GEOG 882
Geographic Foundations of Geospatial Intelligence

OLD Course Schedule

PrintPrint

Below you will find a summary of the learning activities for this course and the associated time frames. This course is 10 weeks in length, with an orientation week at the start of the course. Each lesson is one week long.

 ORIENTATION

Course and Program Introduction

Objectives - After completing the Orientation you should be able to:

  • Demonstrate proficiency in the use of the ANGEL learning management system.
  • Introduce yourself to your instructor and classmates.
  • Employ adult learning skills in distance education.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking skills.
  • Self-assess writing skills.

Assignments

  • View the trailer for the Geospatial Revolution Series
  • Read all of the online materials for this lesson
  • Perform tasks outlined in course orientation
  • Complete the "Initial Course Survey"
  • Review ANGEL Users Guide
  • Post your introduction to the "Personal Introductions" Discussion Forum
  • Study Facione, Peter A. Critical Thinking: What it Is and Why it Countspdf icon. Millbrae, CA. California Academic Press, 2006, pp. 1-22.

 PART 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Lesson 01: Introduction and Background

Objectives - After completing Lesson 01 you should be able to:

  • List and discuss Kant's three ways of ordering knowledge.
  • Define "Geography" and discuss the taxonomy of the word.
  • Define the terms Human Geography, Physical Geography, and Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIS&T); provide examples of each (sub-disciplines); discuss the relationship between the three.
  • Discuss the relevance of Human Geography to the field of Geospatial Intelligence.
  • Discuss how the definition of Geospatial Intelligence is socially contested and constructed; provide at least one organizational definition (e.g. NGA's) and provide and defend your own definition.
  • Discuss the spectrum of applications of Geospatial Intelligence.

Assignments

Lesson 02: Critical Frameworks

Objectives - After completing Lesson 02 you should be able to:

  • Discuss new approaches to social and cultural geography including: communication of meaning, production and effect of discourse, human subjectivity and identity, the critique of geographic knowledge, and operation of human agency.
  • Discuss and critique the framework that envisions politics as a social practice.
  • Explain and critique the critical framework that looks at the world in terms of material, discursive, and socially contested construction of meaning.
  • Provide an example of a socially constructed meaning and explain the example and concept to a layman (e.g. "Teenager").
  • Explain the basic concepts of "Critical Geopolitics" to a layman; apply the concepts to given case studies.
  • Trace the evolution of geopolitical thought from the 19th Century to the present; critique selected concepts from an alternative perspective.

Assignments

  • Read all of the online materials for this lesson
  • Read O Tuathail (Toal), Gerod. et al editors 2006. The Geopolitics Reader 2nd Edition, New York: Routledge. (Chapters : General Introduction, Chapter 12 "Geopolitics and Discourse", Introductions to Parts 1, 2, and 3)
  • Complete Quiz #1

Lesson 03: Contemporary Thought

Objectives - After completing Lesson 03 you should be able to:

  • Compare and contrast the opposing ideas of Huntington's "The Clash of Civilization" and Said's "The Clash of Ignorance" (and Said's other orientalist thinking) in the context of the "Long War" (aka the Global War on Terrorism).
  • Discuss new threats such as bioterrorism and environmental degradation and the geopolitical discourses that arise in reaction.
  • Explain the range of ideas and provide examples of "Anti-Geopolitics."
  • Select an anti-geopolitics discourse and apply it to the "Long War" to formulate an alternative viewpoint.

Assignments

  • Read all of the online materials for this lesson
  • Read O Tuathail (Toal), Gerod. et al editors 2006. The Geopolitics Reader 2nd Edition, New York: Routledge. (Introduction to Part Four, Introduction to Part Five, Chapters 16, 18, 29)
  • Submit Reflection Paper #1 to the Lesson 03 Drop Box.

PART 2: INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY

Lesson 04: Intelligence Organization and Functions

Objectives - After completing Lesson 04 you should be able to:

  • Define, discuss, and critique the concept of "intelligence" as articulated by Lowenthal.
  • Trace the evolution of the US intelligence system.
  • Sketch the layout of the US intelligence infrastructure and briefly describe the functions of the major agencies.
  • List and explain the intelligence process including: requirements, collection, processing and exploitation, analysis and consumption, and feedback.
  • Describe and critique the functions of collection and analysis as described by Lowenthal.

Assignments

  • Read all of the online materials for this lesson
  • Read Lowenthal, Mark M. 2006. Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy 4th Edition, Washington DC: CQ Press. (Chapters 1-6)
  • Complete Quiz #2

Lesson 05: GIS&T and National Security

Objectives - After completing Lesson 05 you should be able to:

  • Discuss the relationship of policy makers and intelligence professionals.
  • Discuss the impact and legacy of the Cold War on the US intelligence community (focusing on the role of imagery analysis).
  • Evaluate the new intelligence agenda in the Post Cold War/September 11 Era, and discuss the impact of new challenges on the geospatial intelligence community.
  • Discuss and critique Lowenthal's insider views on "Ethical and Moral Issues in Intelligence."
  • Evaluate efforts at intelligence reform focusing on possible impacts on the geospatial intelligence community.
  • Discuss, challenge, and defend the evolving role of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) in the context of the overall role of geospatial intelligence in support of US national security.

