Military GIS – Uses

1.       Operation Planning.          Military needs maps for planning of different operations within its operational command and each requirement is to cater for a specific operation. The digital base in GIS environment facilitates the creation of different types of maps to meet specific op needs without clustering with unwanted details. This facilitates the viewing of spatial information on need to know basis either at command headquarters or in the field area.

2.       Border Security.     GIS technique allows for large volume of cartographic and thematic info to be integrated into a single system thus creating a coordinated digital structure for data analysis. This opens new and effective ways of arranging and presenting data in spatial form, which is key to enhancing the quality of planning and conducting security operations. This sets GIS apart from other information systems, ensuring unique opportunities for applying them in dealing with a broad range of tasks of border security forces involved in planning and conducting security ops.

3.       Internal Security.    Today we are living in the world where the armed forces cannot separate themselves from the incidents happening in the country and they have to work in hand to hand with other agencies to fight against the forces working against the security of the nation. Agencies should able to coordinate their activities to be able to respond to any threats to the internal security. Digitized maps using specific overlays could provide immense decision making tools to collect collate and analyze info comprehensively. For urban areas, information such as population density, crowd patterns, road density, emergency services and demographic pattern are very crucial in deployment of critical resources in case of a terrorist attack. GIS can assist in generating 3D views and fly through models, sit updates in real time by employing UAVs/ other aerial sensors which will come in handy to brief the per dealing with crisis.

4.       Log Management. GIS plays an important role in military log because it helps in moving supplies, equipment, and troops where they are needed at the right time and place. By using GIS in determining routes for convoys, forces are able to determine alternative routes if mishaps or traffic jams occur on the most direct route.

5.       Personal Information.       One of the most impotent formations of GIS along with satellite imagery is to understand and interpret terrain, which is a major role in determining how troops can be deployed in the quickest and most effective way. Understanding the landscape is especially useful because a military leader can determine strategic/tactical personals, such as ideal locations for scouting parties, best line of sight/fire and also the ability to hide troops and equipment.