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DARPA's Map-Based Wiki Keeps Platoons Alive
blackbearnh writes "One of the biggest problem that a platoon on the ground in Iraq or Afghanistan faces is that when a new unit cycles in, all the street-sense and experience of the old unit is lost. Knowing where insurgents like to plant IEDs, or even which families have a lot of domestic disputes, can spell the difference between living and dying. In response to this, DARPA created TIGR, the Tactical Ground Reporting System. Developed as much on the ground in active warzones as in a lab, TIGR lets platoons access the latest satellite and drone imagery in an easy-to-use map based interface, as well as recording their experiences in the field and accessing the reports of other troops. In this O'Reilly Radar interview, two of the people responsible for the development of TIGR talk about the intel issues that troops face in hostile territory, the challenges of deploying new technology meant for combat areas, the specific tricks that they had to employ to make TIGR work over less-than-robust military networking, and how TIGR is impacting platoons in their day to day operations"
This is great for a couple of reasons. First it gives troops on the ground better intel on what to watch for and where, doing a job of keeping them alive. But it also looks like it can help troops get a better understanding of the area. What are your poor areas prone to violence. Long gone are the days when you can shoot first and ask questions later. This sort of intel is a valuable step to understanding the people over there and maybe even working with them rather than working against them. I'm sure the vast majority of Iraqi's just want an end to the violence, and are willing to work with whomever will help them get the status quo back.
The musings of just another geek and his junk.
The wonderful thing about TIGR, is TIGR's a wonderful thing.
It doesn't have any trouble using Milit'ry networking.
It's good for intel in the field, and fun fun fun fun fun!
So boot up that there TIGR, while I go get my gun.
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As a soldier currently in Baghdad and having gone through about 10 RIPs (Relief in Place) in my 13 months here this would be a great benefit. The usual RIP lasts about a week involving the leaving unit showing the new unit's leadership the main areas for a couple days. After those couple of days the new unit takes over and only a select few from the old unit accompanies them. Completely all knowledge from the old unit is lost except that which is important enough to be on the company/battalion level. My platoon alone has taken over roughly 15 AOs (Areas of Operations), just to turn them over a couple weeks later to another unit. To have a tool that shows all the historical data on a platoon (or even squad) level would greatly benefit the incoming units and the local populace. The current system just isn't good enough. It's the equivalent of getting a quick walk through of a house and then trying to determine what parts are in need of fixing.
I totally need something like this for my GPS-enabled cell phone for a real world Hichhiker's Guide. :)
.: Max Romantschuk
You are assuming the network over which it is served in the field is not completely localized. Or that somehow it never occurred to them that the Taliban might have hackers.
You are arm-chair IT managing.
Help fight poverty: Punch a poor person.
I'm a military commander and I often find that my troops are invading the wrong houses, bombing schools, et cetera. I've heard that in technical support organizations they use "knowledge base" software to keep track of the solutions to common problems. I have just two questions. 1) Which knowledge base packages meet military security requirements? 2) Will I be able to prevent soldiers from entering "put a bullet in it" as the solution to every problem?
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
I wish that there was a "-1: Straw-man" moderation...
No one has said (that I have seen) that this is a silver bullet to allow us to win. Beyond that, unless your definition of what it means to win (in Iraq) is vastly different from mine, winning would mean the end of military operations there, which I expect (based on the pair of comments you made about weapons) you would approve of.
That aside, This is a tool, not a strategy. This tool provides historical information to people (soldiers) who would make *worse* decisions (life-or-death decisions affecting Iraqi civilians as well as soldiers) without it.
Whether it's time to leave or not, how is this system a bad thing for the situation in Iraq?
"Murphy was an optimist" - O'Toole's commentary on Murphy's Law