Geographic Information Systems

The rapid development of technology has led to advancements that have had a direct impact on the improvement of our military. Weapons have become more effective and the use of satellite imagery has helped reduce the amount of lives lost during conventional warfare. Although not often contemplated, geography and its subcomponents are a critical element of any successful military campaign. U.S. military personnel must plan for environmental factors as well as enemy tactics to …

…information available can have a great impact on decisions that command and staff officers make before and during combat operations. By implementing GIS into its mission planning and operation, the United States military has become the premier fighting force in the world. As we are poised on the verge of yet another conflict, we must continue to use GIS in order to minimize the threat that military personnel face and maximize effectiveness of their efforts.