CAP Talk

Operations => Emergency Services & Operations => Topic started by: DG on April 29, 2010, 10:35:08 PM

Title: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: DG on April 29, 2010, 10:35:08 PM
What CAP mobilization are we doing for the oil disaster emergency in Louisiana?
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: NCRblues on April 29, 2010, 10:39:26 PM
I am going to  take a guess and say nothing..... >:D
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: Eclipse on April 29, 2010, 10:41:31 PM
Beyond coastal photos there's not much place for us here - we don't fly that far over water, and there are plenty of
other agencies involved.

As of today there is no disaster to respond to.

One thing I was thinking last night is what would happen to all that oil if hit by a hurricane...
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: Flying Pig on April 29, 2010, 10:41:54 PM
Grab some paper towels and head to the beach!
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: raivo on April 29, 2010, 11:01:45 PM
Quote from: Eclipse on April 29, 2010, 10:41:31 PM
As of today there is no disaster to respond to.

There's a declared state of emergency in LA...
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: mynetdude on April 29, 2010, 11:15:29 PM
Quote from: raivo on April 29, 2010, 11:01:45 PM
Quote from: Eclipse on April 29, 2010, 10:41:31 PM
As of today there is no disaster to respond to.

There's a declared state of emergency in LA...

I suppose CAP can help with cleanup of affected wildlife? I read the news article about this incident and they are saying they are training prisoners and contracting fishing boats to help with the process.

What about doing patrol to alert USCG of vessels that might be interfering with the process or entering the slick? (I don't think they would want vessels in the slick area?)
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: CommGeek on April 30, 2010, 12:01:26 AM
Maybe ARCHER will save the world!!!
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: Eclipse on April 30, 2010, 12:42:17 AM
Quote from: Eclipse on April 29, 2010, 10:41:31 PM
...nothing has actually happened on shore yet.

Well, so much for that...

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/29/1605245/oil-starts-washing-ashore-on-gulf.html

With crude oil washing up Thursday night on the Gulf Coast, President Barack Obama stepped up federal efforts to help clean up the spill in the Gulf of Mexico, putting the Department of Defense at the ready and dispatching three Cabinet officers to the scene.
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: RiverAux on April 30, 2010, 01:46:57 AM
Quote from: mynetdude on April 29, 2010, 11:15:29 PM
What about doing patrol to alert USCG of vessels that might be interfering with the process or entering the slick? (I don't think they would want vessels in the slick area?)
I imagine that the Coast Guard Auxiliary's aviation units would be called for that.
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: mynetdude on April 30, 2010, 02:17:24 AM
Quote from: RiverAux on April 30, 2010, 01:46:57 AM
Quote from: mynetdude on April 29, 2010, 11:15:29 PM
What about doing patrol to alert USCG of vessels that might be interfering with the process or entering the slick? (I don't think they would want vessels in the slick area?)
I imagine that the Coast Guard Auxiliary's aviation units would be called for that.

Didn't know CG Aux had an aviation unit, if they do why are they asking for CAP help for those "sundown" patrols during the busy boating seasons at various major waters? (hence the article in the newest volunteer edition that just came out)
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: RiverAux on April 30, 2010, 03:08:10 AM
I'll bet dollars to donuts that the CG is not actually paying for our gas for any of those flights.  My understanding is that  CAP units doing that sort of thing have wrangled money out of local or state government to pay for the flights.   While we're up, it only makes sense that we coordinate with them, but its not like they requested us.   


Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: Eclipse on April 30, 2010, 03:30:21 AM
I didn't mean to pooch my original thread, meant to quote it...oh well.
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: Al Sayre on April 30, 2010, 05:10:01 PM
MSWG is on tap to start recon photos & videos and other requested taskings (weather permitting) starting today.  We have 3 aircraft & crews with overwater gear on hot standby, an additional aircraft and crew on a short leash as back-up, with the rest of the wing's aircrew ready to help as well.  There is some talk of bringing in ARCHER, but it will probably be Saturday at the earliest, if at all. 
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: CommGeek on May 01, 2010, 02:37:21 AM
question for all you archer operators...  What good is an archer flight, if all you can give the costumer is a jpg screenshot of what you see on your screen?

They want to know the outline of the spill?  what format will archer export to?  a picture does no good to a State or County GIS person.  How does a customer view the data?  a image is NOT GIS Data...

Apparently know body on the past 3 years has been able to answer that...

Being a real world GIS guy  I often wonder myself....
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: davidsinn on May 01, 2010, 03:15:26 AM
Quote from: CommGeek on May 01, 2010, 02:37:21 AM
question for all you archer operators...  What good is an archer flight, if all you can give the costumer is a jpg screenshot of what you see on your screen?

They want to know the outline of the spill?  what format will archer export to?  a picture does no good to a State or County GIS person.  How does a customer view the data?  a image is NOT GIS Data...

Apparently know body on the past 3 years has been able to answer that...

Being a real world GIS guy  I often wonder myself....

I was given a briefing at wing conference last week by Lt. Col Desmaris NHQ/DO and he said that we do now have export capability for archer. I have no idea what types or formats but it does exist now.
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: CommGeek on May 01, 2010, 03:28:57 AM
Quote from: davidsinn on May 01, 2010, 03:15:26 AM
Quote from: CommGeek on May 01, 2010, 02:37:21 AM
question for all you archer operators...  What good is an archer flight, if all you can give the costumer is a jpg screenshot of what you see on your screen?

They want to know the outline of the spill?  what format will archer export to?  a picture does no good to a State or County GIS person.  How does a customer view the data?  a image is NOT GIS Data...

