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To understand the contours of the BECA-GI, one needs to look at what the US’ National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) does. The US Intelligence Community (USIC) consists of 17 agencies including the NGA; these work independently and collaboratively to gather and analyse the intelligence necessary to allow the US to conduct foreign relations and national security activities. The NGA, a unique combination of an intelligence agency and combat support agency, collects and collates all-source intelligence including multi-sensor Geospatial Information (stereo and mono-orthorectified imagery of land; hydrographic data of seas; aeronautical data; gravity/geodetic records, elevation data; and human geography). It then coalesces available inputs, particularly imagery, imagery intelligence, human geography, and geospatial information to generate Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT), which is utilised as: Strategic Intelligence on counterterrorism, weapons of mass destruction, global political crises, etcFoundation Data, in the form of topographic, elevation and terrain, land cover, and geodetic informationWarfighter Support, for improving awareness of the operating environment, planning and precision targetingPredictive Intelligence / Indications & Warning, to warn national decision-makers of emerging global hot spots and imminent threats. For this, it also coalesces inputs from social mediaFor safe navigation, and Humanitarian & Disaster ReliefSpecial Event Planning, such as presidential inaugurations, state visits by foreign leaders, international conferences and major public events, etcHomeland Defence – against counterterrorism, counternarcotics, and border and transportation security efforts
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