PHOTOGRAPHIC COVERAGE OF THE CHILEAN WATER STORAGE AREAS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01137A000200060005-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 26, 2010
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: October 20, 1969
• Content Type: MEMO

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22 October 1969
NOTE FOR: NPIC
Wally, attached are the background items on the new Chile
request I spoke with you about this afternoon. We have no problem
on the targeting aspect, ICRS will handle that. My query to you
refers to the clipped item attached and the NPIC role in the 1968
exercise. Dr. Guthe informs me that last year and
company did some excellent work exploiting the photography on
Chile in response to the USAID request. My problem, Doctor, is
simply whether you all (NPIC, that is) are in a position to do the
same for this request. In our reply to we would like to
say yea or nay on this point, so all we need from you right now is
whether or not NPIC can join the act this time around.
by/a~/'q
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TOP SECRET
October-20, 1969
~ Chairman, COMIREX, CIA
SUBJECT: Photographic Coverage of the Chilean Water Storage Areas
As chairman of the ARGO Steering Committee, I have received from
USAID a request for satellite coverage of the Chilean water storage
areas similar to that requested last year. This request stems from
the continuing drought conditions in that country plus the fact that the
coverage collected last year was extremely useful in analyzing the remote
water storage areas in the high Andes where neither adequate stream
gauges nor lake and reservoir volume data are available.
Due to the August 1969 KH-4 failure and the need for maximum SS-11
coverage by the September mission, I have delayed submitting this request
to you pending the results of that mission. In view of the success of the
September effort, it appears that you may possibly be able to consider this
request for collection of a portion of the Chilean Andes during the November
KH-4 mission. The detailed 'areas to- be covered are identical to those
USAID requested in 1968.
ARGO-Steering Comm
GROUP I
Excluded from automatic down-
grading and declassification.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20506
-e t 9,69
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Notes on the ARGO Steering Committee
Meeting of 25 September 1968
1. In addition to the regular members, with
re resentin NASA, in attendance were of BoB and
of NASC. will apparently attend
regularly representing the Marine Sciences Council.F
brought Gordon Heath and to assist him in his
briefing of the Committee, was not able to attend.
emphasized-the problems faced by the ? photo-interpreter in analvzin : I I
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. 'k
2. introduced the briefing on bi-spectral 25X1
and color photography by stressing that ,efforts in the field of
satellite bi-spectral photography are in an early experimental
stage. of NPIC, supported by vu-graphs, explained, 25X1
both with respect to acquisition and reproduction, the variety of ?
color images derivable from combining the use of different types
of film with selected filters. He demonstrated that with the use
of the bi-spectral approach with the two KH-4 panoramic cameras, ?
the convergence factor between the cameras produces difficult . .
problems of rectification and registration. Use of sophisticated ?
optical orthophotoprinters may be expected to reduce such problems
and experiments . in this direction are under way. 25X1
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TOP SECRET .
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ater mentioned that Mission 1105,
due to launch late in October or early in November, will carry,
some.color (SO 121) film footage, pointed out that
he wished the ARGO members to be aware of the existence of
some bi-spectral coverage in..case any member had a problem
that might be helped by the bi-spectral photography already
obtained.
3, felt that there should be much more
interaction among the several known groups who are analyzing
color imagery to establish PI keys for a variety of purposes.
mentioned work on spectral reflective signatures;
the- Department of Agriculture;. an detailed work of interest t
ed signature recognition studies carried on for
mentioned the
on the development of aerial
photographic keys relating to wheat and other grains in North
Dakota. then asked
to take such action as may be needed to insure that people concerned
with the study of color imagery target signatures be brought together
to exchange views.
4. then called on I to
been programmed, .in response.to.AID's request, to cover these
the four major watersheds of concern.
photography received the previous day which covered parts of
the level of Lake Laja. bowed. some of the
of September 18,. 1968, "Chile's Drought. Worsens". Special
reference was made to the Rapel River and to the 56-foot drop
describe the problem of drought in Central Chile and the request
for satellite photography of snow coverage in several watersheds
in the southern Andes. cited collateral information
from the Engineering News Record of September 5, 1965, "Water
and Power Running Out in Chile", and from 'the New York Times
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targets. Historical information should help in the analysis of
the photography,. as would repetitive coverage, said
there was no coverage for this area during the same general
period last year, but he will .search for coverage during previous
years. The KH?-4B scheduled for launch in late October or early
November may cover the area. will request that
~~voraga oe ootalnea is possible.
serve as a basis for a case study of the kinds of repetitive coverag
possibility.
by satellite photography needed by the civilian agencies. He and
that
that some
that
:..quick response by satellite photographic resources to AID's request
for assistance.
6.
and possibly others will look into this
p otography o
of AID work wi
= might have
noted the need for interpreting the
f Chile and suggested to
th analysts at NPIC. He later added
a hydrologist who could assist, and
test photography in the United States by aircraft might
help. mentioned how gratified he was with the
7. (requested to expand
on the request of the Director of the National Resources Analysis
Center, received by as Chairman of the 'Steering
Committee. There are approximately 115 metropolitan areas in
the United States requiring coverage, of which about 70 have
already been covered* by KH-4, The Director would like action
taken to acquire KH stereo photography during the balance of 1968
and during 1969, 6n a non-competitive basis, of the remaining
40 odd metropolitan areas listed on the enclosure to his request.
Harry noted that there was a two-thirds overlap with USGS require-
ments. assured that the request would
be forwar a to you for COMIREX action.
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