The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency has some of the world’s most advanced technology

The $1.8 billion National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is the largest Department of Defense facility built since the Pentagon. It was designed to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold standard. Picture: Marc Barnes/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District

JUST 24km out of Washington DC there is a heavily guarded military base that is home to one of the world’s most secret spy agencies — the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).

Despite the massive $A1.8 billion headquarters consisting of a main building as large as two aircraft carriers and another $A2.28 billion 99 acre base being built in St Louis, little is known of the NGA.

In fact, even then-President Obama had no knowledge of the agency when he was dining at a local Five Guys burger franchise in May 2009.

With TV cameras in tow, Obama was shaking the hands of customers when two men wearing government ID badges caught his eye.

“So what do you?” Obama asked.

“I work for at NGA, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency,” one employee replied.

“Outstanding. How long have you been doing that?” Obama queried.

“Six years,” he replied.

“So, explain to me exactly what this National Geospatial ...” he asked, unable finish the name.

“Uh, we work with, uh, satellite imagery,” the man sheepishly replied.

While Obama now knows about the NGA, the agency still largely goes under the radar.

The NGA helped give intel on the compound where Al-Qaeda leader Bin Laden had been hiding in Abbottabad.Source:Supplied

WHAT IS THE NGA?

The NGA is credited to being instrumental in the demise of the terrorist leader Osama bin Laden and has several core intelligence functions.

Its principal function is interpret imagery and video from satellites and drones around the globe.

Additionally, the NGA develops maps to offer combat support and deciphers signatures from enemy radar by exploiting the electromagnetic spectrum, which consists of all the different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, including light, radio waves, and X-rays.

Following the Osama bin Laden’s demise, the extent of the NGA’s capabilities were brought to light by senior US policymakers not employed by the agency.

According to reports described to the National Journal, the NGA used imagery and laser-based sensing devices to create three-dimensional renderings of the Abbottabad compound — an upper-class mansion that was used as a safe house for bin Laden.

The NGA also analysed data from a sophisticated next-generation drone, built by Lockheed Martin, that kept watch on the compound before, during, and after the raid.

The technology also allowed the agency to provide intel on the heights and genders of people living inside the compound.

While most of the technological capacities are classified, an anonymous NGA analyst told media the agency can determine the structure of buildings and objects from a distance, has some of the most sophisticated facial recognition software on the planet and uses sensors on satellites and drones that can see through thick clouds for “all-weather” imagery analysis.

There are concerns Trump could try and exploit the technology for domestic spying / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSONSource:AFP

IS THIS TECHNOLOGY CAUSE FOR CONCERN?

Despite having impressive surveillance technology, the NGA has never been accused of domestic spy scandals __like the CIA and NSA.

However, there are growing concerns this may change under President Donald Trump.

Throughout his campaign and during the first months of his presidency, Trump has been vocal on weakening restraints placed on intelligence agencies and cracking down on law and order.

A new report from Foreign Policydetailed how Trump could use the NGA’s technology to achieve many of his goals.

“Initiating a new age of “persistent surveillance,” Trump could use the spy world’s overhead assets to target Muslims or members of Black Lives Matter. The president has spoken in favour of increasing the scrutiny of mosques; aerial assessment would allow him to track worshippers,” the report reads.

“Drones could aid in the mass roundup of illegal immigrants intended for deportation, and Trump has said he may send federal forces to Chicago to quell the violence. Drones could offer the city the unblinking eye for 24/7 vigilance.”

While making for a scary thought, US national security lawyer Bradley Moss said the likelihood of Trump using US intelligence agencies for domestic spying was slim to none.

“There’s the internal bureaucracy that’s designed to try to limit some of the more egregious or crazy ideas that might come from a political appointee,” he told Motherboard.

“You couldn’t just willy-nilly start spying on any particular American citizen you wanted.”

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• March 15th 2017
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