Joint/Army Geospatial Data Enhancement

This article presents an overview of the essential types of terrain data, their uses and methods of collection, and the use of joint capabilities to overcome terrain data shortfalls. Examples of Army geospatial data enhancement are provided to show how service-level terrain data production can contribute to the warfighter. The Army requires digital terrain geospatial data to function effectively on the battlefield. Todays forces use geospatial data in computer systems to provide an understanding of the terrain in the field. The geospatial data we have does not provide a perfect picture of the terrain, but it should give us a representation that is useful at the appropriate level of detail. Low-resolution terrain data enables leaders at the theater level to plan operations, while high-resolution products facilitate tactical-level operations. It is impossible to have digital terrain data that matches the terrain exactly, due to cost and technical limitations. Because our forces deploy worldwide on short notice, there will never be enough terrain data to meet all our needs. It is therefore important that we define our terrain data requirements carefully and focus limited geospatial production assets on the areas that are of most importance to us.