Assignments

  • View Episode Three, Chapter One of the Geospatial Revolution Series
  • Study Lowenthal, Mark M. 2006. Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy 4th Edition, Washington DC: CQ Press. (Chapters 9, 11-14).
  • Scan NGA Publication 1.0 National System for Geospatial Intelligence: Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Basic Doctrine, Washington DC: NGA 2006. (STUDY the Executive Summary on pages 5-6.
  • Complete Quiz #3

Lesson 06: Case Study of OEF/OIF

Objectives - After completing Lesson 06 you should be able to:

  • Discuss the evolution of military applications of GIS&T from 19th Century to the present (including cartography, remote sensing, GIS, GPS, and simulations/modeling).
  • Critique the idea that GIS&T underpin the so called "Revolution in Military Affairs."
  • Discuss and critique the use of intelligence and especially geospatial intelligence in the conduct of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan).
  • Discuss and critique the use of intelligence and especially geospatial intelligence in the conduct of Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq).
  • Synthesize the ideas of previous lessons to critique the role of intelligence and especially geo-spatial intelligence in the Global War on Terrorism (Long War).
  • Speculate on future applications of geospatial intelligence for national security.

Assignments

  • View Chapter Three of Episode Two of the Geospatial Revolution Series
  • Read all of the online materials for this lesson
  • Read Corson, Mark W. and Eugene J. Palka (2004), "Geotechnology, the US Military, and War," in Geography and Technology edited by Stanley D. Brunn, Susan L. Cutter, and JW Harrington Jr. Dordrect: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
  • Read Palka, Eugene J., Francis A. Galgano, and Mark W. Corson (2006) "Operation Iraqi Freedom: A Military Geographical Perspective," The Geographical Review Vol. 95, No. 3, pp. 373-399.
  • Read Independent Commission Report on the Intelligence Community and the Search for WMD
  • Read NGA Pathfinder Issue on GEOINT Support to the Warfighter
  • Post comments to Lesson 06 Discussion Forum (Discussion Forum #2)

PART 3: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Lesson 07: Disaster Management 1

Objectives - After completing Lesson 07 you should be able to:

  • Explain the basic concepts of disaster management.
  • Sketch a hierarchy of disaster responders, explain the role of the major agencies/organizations, and discuss the capabilities and limitations of different types of organizations.
  • Describe and evaluate the National Incident Management System (NIMS)
  • Describe and evaluate the Incident Command System (ICS)

Assignments

  • View Episode One, Chapter Four of the Geospatial Revolution Series
  • Read all of the online materials for this lesson
  • Complete the online certification course IS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS): An Introduction. Submit your Certificate of Completion in .pdf format to the Lesson 7 Drop Box.
  • Complete the online certification course IS-100xx Incident Command System. You may take either the basic IS-100 or IS-100FW for federal workers, IS-100HC for health care workers, IS-100LE for law enforcement, or IS-100PW for public works. Submit your Certificate of Completion in .pdf format to the Lesson 7 Drop Box.
  • Complete the online certification course IS-230 and Submit your Certificate of Completion in .pdf format to the Lesson 7 Drop Box.

Lesson 08: Disaster Management 2

Objectives - After completing Lesson 08 you should be able to:

  • Explain and discuss Cutter's concept of an "All Hazards" approach to disaster management.
  • Discuss the capabilities and limitations of geospatial intelligence in support of the disaster management process.
  • Explain how geospatial intelligence can be of value to the first responder and provide examples.
  • Discuss and critique social justice issues in the disaster management process (provide examples).
  • Compare and contrast the practice of geospatial intelligence for disaster management and other national security applications.

Assignments

Lesson 09: Case Study: Hurricane Katrina

Objectives - After completing Lesson 09 you should be able to:

  • Discuss and critique the use of intelligence and especially geospatial intelligence in the planning for, and response to Hurricane Katrina.
  • Synthesize the ideas of previous lessons to critique the role of intelligence and especially geospatial intelligence in relation to Hurricane Katrina.
  • Discuss the social justice implications for geospatial intelligence applications in Hurricane Katrina.
  • Speculate on future applications of geospatial intelligence for disaster management.

Assignments

PART 4: TRENDS IN GEOSPATIAL INTELLIGENCE

Lesson 10: Trends in Geospatial Intelligence

Objectives - After completing Lesson 10 you should be able to:

  • Identify and discuss trends for the future of geospatial intelligence.
  • Discuss applications of geospatial intelligence in law enforcement.
  • Discuss applications of geospatial intelligece for environmental security.

Assignments

Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus can be changed at any time, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Changes will be posted to the course message board.