Aerial reconnaissance is the use of aerial vehicles to gather intelligence on a subject, with applications including military planning, geological research, and development projects. Photographs and video are used to capture data, with changing altitudes used to avoid detection. Various types of aircraft are used depending on the data required.
Aerial reconnaissance is the act of gathering intelligence on a subject through the deployment of various types of aerial vehicles to survey an area from above the ground. Using both manned and unmanned aircraft, aerial reconnaissance is performed by a variety of entities and individuals to include military and other government agencies, scientific organizations, meteorologists, geologists, architects, and archaeologists, just to name a few. Applications include terrain mapping, gathering strategic information for military planning, gathering information related to geological features and functions, monitoring weather conditions and systems, and acquiring aerial photography to aid in development projects .
Fundamental to gathering the data and information required in aerial reconnaissance is the use of cameras to capture the right photographs which can later be analyzed and interpreted. Typically, photographs are taken from a variety of locations and altitudes, allowing the reconnaissance aircraft to capture a wide range of data that analysts can compare as they interpret the results. Such photographs include oblique, which involves taking photographs from an angle; vertical, which involves taking pictures directly at a target; and vegetable garden, which are used in geographic information systems. Changing altitudes are used to capture the best vantage point – or with military reconnaissance – to avoid detection. These images are geometrically adjusted so they can be used to create accurate maps.
Video is also another component of aerial reconnaissance that helps automate the data collection process. Video of sophisticated technological applications is captured and often transmitted in real time to ground intelligence units which can view the action on the target as it is happening. In combination with unmanned aerial vehicles, a certain degree of safety is achieved and at the same time movements on the target can be observed as they occur. Most widely exploited in military intelligence activities, video is gaining traction in other applications, especially for mapping areas for specific interests, such as potential pipelines or crop fields. Gathering real-time information at target locations can help planners determine area usage by local human and animal populations.
Aircraft typically used in aerial reconnaissance include airplanes, unmanned drones, helicopters, hot air balloons, airships, and rockets. The deployment of various types of aircraft depends on the type of data that needs to be collected and the challenges presented in collecting that data. With some military applications, for example, unmanned aircraft are often used to detect targets where a known enemy is present or active. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles in this situation allows intelligence teams to use video to get close to the enemy, observing the actions in real time. Tracking enemy movements, however, may require high-flying aircraft, particularly if the chance of the enemy detecting an unmanned drone is high.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
