GEOINT on the Border
GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS, REPORTING
AND PRODUCTS GIVE GOVERNMENT
CUSTOMERS A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF
THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER ENVIRONMENT.
BY WHITNEY MARGHERIO AND NATE SMITH
The Department of Homeland Security, national policymakers and intelligence community mission partners all rely on the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency for indispensable GEOINT analysis, reporting and products relevant to U.S.-Mexico border security.
These actionable products afford customers a bird’s-eye view of the southwest border environment. NGA’s support and products have even served as a catalyst for changes to DHS operations and procedures for protecting the U.S.-Mexico border.
DHS officials have incorporated NGA products and reporting into their daily briefs, mission planning and enforcement strategies. NGA’s collaborative environment has provided a forum for officials of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an element of DHS, to interact and partner with members of the IC to more effectively protect and defend the nation’s borders.
In late 2005, NGA’s Office of the Americas formed the Border Security branch, which was initially focused on providing situational awareness tools and data support to CBP and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, another DHS element. However, a DHS request for information to help locate and characterize illicit activity near the border with Mexico became the impetus to shift the branch’s focus to GEOINT analysis to provide customers with a visually rich depiction of the geography, culture and criminal networks that operate throughout northern Mexico and across the border region.
As a result of the NGA’s initial success, the focus area for smuggling activities was expanded to include all of Mexico, and the responsibilities were shared among several branches and NGA support teams that work issues relevant to the U.S.-Mexico border area. All products and reports that detail actions affecting U.S. border security are coordinated through these units.
Additionally, analysts continue to collaborate with mission partners throughout the intelligence community and other government agencies that focus on homeland security. Through frequent interaction, NGA analysts have established strong relationships with their customers and counterparts. The resulting synergy enhances the analytical content of NGA products as mission partners contribute their expertise. These relationships have fostered a unified and successful effort to address intelligence problems along the U.S.-Mexico border.
PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS
As partner relationships have developed, NGA’s view of the border has expanded from a tactical to a strategic one in order to improve the agency’s predictive analysis capabilities.
In one case, analysts used imagery, vector data and intelligence reporting to examine alien smuggling organization (ASO) networks. The resulting report provided DHS and other key customers with insight into the vitality and sophistication of ASO operations. DHS enthusiastically received the strategically focused report, which became a pattern to follow as the office strengthened its analytical capabilities.
The increased reliance on GIS for situational information and a deeper understanding of GEOINT techniques led the CBP and other agencies supporting homeland security along the southwest border to incorporate the use of geospatial information and GIS tools into their daily operations.
As an example, the Border Security branch analyzed pedestrian mobility along a 26-mile area of the U.S.-Mexico border. The mobility analysis identified possible smuggling routes by eliminating areas that were less likely to be used due to harsh terrain. The resulting visual model allowed CBP Border Patrol agents to focus enforcement efforts on areas where smugglers were more likely to cross.
Another result of NGA’s collaboration with DHS, the Secure Border Initiative (SBI), enables DHS to monitor, mitigate and provide indications and warnings for incidents occurring at the borders. Analysts used geospatial files, such as land use, land cover, elevation data and road networks, to build a model that would identify areas suitable for sensor deployment. The analysts then conducted a visibility study on the suitable sites to determine optimal sensor placement. The resulting analysis was used by DHS policymakers to justify repositioning of some SBI sensors to increase monitoring and detection capabilities along the U.S.- Mexico border.
Additionally, NGA published the United States Cross Border Tunnel project. This interactive GEOINT product depicts the locations and descriptions of all known illegal tunnels crossing the U.S. border. Using reports provided by Border Patrol agents as a starting point, analysts applied geospatial analysis and open source research to pinpoint each tunnel’s exact location and identify its dimensions and intended purpose. This strategic product allows users to see the big picture of all tunnels discovered, yet provides detailed information about each tunnel. The product was very well-received by major customers involved in U.S. border security.
Border security remains a high-priority and high-visibility issue, and NGA has significantly increased its production of reports on issues affecting the border, particularly the southwest region. Many of these have received positive feedback from intelligence community seniors and national policymakers, including the director of DHS. NGA analysts will continue to observe developments along the border and provide a unique geospatial perspective for homeland defense. ♦
Whitney Margherio is a Defense Intelligence Agency analyst on rotation to the NGA’s Office of the Americas. Nate Smith is a geospatial analyst in the Office of the Americas. This article originally appeared in the September/October 2008 issue of NGA’s Pathfinder magazine.
