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SAN ANTONIO –A U.S. Army South subordinate unit was one of nearly 250 organizations to showcase its products and capabilities at the Geospatial Intelligence 2011 Symposium held here at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center Oct. 17–19.
The 512th Engineering Detachment (Geospatial Planning Cell) comprised of 34 soldiers, took part in the annual symposium, which is the largest intelligence conference in the nation. Geospatial, simply put, is geographically based data, collected in real time.
This year’s theme for the symposium was forging integrated intelligence. The 512th has evolved from the topographic engineer field in the 1960s, in which all terrain analysis was done manually, to today, a completely automated process of collecting, analyzing, managing and distributing geospatial data and coordinating geospatial support activities. The 512th is one of only four GPC’s in the Army and is a direct reporting unit to the commanding general of U.S. Army South, Maj. Gen. Simeon G. Trombitas.
“The men and women of the 512th use their skill set and all the tools available to create products that depict and help visualize terrain,” said Sgt. John L. Putman, a geospatial engineer with the 512th. “This enables maneuver forces to execute military operations accurately and effectively."
One key task the 512th is responsible for includes populating the Theater Geospatial Database. This database provides commanders with the best terrain visualization products to execute missions. Some of these products include determining lines of communication, flood and landslide analysis of terrain and locating helicopter landing, and drop zones.
The 512th uses specialized equipment to accomplish their mission.
“Our unit is equipped with an Automated Route Reconnaissance Kit,” said Putman. “It is used to simplify and expedite mounted route reconnaissance missions. It collects route condition data and other physical infrastructure and terrain data, both by ground and air.”
In 2010, the 512th Engineering Det. deployed to Haiti as part of Operation Unified Response to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The 512th was able to produce route reconnaissance data, flood analysis and mudslide analysis during the deployment. This data was provided to the Joint Task Force – Haiti commander who used the 512th’s data to successfully complete the mission.
The 512th was also able to provide valuable infrastructure products, helicopter landing zones and possible points of entry as well as analyzing possible main and alternate supply routes to and from sea ports to various agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Army Corps of Engineers and the American Red Cross, while deployed to Haiti.
The 512th proved their worth in Haiti and shared their lessons with other professionals in their field. “We wanted to let the geospatial community know what types of [geospatial] capabilities we have and what we have available to the warfighter,” said Sgt. 1st Class Percy L. Carr, senior topographic sergeant, 512th Engineer Detachment (GPC) “I believe we accomplished that.”
| Date Taken: | 10.17.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 01.19.2012 10:59 |
| Story ID: | 82563 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 126 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 512th Eng. Bn. showcases capabilities during symposium, by SGT Tamika Exom, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
