IARPA to brief industry on data fusion project in multispectral imaging for intelligence analysis

WASHINGTON – U.S. intelligence experts will brief industry on 29 May 2019 on a project to blend data from satellite-based multispectral imaging sensors and visible-light sensors to detect heavy building projects and highway construction from space.

Officials of the U.S. Intelligence Advanced Projects Agency (IARPA) in Washington will sponsor the industry briefings for the Space-based Machine Automated Recognition Technique (SMART) project (IARPA-BAA-19-04) in the Washington, D.C. area. Companies will receive briefing site information after registering for the event.

SMART will rely on geographical information from satellite cameras, and develop multi–spectral and multi–temporal sensor processing to overlay data from infrared and multispectral sensors to make the intelligence analyst's job easier. IARPA is the research arm of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence.

Many space and airborne sensors today can provide imagery suitable for geographical intelligence (GEOINT). SMART will demonstrate that GEOINT gleaned through data fusion is greater than the simple sum of GEOINT gleaned from several images analyzed in the absence of other imagery.

The idea is to reduce uncertainties inherent in single-sensor data, and reduce the sheer amount of intelligence imagery data that can overwhelm intelligence analysts by developing tools to help analysts analyze intelligence imagery using Big Data, IARPA officials say.

Related: Multi-sensor fusion hits the mainstream

The volume of GEOINT data continues to grow, while analysts struggle with the volume, variety, and velocity of space-based data. IARPA is seeking automated broad-area search, monitoring, and analysis of man-made activities based on data fusion of spectral and temporal space-based imagery.

While one sensor may have resolution sufficient to detect changes and man-made disturbances, intelligence experts still struggle with the inability to analyze images over time because of infrequent satellite orbits or weather cover.

IARPA experts want to push the technology state of the art in high-performance analytics that scales to extremely large data sets; data mining, ranking and visualization; and image analyst tools like automated broad-area search of man-made processes.

By blending data from several different electro-optical sensors, IARPA experts want to improve the ability to detect and monitor man-made disturbances to track the progress of major construction projects.

Related: Sensor fusion heads for the field

The program will focus on five research thrusts: detecting man-made disturbances by blending data from military, government, and commercial satellites; apply machine learning to improve imagery data from medium-resolution imaging satellites; improve change detection accuracy; use SMART technology in intelligence gathering; and reduce uncertainties in data fusion.

Companies interested should register for the briefings no later than 22 May 2019 online at http://eventmanagement.cvent.com/SMARTPD. The location of the briefings will be available to approved registered attendees. Email questions about the briefings to IARPA at [email protected].

IARPA also is asking companies to review SMART program details, available online in .pdf form, at https://www.fbo.gov/utils/view?id=4c6cf7adf5e84179ec5bdbf392a3d03a, and email comments, questions, suggested changes, and feedback no later than 10 May 2019 to [email protected].

Also email questions or concerns to Torreon Creekmore, the IARPA SMART program manager, at [email protected]. More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/notices/7dfd4ff68f5ece7c52871d91e05889ff.

Ready to make a purchase? Search the Military & Aerospace Electronics Buyer's Guide for companies, new products, press releases, and videos