These actionable products afford customers a bird’s-eye view of the southwest border environment. NGA’s support and products have even served as a catalyst for changes to DHS operations and procedures for protecting the U.S.-Mexico border.
DHS officials have incorporated NGA products and reporting into their daily briefs, mission planning and enforcement strategies. NGA’s collaborative environment has provided a forum for officials of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an element of DHS, to interact and partner with members of the IC to more effectively protect and defend the nation’s borders.
In late 2005, NGA’s Office of the Americas formed the Border Security branch, which was initially focused on providing situational awareness tools and data support to CBP and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, another DHS element. However, a DHS request for information to help locate and characterize illicit activity near the border with Mexico became the impetus to shift the branch’s focus to GEOINT analysis to provide customers with a visually rich depiction of the geography, culture and criminal networks that operate throughout northern Mexico and across the border region.
As a result of the NGA’s initial success, the focus area for smuggling activities was expanded to include all of Mexico, and the responsibilities were shared among several branches and NGA support teams that work issues relevant to the U.S.-Mexico border area. All products and reports that detail actions affecting U.S. border security are coordinated through these units.
Additionally, analysts continue to collaborate with mission partners throughout the intelligence community and other government agencies that focus on homeland security. Through frequent interaction, NGA analysts have established strong relationships with their customers and counterparts. The resulting synergy enhances the analytical content of NGA products as mission partners contribute their expertise. These relationships have fostered a unified and successful effort to address intelligence problems along the U.S.-Mexico border.
PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS
As partner relationships have developed, NGA’s view of the border has expanded from a tactical to a strategic one in order to improve the agency’s predictive analysis capabilities.
In one case, analysts used imagery, vector data and intelligence reporting to examine alien smuggling organization (ASO) networks. The resulting report provided DHS and other key customers with insight into the vitality and sophistication of ASO operations. DHS enthusiastically received the strategically focused report, which became a pattern to follow as the office strengthened its analytical capabilities.
The increased reliance on GIS for situational information and a deeper understanding of GEOINT techniques led the CBP and other agencies supporting homeland security along the southwest border to incorporate the use of geospatial information and GIS tools into their daily operations.
As an example, the Border Security branch analyzed pedestrian mobility along a 26-mile area of the U.S.-Mexico border. The mobility analysis identified possible smuggling routes by eliminating areas that were less likely to be used due to harsh terrain. The resulting visual model allowed CBP Border Patrol agents to focus enforcement efforts on areas where smugglers were more likely to cross.
Another result of NGA’s collaboration with DHS, the Secure Border Initiative (SBI), enables DHS to monitor, mitigate and provide indications and warnings for incidents occurring at the borders. Analysts used geospatial files, such as land use, land cover, elevation data and road networks, to build a model that would identify areas suitable for sensor deployment. The analysts then conducted a visibility study on the suitable sites to determine optimal sensor placement. The resulting analysis was used by DHS policymakers to justify repositioning of some SBI sensors to increase monitoring and detection capabilities along the U.S.- Mexico border.
Additionally, NGA published the United States Cross Border Tunnel project. This interactive GEOINT product depicts the locations and descriptions of all known illegal tunnels crossing the U.S. border. Using reports provided by Border Patrol agents as a starting point, analysts applied geospatial analysis and open source research to pinpoint each tunnel’s exact location and identify its dimensions and intended purpose. This strategic product allows users to see the big picture of all tunnels discovered, yet provides detailed information about each tunnel. The product was very well-received by major customers involved in U.S. border security.
Border security remains a high-priority and high-visibility issue, and NGA has significantly increased its production of reports on issues affecting the border, particularly the southwest region. Many of these have received positive feedback from intelligence community seniors and national policymakers, including the director of DHS. NGA analysts will continue to observe developments along the border and provide a unique geospatial perspective for homeland defense. ♦
Whitney Margherio is a Defense Intelligence Agency analyst on rotation to the NGA’s Office of the Americas. Nate Smith is a geospatial analyst in the Office of the Americas. This article originally appeared in the September/October 2008 issue of NGA’s Pathfinder magazine.
