Geographic Information Systems essays

Geographic Information Systems essays The rapid development of technology has led to advancements that have had a direct impact on the improvement of our military. Weapons have become more effective and the use of satellite imagery has helped reduce the amount of lives lost during conventional warfare. Although not often contemplated, geography and its subcomponents are a critical element of any successful military campaign. U.S. military personnel must plan for environmental factors as well as enemy tactics to ensure a successful campaign. In light of the recent events that have placed our country on the inevitable brink of war, the United States military must continue to implement systems and standards that maximize effectiveness while minimizing casualties. Should the United States military use Geographic Information Systems? The military uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to help understand terrain and its effect on battlefield support ("In Search of Military GIS" 1). By becoming more cognizant of terrain conditions, the United States military has become the most lethal and efficient military in the world. Understanding terrain has been important to military operations for roughly 1000 years ("The Role of Geographic Information Systems on the Electronic Battlefield" 1). Many great battles have been won and lost due to geography. Elements such as terrain, weather and soil can have a major impact on the outcome of a battle. Napoleon's attempt to enter Russia just before the Russian winter is probably the most glaring example of what can happen if geography is not weighed in military plans. The world is constantly changing but a map cannot. Once it is created it starts to become out of date ("GIS for Defense" 2). Areas that were once heavily forested can be destroyed by fire. Floods can destroy roads that serve as major thoroughfares. Should these disasters or any other natural or man-made occurrences take place, the map created suddenly become...