PROJECT ARGO PHASE II

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01137A000200070011-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 26, 2010
• Sequence Number: 11
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/26: CIA-RDP80TO1137A000200070011-0
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/26: CIA-RDP80TO1137A000200070011-0
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/26: CIA-RDP80TO1137A000200070011-0
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'U ..7 EAPERS
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To study the Talent-Keyhole photography with the aim of determining
the utility of this photography for AID (as a representative user agency), and
to prepare plans for Phase III.
Study Areas:
From the large study region across the waist of Latin American
(1.2 million square miles), three study areas have been selected. These areas
were selected for a wide variety of reasons which will become evident from
the characterizations outlined below.
Area I (28,800 Square Miles)
This strip cuts across the Atacama Desert, both Andean ridges and
the high plateaus between them including Lake Titicaca. Most of the agri-
culturally useful land is now in use, so no large areas of new agricultural
land are available. Land use, though relatively complete, is being carried
out in a destructive way, as evidenced by a high degree of soil erosion.
Much ground truth exists so the study of this area should be aimed
at ways in which this land could become more productive., i.e. dry areas that
might be irrigated, salty areas that might be drained and reclaimed and de-
structive soil erosion reduced.
Area II (9,800 Square miles)
This area includes a broad expanse of the relatively unknown
Eastern Andean foothills and a portion of the flat Amazon Basin. This area
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GROUP 1
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is only sparsely settled, very little ground truth is available and there are
good reasons to expect that large areas of useful land await discovery, char-
acterization and development. This is an area of high prospects for the
discovery of new land resources as opposed to Area I which requires new ways to
improve relatively well known resources. Area II is remote, frequently cloud
covered and access is difficult, so it more closely resembles a denied area
in the manner in which it can be studied.
Area III (92,000 Square Miles)
This area includes the broad estuary of the Rio de la Plata and
portions of the Argentine Pampa as well as some of the Uruguyan coastal plain.
About half of the area is water and was selected for this reason. As in
Area I the agricultural hnd of Area III is nearly all in use but not necessarily
the best economic use. Much Class I and Class II land is under extensive
grazing systems. Since the agriculture of the Area is well known, the study
of Area III will be mostly confined to Oceanographic and Estuarine topics.
Study Methods
Raw materials are supplied by USAETL (GIMRADA), processed by the
Contractor (Autometric) and utilized by the ARGO team.
Area I (28,800 Square Miles)
a. Overlays of a very general nature, showing the most prominent
features such as Surface Configuration, Drainage, Geology, Land Use, Vegetation
and Cultural Features. This exercise is intended to learn as much as possible
about the entire area and to estimate the utility of the photography for
preparing general synoptic overviews of large areas in relatively short periods
of time. Estimates will also be made of the usefulness of such overviews.
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b. A much smaller sample area (200 square miles) selected from
the overview will be delineated for more intensive study. The team will
focus its attention on this sample area and attempt to extract as much detail
as possible. The sample area will include a watershed and the agricultural
lands affected by the watershed. These small sample areas must be limited
in size and number because of time limitations but the team feels that what-
ever level of detail that can be extracted from one sample area can be
extracted from another similar sample.
c. A still smaller sample area will be selected (where KH-7
photography exists) for further detailed study.
A chart of the studies made on Area I could take the following
Area I (28,800 square miles)
1st sample
(200 sq. mi.)
2nd Sample
(50 sq. mi.)
We had planned to complete Area I by 18 September, but this may run
over slightly. At this point a decision must be made on whether or not to
proceed on Area II.
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Area II (9,800 Square Miles)
a. A general overlay will not be made since the main reasons
for doing so will be accomplished in Area I.
b. Sample areas will be choosen from Area II and will be treated
in much the same manner as in Area I.
c. If KH-7 coverage exists, sub-samples will be studied as in
Area I. Should be completed by 6 October.
Area III (92,000 Square Miles)
The intensive study of this area will run concurrently with that
of Area II since different people will be involved
If time permits, a sample of the land area will be studied by the rest of
the group. Should be completed by 6 October.
By the time the team has completed or nearly completed the first
sample of Area I we will be able to make a better judgment on equipment
requests and needed assistance from,-theCorps of Engineers.
Interpretation Overlays
An attempt will be made to produce composite overlays on Area I
and Area II that would combine data from several disciplines so that develop-
ment possibilities can be brought out.
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/26: CIA-RDP80T01137A000200070011-0