3D modeling of a hangar.

Members from the Air Force Civil Engineer Center Geo-Integration Office and the 787th Civil Engineer Squadron captured this 3D modeling of the roof of a hangar at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The high-resolution imagery and 3D modeling of multiple hangars used innovative technology to save time and money and contribute to a safer working environment. (Courtesy photo by Dominic Scanlon)
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An early-morning EF1 tornado touched down Feb. 28 on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, knocking down power lines and trees while causing damage to several Area B buildings, including the Air Force Research Laboratory and a National Museum of the U.S. Air Force restoration hangar. No one was hurt. Base first responders and work crews were quickly dispatched for damage assessment, recovery actions and cleanup. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jack Gardner)

The Air Force Civil Engineer Center Geo-Integration Office used remote sensing technology, including aerial drones, to captured high resolution imagery of damage caused by a tornado that struck Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Feb. 28, 2024. Remote sensing technology allowed the team to swiftly capture data and imagery used to assess the damage and implement restoration efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jack Gardner)
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  • 3D modeling of a hangar.

    Members from the Air Force Civil Engineer Center Geo-Integration Office and the 787th Civil Engineer Squadron captured this 3D modeling of the roof of a hangar at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The high-resolution imagery and 3D modeling of multiple hangars used innovative technology to save time and money and contribute to a safer working environment. (Courtesy photo by Dominic Scanlon)
    Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
  • An early-morning EF1 tornado touched down Feb. 28 on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, knocking down power lines and trees while causing damage to several Area B buildings, including the Air Force Research Laboratory and a National Museum of the U.S. Air Force restoration hangar. No one was hurt. Base first responders and work crews were quickly dispatched for damage assessment, recovery actions and cleanup. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jack Gardner)

    The Air Force Civil Engineer Center Geo-Integration Office used remote sensing technology, including aerial drones, to captured high resolution imagery of damage caused by a tornado that struck Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Feb. 28, 2024. Remote sensing technology allowed the team to swiftly capture data and imagery used to assess the damage and implement restoration efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jack Gardner)
    Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

DAF GeoBase Program arms commanders for Great Power Competition

  • Published
  • By Joe Bela
  • Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) --  

AFCEC GIO and the 787th CES analyze imagery.

Members from the Air Force Civil Engineer Center Geo-Integration Office and the 502d Air Base Wing analyze imagery from a small unmanned aerial system at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The high-resolution imagery and 3D modeling of multiple hangars used innovative technology to save time and money and contribute to a safer working environment. Remote sensing technology allows experts to accurately capture data to preserve historical buildings. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Simonne Barker)
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A team of Air Force Civil Engineer Center geospatial experts are using emergent technologies to push geospatial services to new heights and give commanders a powerful tool for today’s Great Power Competition.

“As technologies continue to advance, GeoBase’s impact is growing," said Scott Ensign, DAF GeoBase Program manager.

“We touch most, if not all, facets of Department of the Air Force operations. Our geospatial engineering applications, tools and services produce and integrate data that enhances garrison, strategic and expeditionary objectives,” Ensign said. “The data and services we provide arm commanders with the knowledge they need to make sound decisions at the right time.”

Established in 2001, the DAF GeoBase Program has consistently delivered geospatial information and services that enhance combat support and reduce operational risks. Today, with advancing technologies and evolving mission requirements, the program’s geospatial services are reaching unprecedented levels of sophistication.

“The GeoBase program is a critical component to providing the ground truth senior DAF leaders need for accurate decision-making,” said Thomas Timmerman, Air Force director of future warfare analysis. “Great Power Competition requires continued innovation with a focus toward operational planning and analysis.”

More than 50 geospatial professionals at AFCEC’s San Antonio-based Geospatial Engineering Office continuously seek to exploit innovative technologies, processes and practices that support a broad spectrum of functional and operational mission requirements.

“We do more than create maps,” said Julio Toala, GEO future operations manager. “We enhance nearly all facets of DAF operations.”

He said new GeoBase technologies have led to improved geospatial capabilities that support operational functions, base infrastructure initiatives, and the needs of combatant commanders and warfighters.

For example, GeoBase capabilities supported security at the U.S. Embassy in Haiti by improving situational awareness for commanders earlier this year. It was integral in supporting warfighters by providing precise and up-to-date engineering and site data analyses. The contributions helped to ensure the smooth continuation of embassy mission operations and facilitated the departure of non-essential personnel.

“The geospatial site picture enhanced security at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince during a time of ongoing political unrest in Haiti,” Toala said. “In addition to the site picture, we provided a bare base-bed down design and airfield parking plans, all supplemented by comprehensive map support.”

The GeoBase program also played a pivotal role in organizing and providing geospatial support in anticipation of the secretary of the Air Force team’s visit to Japan in April.

“The visit aimed to strengthen defense cooperation between the United States and Japan during a period of significant advancements in operational support priorities for the Indo-Pacific region,” Toala said. “Our geospatial products included extensive digital maps of fuel tank and ammunition storage areas, which are critical for this significant future endeavor.”

A drone captures imagery from a hangar.

A small unmanned aerial system captures imagery from a hangar at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. The Air Force Civil Engineer Center Geo-Integration Office and the 787th Civil Engineer Squadron, captured high resolution imagery and 3D modeling of multiple hangars using innovative technology to save time and money, and contribute to a safer working environment. The remote sensing technology allows experts to accurately capture data to preserve historical buildings. (U.S Air Force photo by Airman Simonne Barker)
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GeoBase can also help commanders assess installation damage after a disaster or other event. In the aftermath of a tornado at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Feb. 28, the GeoBase team used remote sensing data and conducted thorough geospatial data processing and analyses, while employing cost-effective survey tools, said José Alfonsín, small unmanned aircraft system capabilities developer.

“The data we provide equips commanders with the crucial knowledge they need to make informed decisions at the right time,” Alfonsín said. “By continually pushing the boundaries of geospatial capabilities, the DAF GeoBase Program ensures that the DAF remains agile and ready to face the challenges of today’s strategic landscape.”