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Imagery Intelligence

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The Uyghurs, Getting the World Vaccinated, Policing in America: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on China's disappeared Uyghurs, how the United States can help get the rest of the world vaccinated, what's next for policing in America, and more.

May 7, 2021
Essay

China's Disappeared Uyghurs: What Satellite Images Reveal

At least one million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities have vanished into a sprawling network of camps and prisons in China's far west. Satellite images show brightly lit compounds, wall after wall of barbed wire, and a sudden rush to build what appear to be fortified preschools.

Apr 29, 2021
Journal Article

Explaining Variation in the Growth and Decline of Detention Facilities Across Xinjiang

This report, the final in our series, explores trends in the growth and decline of nighttime lighting over detention facilities across Xinjiang.

Feb 26, 2021
Journal Article

Have Any of Xinjiang's Detention Facilities Closed?

This report, the second in a three-part series, employs a novel empirical approach to systematically assess the current operating status of known detention facilities in Xinjiang using nighttime lighting.

Feb 26, 2021
Journal Article

Investigating the Growth of Detention Facilities in Xinjiang Using Nighttime Lighting

This first report introduces our methodological approach and uses nighttime lighting data to investigate the rapid, coordinated growth of detention facilities in Xinjiang over the last decade.

Feb 26, 2021
Journal Article

More "Boarding" Facilities Geolocated in Southern Xinjiang

We identified 21 preschools that house Uyghur children in Qira County, Xinjiang using satellite imagery. These facilities are part of Beijing's efforts to assimilate Uyghurs by erasing their culture to a Communist Party ideal that has been compared to genocide.

Jan 22, 2021
Journal Article

Empty Lots, Green Spaces, and a Parking Lot: What Happened to the Demolished Uyghur Cemeteries?

This methodology seeks to build upon previous research efforts and help other researchers understand the outcomes of Chinese policies related to Uyghur communities.

Jan 20, 2021
Journal Article

Geolocating Growth of Suspect "Boarding" Facilities in Xinjiang China

GEOINT analysis shows steady construction progress in both 2017 and 2019 of suspect facilities in southern Xinjiang.

Jul 14, 2020
Journal Article

Geolocating Explosive Growth in Preschools in Western China Due to 'Re-Education' Policies

Twenty facilities that imagery analysis, press and professional journals suggest house Uighur children have been identified in this first study of geolocating China's detention infrastructure targeting Uighurs and other Muslim minority groups.

May 1, 2020
Blog

Mert Davies: All-Star Pioneer of the Cosmos

Merton Davies spent his early years using satellite imagery to spy on terrestrial targets. His work led to the first successful reconnaissance satellite, Corona. Later, he used deep-space photographs to map the planets in our solar system.

Jan 5, 2018
Report

Motion Imagery Processing and Exploitation (MIPE)

Motion Imagery Processing and Exploitation (MIPE) systems aid analysts in the detection, identification, and tracking of objects of interest and activities of interest in live and archival video. This report defines and investigates the potential of MIPE systems, which can enable military intelligence analysts to respond to the current information deluge and exploit a wide range of motion imagery collections.

Dec 4, 2013
Report

The Future of Air Force Motion Imagery Exploitation: Lessons from the Commercial World

Commercial television production practices inspire an approach to managing exploitation of the Air Force's rapidly growing motion imagery collections.

Mar 6, 2012
Commentary

Why We Didn't Get the Picture

Published commentary by RAND staff.

Feb 1, 2004
Brochure

Mert Davies: A RAND Pioneer in Earth Reconnaissance and Planetary Mapping from Spacecraft

Merton Edward Davies (1917-2001) was a major contributor to U.S. space efforts from when he first became affiliated with the RAND Corporation in 1947 until his death in 2001, at which time he still maintained his office at RAND.

Dec 31, 2003
Commentary

Intelligence in the Information Age; Spy Data For Sale

Published commentary by RAND staff.

Apr 8, 2001
Report

Using Intelligence Data for Environmental Needs: Balancing National Interests

In the post-cold-war era, there is a growing awareness that intelligence data such as imagery could contribute to environmental programs, management of natural resources, and even disaster relief.

Jan 1, 1997
Content

Bart E. Bennett

Senior Operations Researcher; Professor of Operation Research, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Education Ph.D. and M.S.E. in mathematical sciences, Johns Hopkins University; B.S. in mathematics/computer science, University of California, Los Angeles
Content

Edmund J. Burke

Senior International Defense Researcher
Education B.A. in government, Georgetown University
Content

Katherine Pfrommer

Quantitative Analyst
Education M.S. in public policy/admin/analysis, Carnegie Mellon University; B.S. in economics, Allegheny College

RAND Topic:
Imagery Intelligence

Topic Synonyms:
IMINT;
Photographic Intelligence