IMPROVED MENSURATION OF AUTOMATED HAND-HELD PHOTOGRAPHY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88B00443R001103890053-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 10, 2008
• Sequence Number: 53
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP88B00443RO01103890053-5
? ?
i. Project Title: Improved Mensuration of Automated Hand-Held Photography
Submitting Agency: HQ FTD/SQHA Decision Unit No: 2210
II. Costs: FY 1983 FY 1984
$200 x $2007K
III. Description of Project:
a. "Hand-held" photography refers to those photographs taken by tourists,
attaches, and professional photographers using any of an assortment of small,
commercially available portable cameras - usually either a pocket instamatic
type or, more commonly, one of a number of popular 35mm Single Lens Reflex (SLR)
cameras. The photographs are generally taken of objects having potential
intelligence value (i.e., displayed at public air shows, technical exhibits,
and parades). The intelligence information (particularly mensuration and
configuration data) is extremely difficult to extract due to numerous factors
affecting the object photographed. In short, the object is not usually as it
appears but rather some distorted facsimile thereof.
b. Mensuration accuracy and configuration data of objects for weapon
system analysis can be significantly improved by integrating the best features
of two methodologies currently used for exploiting hand-held photography -
graphical and analytical.
- Graphical technique: Produces a man-made drawing of the object
photographed. The graphical method is very accurate and not as dependent upon
imagery information (focal length, film format, enlargement factor, etc.), but
it is a very slow, personnel-intensive process.
- Analytical technique: Produces parameter description of an object
through the use of computer programs. This technique required less time than
the graphical technique but is limited by the amount of information obtainable
about the photography.
c. The integration of these methodologies through an external assistance
contract should improve the timeliness and accuracy of object mensurations
derived from hand-held photography. The effective application of such an
integrated methodology requires the use of a graphics terminal linked with a
digitizer board. Some modification (approximately $50K) to a currently exist-
ing terminal and digitizer board may be necessary, but such modification costs
would be a small percentage of this proposal's total costs.
USAF review completed.
Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP88B00443RO01103890053-5
 is
d. system engineering approach to the problem will be done.
Phase I - Establish functional design requirements and technical requirements.
Phase II - Establish hardware and software specifications..
Phase III - Procure test hardware and code software.
This hardware will be commerically "off the shelf" and generic in class. The
software will use modern coding techniques and be written in a modular fashion
using a higher level language. In all cases, the system will be as hardware
independent as possible. The intent is that the system be just another node on
a general purpose computer and,.thus, easily transportable. It could be adapted
by any organization which has general computation support with minimal cost.
e. Both the graphical and analytical solutions have their good and bad
points. This integrated approach, with the ability to identify the most productive
path/technique as the job is progressing, will produce a large time savings. It
will also allow more time to be spent-on the correct technique, thus yielding a
better product.
IV. Intelligence Community Applicability:
A. All intelligence organizations employing hand-held techniques to exploit
imagery can use this methodology.
b. The effect, as in our case, is that more imagery can be exploited faster
with a gain in information. At the minimum, the mensuration accuracy will be
maintained at present levels.
V. Intelligence Consumer Benefits:
a. All intelligence organizations that use hand-held photography to derive
intelligence products should benefit. It is hoped that a 25 percent reduction in
man hours will be obtained, along with a better product.
b. A reduction in man hours will result in a more cost effective, timely
product that would contain necessary, additional information.
VI. Probability of Success:
At the estimated funding level, the probability of success is estimated to be
.realistically greater than 50 percent. Increased funding would have a slight
'increase in success probability, while decreased funding would severely decrease
the probability of success.
Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP88B00443RO01103890053-5
Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP88B00443RO01103890053-5