Information fusion technology requirements for the National System for Geospatial Intelligence (NSGI) enterprise

The future success of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) and the National System for Geospatial Intelligence (NSGI) will hinge on the agency's ability to deliver timely, tailored, precise data, information and knowledge to its customers. NIMA must understand what information truly matters and foster an analytical environment that encourages creativity and excellence. Achieving this vision will require transformation in a wide spectrum of activities, including leveraging revolutionary information and knowledge fusion methods, techniques and technologies. Since September 11, 2001, NIMA has restructured operations to ensure information superiority and is continuing the transformation from being a producer of imagery and geospatial information, to being a provider of geospatial intelligence that will enable decision dominance for its customers. The goals delineated by the NIMA Strategic Intent are based on delivering predictive and actionable decision knowledge extracted from fused data and information from multiple intelligence sources into a complete geospatially-referenced common operational picture (COP). The requirements of information superiority and decision dominance present tremendous challenges for NSGI and NIMA, as well as to the entire intelligence community. To rise to these challenges, NIMA envisions leveraging the best commercial and government business, operational and acquisition practices, migration strategies, commercial and mission specific technologies.