Weekly GEOINT Community News

NGA Requests Information on High-Cadence Data Collection; NRO Announces Three New Imagery Study Contracts; and More from GEOINT 2019

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NGA Requests Information on High-Cadence Data Collection

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is seeking marketing information on intra–hour satellite data collection. According to a FedBizOpps notice posted June 5, NGA also seeks input on satellite technology designed to identify a wide variety of objects and to select data tailored to the client’s requirements.

NRO Announces Three New Imagery Study Contracts

During the GEOINT 2019 Symposium earlier this month, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) announced three commercial imagery study contracts with BlackSky Global, Maxar Technologies, and Planet. NRO will use these study contracts to assess the performance capabilities of these domestic commercial satellite imagery providers and validate their ability to satisfy U.S. government requirements into the 2023 timeframe. 

Maxar Awarded Multiple Contracts in Q1 2019

Maxar Technologies announced it was awarded a total of $95 million in contracts in the first quarter of 2019 to provide Earth intelligence solutions to U.S. government agencies. These contracts are with NGA, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Special Operations Command, and a number of classified customers.

Microsoft Azure and Azure Cognitive Services to Use Esri ArcGIS

Esri will provide ArcGIS to Microsoft’s Tactical Edge Platform, including Microsoft Azure and Azure Cognitive Services, for geographic context. The platform is intended to demonstrate how intelligence and defense professionals can utilize connecting field sensor data and cloud services for domestic emergency response or tactical field operations support.

Army Geospatial Center Selects Envitia for Interoperability Project

Envitia was selected by the U.S. Army Geospatial Center to develop a capability that will improve interoperability across the Army Geospatial Enterprise and among coalition partners. Envitia will develop and deploy a prototype Portrayal Registry for the AGC that will manage and share standardized mapping elements as a centralized service. 

Vricon and Cesium Partner for Free Trial

Vricon and Cesium announced at GEOINT 2019 their partnership to provide 3D digital surface models through Cesium ion, starting with highly detailed datasets for six cities. The companies are making 3D Tiles available for free trial through June 24. 

New Lockheed Model Speeds Up, Automates Image Analysis

Lockheed Martin introduced a new satellite image analysis service called Global Automated Target Recognition (GATR). GATR uses open-source deep learning libraries to quickly identify and classify objects or targets in large areas across the world, potentially saving image analysts countless hours manually categorizing and labeling items within an image.

Ursa Announces New and Expanded Partnerships

Ursa announced a strategic partnership with HawkEye 360, which uses formation flying satellites to create a new class of radio frequency (RF) data analytics. The companies will work together to develop new geospatial information solutions that combine SAR data with RF identification and geolocation to monitor activity across air, land, and sea.

Ursa also announced it signed a collaboration agreement with ICEYE to expand the global market for SAR data and analytic products. Building on an existing partnership with ICEYE, Ursa will now become a reseller of ICEYE’s data products, and the two companies will work to jointly create and develop further SAR-based analytic services.   

BlackSky and HawkEye providing API access to RF Data 

At GEOINT 2019, BlackSky announced the beginning of its commercial operations as well as the signing of an agreement with HawkEye 360. HawkEye 360 will provide API access to selected RF data for customers interested in global spectrum monitoring. Blacksky intends to integrate data from HawkEye360’s RF satellites into the BlackSky geospatial platform and resell it as part of its analytical services.

Peraton Awarded GOES-R Ground System Contract

Peraton was awarded the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite–R (GOES-R) Series ground system contract with Harris Corporation in support of NOAA. The three-year contract is valued at $54M, bringing Peraton’s total contract value on the GOES-R program to more than $200M. Peraton will support Harris in the GOES-R ground system computing infrastructure modernization effort to reduce the current IT footprint and overall lifecycle costs for NOAA.

Orbital Insight Expands Asia Presence

Orbital Insight will expand its presence in Asia with the opening of its new Singapore office. With this, Orbital Insight will extend its business to key markets in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia.

Peer Intel

CACI International President and CEO Ken Asbury will retire June 30. In his place, John Mengucci, CACI COO, was elected President and CEO effective July 1.

Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory announced former NGA Director Robert Cardillo has been appointed to its Guidance Council.

The board of directors at Ball Corporation elected Betty Sapp, former NRO director, to serve as a director of the corporation. 

Image Credit: HawkEye 360

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