Apparently know body on the past 3 years has been able to answer that...

Being a real world GIS guy  I often wonder myself....

I was given a briefing at wing conference last week by Lt. Col Desmaris NHQ/DO and he said that we do now have export capability for archer. I have no idea what types or formats but it does exist now.

thats the same answer i get....  but knowbody can really answer the question.
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: dbaran on May 01, 2010, 03:42:00 AM
The new software can do GeoTIFF, ENVI/Khoros, or an IGM layer.
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: heliodoc on May 01, 2010, 03:56:58 AM
The NOAA and other satellites that have been downloading the feeds are pretty clear

MAYBE ARCHER will do something, but the money is on the satellites and others such as USCG aircraft doing some of the low level stuff which is probably just as good or better than  ARCHER at the current time.

Lots o excitement about ARCHER...like Comm Geek  says.. It Isn't GIS.

But an explanation about ARCHER would be of "better" value than current satellite and aerial photo imagery in various forms would maybe greatly appreciated.

I would suspect we could get a better answer out of ASPRS.....American Society of Photogrammetrists and Remote Sensing.  I am sure their explanation of this and these types of natural resources missions are not so clouded in the CAP cry of OPSEC

This stuff was being done well before ARCHER came along....one day maybe the lid will blow off of ARCHER and it may or may not be the the big bad technology that "required OPSEC."   There are military and civilian satellites with more capability(ies) that probably require more OPSEC at a true level.



Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: wingnut55 on May 01, 2010, 07:35:59 AM
There is no OPSEC behind what archer can do. It has High resolution hyperspectral imaging at one meter and 3 inch resolution for BW pictures. Software was purchased at the request of the USGS that allows Archer Data to be converted to GIS formats for research. But remember for each hour you fly you gather 30 gigs of Data. Most GIS programs freak at 300 megs of data. CAP never allowed USAF to upgrade several Archers (at USAF expense) to meet further needs of Northcom and Forrest Service. But we finally got the software to convert to Geotiffs.

Several Archer units are out of commission due to breakage, misuse, or plain just BROKE. CAWG working Archer is being taken away to be used as a transport plane by Nevada Wing, Alaska's and Utahs GA-8s with broken archers are sitting on the Ramps unused.

And CAP marches on.
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: CadetProgramGuy on May 01, 2010, 08:26:54 AM
Quote from: wingnut55 on May 01, 2010, 07:35:59 AM
There is no OPSEC behind what archer can do. It has High resolution hyperspectral imaging at one meter and 3 inch resolution for BW pictures. Software was purchased at the request of the USGS that allows Archer Data to be converted to GIS formats for research. But remember for each hour you fly you gather 30 gigs of Data. Most GIS programs freak at 300 megs of data. CAP never allowed USAF to upgrade several Archers (at USAF expense) to meet further needs of Northcom and Forrest Service. But we finally got the software to convert to Geotiffs.

Several Archer units are out of commission due to breakage, misuse, or plain just BROKE. CAWG working Archer is being taken away to be used as a transport plane by Nevada Wing, Alaska's and Utahs GA-8s with broken archers are sitting on the Ramps unused.

And CAP marches on.

Sorry, but I can't resist the urge.....

Maybe they can use the  Vanguard money to fix them........
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: mynetdude on May 01, 2010, 10:12:54 AM
Quote from: CadetProgramGuy on May 01, 2010, 08:26:54 AM
Quote from: wingnut55 on May 01, 2010, 07:35:59 AM
There is no OPSEC behind what archer can do. It has High resolution hyperspectral imaging at one meter and 3 inch resolution for BW pictures. Software was purchased at the request of the USGS that allows Archer Data to be converted to GIS formats for research. But remember for each hour you fly you gather 30 gigs of Data. Most GIS programs freak at 300 megs of data. CAP never allowed USAF to upgrade several Archers (at USAF expense) to meet further needs of Northcom and Forrest Service. But we finally got the software to convert to Geotiffs.

Several Archer units are out of commission due to breakage, misuse, or plain just BROKE. CAWG working Archer is being taken away to be used as a transport plane by Nevada Wing, Alaska's and Utahs GA-8s with broken archers are sitting on the Ramps unused.

And CAP marches on.

Sorry, but I can't resist the urge.....

Maybe they can use the  Vanguard money to fix them........
>:D :clap: nice response :)
Title: Re: Oil Disaster Emergency - Louisiana
Post by: davidsinn on May 01, 2010, 01:20:22 PM
Quote from: heliodoc on May 01, 2010, 03:56:58 AM
The NOAA and other satellites that have been downloading the feeds are pretty clear

MAYBE ARCHER will do something, but the money is on the satellites and others such as USCG aircraft doing some of the low level stuff which is probably just as good or better than  ARCHER at the current time.

Lots o excitement about ARCHER...like Comm Geek  says.. It Isn't GIS.

But an explanation about ARCHER would be of "better" value than current satellite and aerial photo imagery in various forms would maybe greatly appreciated.

I would suspect we could get a better answer out of ASPRS.....American Society of Photogrammetrists and Remote Sensing.  I am sure their explanation of this and these types of natural resources missions are not so clouded in the CAP cry of OPSEC

This stuff was being done well before ARCHER came along....one day maybe the lid will blow off of ARCHER and it may or may not be the the big bad technology that "required OPSEC."   There are military and civilian satellites with more capability(ies) that probably require more OPSEC at a true level.

It's not OPSEC, it's proprietary code in the software. IE we don't own it so we can't distribute it. We now have software modules in it that allows free output for customers.