The Problem of Soviet Capabilities in Geodesy and Cartography

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00662R000100030025-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 29, 1998
• Sequence Number: 25
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 200, 0/Q8/03 : CIA-RDP75-00662R00010003Q025-4
The Problem of Soviet Capabilities in Geodesy
and Cartography
The CIA is sponsoring a project under the direction of the
oaranhie Divisionn, undertaken by the
for purposes of (1) making a
comprehensive study of the Soviet geodetic and cartographic establishment;
and (2) preparing intelligence reports and estimates of Soviet capabilities
in foreign and domestic mapping.
The Soviet Union possesses a geodetic and cartographic establishment
believed to be second to none in the world. It has made important
advances in scientific research and has been responsible for transforming
the vast areas of the Soviet Union from one of the poorest to one of the
better mapped countries of the world within the short span of 33 years*
Very little is known, however, of the structure and organization of its
research and mapping agencies.
The project is designed to study and analyze the highly complex
Soviet mapping organization and to determine the status of its activity.
The project will, within the limits of available information, determine
the potential of the Soviet organization for meeting the increasingly
exacting requirements in geodesy and cartography for possible future
military operations. The study will include a comparison of the status
of development of Soviet and U, S. geodesy and cartography. The project,
as outlined in detail in Appendix As will attempt to provide the basis for
detailed intelligence reports and estimates, of current as well as future
Soviet capabilitieso
Since geodesy and cartography are included in the broad field of
geophysics and geography in the Soviet scientific organizations it is
planned that results from the research effort will also include significant
information on developmentsy trends, and now theories and techniques in the
fields outlined in Appendix B. This additional Information will be noted
for the attention of the Office of Scientific Intelligence, CIA, and will
be made available to the Committee on G ics and Geography, RDB,
and other appropriate offices of the IAC agencies0
The results of the project will be varied. The most significant
product will be fully coordinated intelligence reports and estimates*
Special intelligence items concerning developments, trends, theories,
and techniques on topics outlired in Appendix B will be prepared and
distributed. Data cards and map overlays presenting pertinent geodetic,
cartographic, and geographic information also win be made availableo
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APPENDIX A
"SOVIET CAPABILITIES IN FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC MAPPING
TO INCLUDE GEODESY, AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY,
AND PHOTOQRA11AETRT."
1@ Organization of Russian science in the above and related,
closely allied, and contributory fields
Major research institutes; production establishments,
and associated organizations - to include list, history,
and status of work and publications
bo Key personnel and evaluation of capabilities
co Educational programs, quality and extent of training of
personnel, and size of staff
do Availability of Russian material and publication
Russian cognizance of U.S. methods, procedures, and equipment
2.o Technical developments in each, of related fields
ao Control
(1) Evaluation of Russian triangulation methods (5 classes)
(a) Sampling of computational and adjustment procedures
along transcontinental arc, in at least four
approximately equal spaced loops
(b) Comparison between U-S. and U.S.S.R. procedures
and results of accuracies, speed, and instrumentation
(C)
Correlation of Rgssian "classes" with international
"orders" of accuracy
(d) Extent and location of triangulation of all classes
(e) Estimates of future developments, both short- and
longterm
(2) Eva. cation of Russian leveling methods (9 classes)
(a) Sampling of computational and adjustment procedure
in at least four equally spaced level-net loops
(b) Comparison between U.S., and U.S.S.R. procedures
and results of accuracies, speed, and instrumentation
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(3 )
(c) Correlation of Russian "classes" with international
"orders" of accuracy
(d) Extent and location of leveling of all classes
(e)
Estimates of future developments, both short- and
(5)
(6)
long-term
Russian triazi.al ells oid and its possible effect
upon any or a . mapping procedures
Russian methods of effecting inter-continental ties of
geodetic control, both east and west; with estimates
of future short- and long-term developments
Russian claims and procedures involving use of gravity
and astronomical data to determine geodec posi.ion
re ve accuracy o s an methods and possible e
of this study to facilitate the U.S. mapping program
Feasibility of tying in inde
ndent Russian triangulation
sajAus-f iuVic netiWvr.
(7)
Russian astronomical methods in application to geodetic
problems
(8) Russian studies in terrestrial magnetism that affect
cartography
bo Russian electronic control and mapping methods; comparison
w1tn the status o
(1) Shoran
(2) Loran
(3) Radar
(4)
pments
(5) others
ce Aerial photography for mapping and charting
(1) Extent and use of coverage
(2) ~ types and performance, comparison with U.S.
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00 S
do Photogramm
(1) ' ui nt; types and comparison with U.S., Swiss, Can'.
3,
4o
(2) Tied comparison with generally accepted procedures.
0 o
(3) ; extent of work and relative accuracy of results
Analysis of Russian Cartog
aosiasn cartographic establishments and nracticee
bg Pro eOtio c and grids, including the Russian grid referencing
system or o ental use
09 21uation Of Ihmsian _M and charts
do Russian map coverage
Russian methods of computing and projecting for the rapid
determination of bearing and range im olving long distances
from spotting point to objective
rephic mn$
og
e /~r/~~ry yy~- ~rpc`~~r
l a g o t h e r data requixw In s proposal
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APPENDIX B
As a collateral, but subordinate objective there shall be
collected and reported the significant sources and information on
developments, trends, near theories and techniques in all fields
of science in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which m;r
be located, in the course of the projects but with. special reference
to the following fields:
1, Mateo rolo ~.? weather forecasting, both short- and
-arange dynamic meteorology; meteorological instruments;
stratosphere; ozonosphere; ionosphere; attempts at
weather control; solar radiation; meteorological optics;
meteorological acoustics; micrometeorology,
Climatology --? use of punched cards in making climatic
analyses; microclimatology; uses of climatological
studies in agriculture and in industry,
1 -` floods; flood forecasting; flood control;
Irrigation projects; per developments; improvement of
navigation; forecasting of stream flan; forecasting
the dates of freezing of rivers in the spring and of
opening in the fall; ground water,
u, Oc a .- oceanic shivers; currents; tides and
c on; ice; salinity; temperature; gravity
measurements; sea bottom; ocean margins; chemical and
plwsical characteristics of sea water,
S, Soil Mechanics - infiltration; percolation; soil
tempera ure; soil erosion; characteristics of pexma z ost;
meahs' ics; soil characteristics,
6? Seismolo? earthquakes; seismometers and seismographs;
ero~?se sms; forecastin of earthquakes; eartIxquake-resistant
construction (buildings 1; causes; stresses and strains,
wagres,
7, Terrestrial Magnetism and Electricity Magnetic surveys;
instruments used in-measuring and recording the earths,- T
magnetism and electricity; aurora; magnetic storms,
On the basis of the results thus achieved by the projects OSI may
be interested at some future time in developing with this Laboratory
a special project or an elaboration of the present one to explore
problems of paramount interest to OSI,. In this senses the presently
proposed project can serve as an exploratory and a pilot project for
OSIs in addition to meeting the immediate needs of the Geographic
Division. During the project, close liaison between the Geographic
Division and OSI will be maintained,
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