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Safety

• Aerial imaging for decision support usually
  involves a lot of circling maneuvering
• Traffic avoidance is a challenge
• When radar advisory service is available,
  aircrews should be briefed to use it
• Areas of interest for photography often attract
  other air traffic the airspace can get very
  crowded and chaotic
• MNICS all-risk air operations frequencies should
  be used
• Temporary flight restrictions can sometimes be
  established by authorities to limit traffic to
  incident response agencies and media

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Safety

• Pilot shall never take photos (or work any other
  aerial imaging equipment)
• Computer equipment must stay in back seat
• Crew photographer must use camera shoulder strap
  to avoid dropping camera outside of aircraft

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Aerial PhotographyMission Base Procedures
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A Quote

• The biggest problem we had with these images was
  that we had never dealt with this quantity or
  complexity of requests before.  They want about
  100 images, all sorted nice and neat into what
  direction they were taken from and of what
  bridge.  Put that across 4 or 5 different sorties
  and it gets to be a mess to sort out.
•  - An Incident Commander after a complex aerial
  photography training mission

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The Problem

• Each aerial photo sortie generates a ton of data
  images and accompanying logging info.
• Multiply that with multiple sorties, and it is
  easy to get swamped
• We need to emphasize, for these missions, timely
  and meaningful coordination with the customer
• We need a person assigned to make sure this
  happens
• Just sending a bunch of unlabeled photos to the
  customer accomplishes nothing

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New ICS Position to the Rescue

• Intelligence/Investigations Function
• Can be organized as
• Command staff officer
• Section (with a chief)
• Branch under Operations (with a director)
• Unit under Planning (with a leader)

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How to organize

• When purpose of photography is to provide intel
  to another agency, but the mission is organized
  under a CAP IC, then the CAP intel function is
  best organized as an Operations Branch.
• When the purpose of photography is to support
  other CAP operations (such as SAR), then it is
  best organized as a Planning Unit.

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Intelligence InvestigationsBranch Director/Unit
Leader

• Indicators when needed
• For missions involving a significant amount of
  imaging
• For missions in which we have a customer to
  whom the images should be sent
• Even if the airplane is e-mailing the images to
  the customer, because we will probably also want
  to deliver hi-res versions of the images later
• May have an assistant (and/or team)
• Suggestion Qualifications A qualified AOBD or LO

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IIBD/IIUL Duties (page 1 of 2)

• Assist with planning briefing aerial photo
  sorties
• Receive email (SDIS) photos from missions
• Coordinate with communications unit to receive
  SSTV images (i.e. be point of contact for SSTV
  ground operator)
• Ensure photos are logged into WIMRS
• Assist debriefing photo sorties
• Ensuring the photo logs are usable
• Downloading carry-down photos from cameras into a
  central repository

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IIBD/IIUL Duties (continued)

• Coordinate with customer
• Provide timely delivery of product
• Determine new priorities and requirements
• Coordinate with aircrews (through AOBD and
  communications unit) to provide in-flight tasking
• Provide intel received to planning section
• Advise IC (through section chief)

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Intelligence InvestigationsBranch Director/Unit
Leader

• Non-Duties
• Has command of no aircrews
• Not responsible for operational control of aerial
  photo sorties
• Not responsible for sortie status tracking
• Does not issue flight releases
• Does not give operational assignments, except
  through AOBD

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Other New Staff Positions

• SSTV Ground Station Operator
• ARCHER Ground Station Operator

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SSTV Ground Operator

• Reports to the Communications Unit Leader
• Located either at CAP mission base or customer
  command post
• Qualifications A CAP mission radio operator,
  also trained in SSTV operation

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SSTV Ground Operator

• Reports to the Communications Unit Leader
• Located either at CAP mission base or customer
  command post
• Qualifications A CAP mission radio operator,
  also trained in SSTV operation

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ARCHER Ground Station Operator

• Reports to Air Operations Branch Director (AOBD)
• Performs post-flight analysis of data collected
  by ARCHER sorties
• Trained and qualified ARCHER operator

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Photos with Log-Data
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Main points

• A photo by itself is of limited value
• A photo combined with descriptive information
  gives a more complete story
• A collection of such photos, taken from different
  vantage points, is better yet
• Information about the photo is best collected as
  the photo is taken
• Be careful, proof-read your log as you go
• Mistakes are easy
• You must plan ahead if you are going to match-up
  log entries with photos
• Even better yet Put the text on the photo if
  you can

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Log data

• Basics
• Identifying information (so that photos and log
  can be matched up later!)
• Where (location, direction of view)
• When (date, time)
• Interpretation (text description)
• Other info
• Camera Lens (resolution, zoom/focal length,
  etc.)
• Altitude
• Sortie/Aircraft ID, photographer

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Approach

• Well now review a series of photos along with
  their log entries
• Note how the log text makes it possible for us to
  build a more complete picture in our minds

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File DSC00430 09-NOV-02 44.54.50N 094.34.25W
Looking Northeast Interpretation Runke Private
Airport
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File DSC00431 09-NOV-02 44.54.50N 094.34.25W
Looking Northwest Interpretation Runke Private
Airport
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File DSC00440 09-NOV-02 (no lat/long given)
Looking Northwest (ERROR!)Interpretation
Hutchinson Airport
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We are looking at the approach-end of runway 15
at Hutchinson(Which way is this photo really
looking?)
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File DSC00454 09-NOV-02 (no lat/long given)
Looking Northeast Interpretation Hwy 75 Dam,
SE of Ortonville, MN
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File DSC00461 09-NOV-02 (no lat/long given)
Looking West Interpretation Hwy 75 Dam, SE of
Ortonville, MN
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Questions?