3D Maps for Afganhistan -Tuesday, November 16th

[The image is of the area around the World Trade Center taken shortly after 911.]

3D seems to be the new wave in entertainment. I went to see a 3D movie the other day and actually enjoyed it in spite of the higher ticket price and needing to wear those special glasses. No special eyewear will be needed as troops begin to get 3-D maps of Afghanistan. The Air Force, Army and the intelligence community have gotten together and are producing the maps, the first time the United States has produced such detailed maps of an entire country, according to a senior OSD official.

The first plane equipped for the mapping — a specially-equipped Gulfstream G-3 — arrived in Afghanistan two weeks ago, Lt. Gen. John C. Koziol, deputy undersecretary of Defense of intelligence for joint and coalition warfighter support said Wednesday at the Geoint conference here. The senior OSD official said today that the plane had mapped 7,000 square kilometers in its first week.

The 3-D maps are built using LIDAR (light Detection and Ranging), which has been used for specific tactical urban targets before but never for huge swaths of territory, the OSD official said.

“Can you imagine the impact that is going to have for both civilian and military operations?” Koziol told more than 1,500 intelligence officials, military personnel and contractors. “This wall is this high. These buildings’ dimensions are really this. It’s an incredible capability.”

The 3-D maps will allow troops to see exactly how tall buildings are, see where the high ground is and what angles it cuts. It should greatly improve planning for airplane and helicopter fly-throughs, as well as helo popups, the senior OSD official said. “In a country where you have this kind of terrain, it will help identify helo operating zones and allow troops to better understand high areas along the road,” the official said. As the maps become available, they should also be very useful to nongovermnental organizations, relief groups and others operating in Afghanistan, the official said.

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A western Pennsylvania home will be demolished because it is so overrun with rats that they measure about a foot deep in spots. Officials in Pulaski Township say the home has been a problem in the neighborhood for about a year. Neighbors called the township last week to complain when they saw rats coming out of the home. Officials say the home's owner used to breed dogs there. The woman, who is bankrupt, moved out in August and her husband is in a nursing home. The Beaver County Times reports that an exterminator hopes to kill about 95 percent of the rats before the home is demolished Friday. Officials will erect a perimeter around the home to try and prevent any rats that survive from going into neighboring homes.

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On this day in history in 1864 Union Gen William T Sherman begins march to the sea during Civil War and in 1965 1st public announcement about Walt Disney World

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Darn These Flys!

An Englishman, a Scott, and a Irishman walked into a pub.
Each orderd a pint of beer. Then a fly landed in each one's beer.

The Englishman, turning slightly green, pushed his beer away and asked for another one.

The Scott took the fly out, shrugged, and drank his beer.

The Irisman pinched the fly between his fingers and yelled
"SPIT IT OUT!" "SPIT IT OUT!"

Special Note: I am out of my good old "Irish Jokes" - if any of you have any you'd like to send I would love to include them in the blog...

Live Long and Prosper...