Concurrent Breakout Sessions 9 Breakout Sessions 12

Information Sources, Tools and Other Instruments for a Productive Intelligence Task

Definitely, the intelligence community is at a better position now more than ever to undertake its task. The availability of various information sources, tools and software packages opens up a myriad of possibilities for synthesizing valuable intelligence products. The challenge then lies in the identification, selection, optimum utilization and upgrading of these modern instruments in order to arrive at the most reliable data and information. For instance, geographic information systems (GIS) can offer large and relevant data which may be utilized in a wide variety of applications. The intelligence community must therefore master GIS to the fullest extent possible and likewise augment existing imagery systems with more high-level and specially designed features which can further contribute to better information gathering and processing. Similarly, electronic tools and various computer software packages provide other useful facilities not only for data sourcing and collection but also for the organization, sharing, safekeeping and analysis of information. Traffic and transportation modeling software packages, for instance, can simulate spatial movements and mobility scenarios according to specific changes or disturbances in a particular system (e.g., road and expressway blockage, terrorist bombings of certain buildings and structures, mass departure during natural disasters, etc.) which might proved invaluable to intelligence-related tasks like police entrapment activities, counterterrorism measures as well as disaster relief and mitigation. The internet, of course, affords another extensive resource of expedient, albeit not always reliable, information and scholarly articles which can facilitate the intelligence community in carrying out its function. However, caution must always be exercised whenever data and information are derived from this type of sources and verification and assessment should always form part of the whole data collection process. Evidently, information can now emanate from several sources and can likewise come in various forms and structures. Therefore, the intelligence community must always be adept, vigilant and conscientious in identifying, gathering and using existing data and their sources and at the same time continue exploring undiscovered and groundbreaking technical resources and methods.

Indeed, advanced technologies make it easier and more convenient to obtain substantial data for perusal by the intelligence community but some information still require more than complex automated systems and electronic implements to be properly collected and effectively utilized by intelligence analysts and professionals. Language expertise and cross-cultural knowledge are some examples of peculiar instruments that can better equip the intelligence community to access and better understand other raw data and information. With rising globalization, the world is truly becoming smaller and more connected resulting to simpler, faster and cheaper exchanges and transfers not only of technologies, trade products, people and other resources but also of information and intelligence. Thus, the intelligence community must cope up with this situation and being familiar with other foreign languages, cultures and customs can certainly be an asset in understanding additional data and information and more importantly in preparing against threats and pressures that can now stem from almost any part of the world. At any rate, the intelligence community must begin to recognize the multifaceted character of the information gathering process and should attempt to expand its scope and proficiency to cover not only purely scientific and technical fields but also social, economic, political and environmental spheres and taking into account both domestic and international settings.