Better Tools for ISR Management

“MTV” is not an abbreviation usually associated with GEOINT, but for Microsoft (Booth 609)  it is the centerpiece of the Redmond, Wash.-based company’s GEOINT 2019 exhibit.

In this scenario, “MTV” stands for “Microsoft Tactical Vehicle,” a technology demonstrator built around a SUV packed with a suite of sensors and an array of onboard computing. The target customer: armed services in need of better tools to manage intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations.

“The MTV and its solutions focus on the changing technological landscape required to support tomorrow’s solider on the battlefield, such as augmented and virtual reality for advanced mission planning and tactical edge computing devices that deliver advanced analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities,” spokesperson Julie Smith wrote via email. 

“The military’s complex operations require command and control technologies and processes that enable and secure the mission,” she continued. 

Smith said Microsoft is also showcasing GEOINT services and capabilities based on its Azure, Office 365, Dynamics 365, and Bing Maps products, adding, “The cloud can improve manual tasks, logistics and supply-chain operations, predictive maintenance, and more.” 

Microsoft’s exhibit also features Surface Hub, its combination of Windows 10 touchscreen and digital whiteboard, set up to demonstrate how teams can collaboratively explore geospatial data visualizations.

Headline Image: Microsoft Technical Specialist Jim Ford in the company’s Microsoft Tactical Vehicle, which will be on display at GEOINT 2019. Photo Credit: Microsoft