Approved for public release, NGA-U-2024-00557
Beavercreek, OH – Acting as a subcontractor to prime contractor Hughes Research Laboratories (HRL), Parallax Advanced Research was awarded a contract to support the research of “Mapping the Human Element of Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) — Optimizing Analytic Workflow by Assessing Behavioral and Cognitive States,” or “GEOINT Cognition (GEOCOG)” on September 1, 2022. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) designed the program GEOCOG to capture in near-real time the performance of geospatial intelligence analysts for the U.S. government.
Geospatial intelligence is the gathering, analysis, and interpretation of human activity on earth. Real-time observation and analysis of this type of information is critical to advanced awareness of foes who may present threats to U.S. national interests. Intelligence is derived from the monitoring, discovery, and analysis of imagery, signals, or signatures with geospatial information. Geospatial intelligence can also be referred to as "location intelligence."
“The work performed as part of the GEOCOG contract is the defining example of Parallax’s unique skill set,” said Dennis Andersh, Parallax’s President, and CEO. “We employ a branding statement, ‘The Science of Intelligent Teaming,’ to describe our ability to measure and enhance performance between humans and machines for many of our clients. Parallax brings the ability to merge and measure the way people and computers work together and analyze the collaboration to recommend and train for peak performance. This work is truly the science of how to develop maximum performance and improved outcomes for our clients.”
While lesser known than some other government agencies, the NGA is a combat support agency within the United States Department of Defense. The agency’s primary mission is collecting, analyzing, and distributing geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) in support of national security.
Dr. Mary Frame, Parallax’s director of Cognitive Research, described the results of the GEOCOG work as optimum in its ability to measure and understand intelligence analysts’ cognitive states in real time for the intelligence community.
“There is value in understanding what an analyst is doing right now, how to make the quality of their work better, improve their satisfaction with their work, and reduce fatigue,” said Frame. “The GEOCOG project measurements also tell us when to intervene before the analysts become tired and when work-breaks need to occur. This research also will give us insight into when we need to implement assistive technologies, automation, or AI, or another kind of intervention to optimize the human performance.”
The goal is to test end users in actual operational environments, in two modes: live mode which visualizes real-time data, and forensic mode which visualizes data post hoc. The personnel who would be using the visualization of the research results would be, for example, at the commander level in military operations.
Phase one began on September 1, 2022, and concluded on August 31, 2023. Phase two started on September 1, 2023, and will run until August 31, 2024.
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About Parallax Advanced Research
Parallax Advanced Research is a 501(c)(3) private nonprofit research institute that tackles global challenges through strategic partnerships with government, industry, and academia. It accelerates innovation, addresses critical global issues, and develops groundbreaking ideas with its partners. With offices in Ohio and Virginia, Parallax aims to deliver new solutions and speed them to market. In 2023, Parallax and the Ohio Aerospace Institute formed a collaborative affiliation to drive innovation and technological advancements in Ohio and for the nation. The Ohio Aerospace Institute plays a pivotal role in advancing the aerospace industry in Ohio and the nation by fostering collaborations between universities, aerospace industries, and government organizations, and managing aerospace research, education, and workforce development projects. More information on both organizations can be found at Parallax and OAI websites.
About HRL Laboratories
HRL Laboratories, LLC, Malibu, California (hrl.com) is a corporate research and development laboratory owned by the Boeing Company and General Motors specializing in sensors and materials, information and systems sciences, applied electromagnetics, and microelectronics. HRL provides custom research and development and performs additional R&D contract services for its LLC member companies, the U.S. government, and other commercial companies.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) under Contract No. HM0476-22-C-0065. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NGA.