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1
Topo Svy Sqn
Information
specialists
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Topo Svy Sqn uses the US Air Force’s FalconView system |
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A
falcon’s view of the world
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THERE
are all kinds of flash software available to aid our jobs
and the US Air Force’s FalconView is no exception.
1 Topo Svy Sqn recently gained its own copy, through the Defence
Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO) in Canberra.
FalconView is a mapping package for PCs that displays various
types of maps, terrain models and images supplied in standard
formats by DIGO.
OPSO 1 Topo Svy Sqn Capt Clint Verhagen said that, essentially,
the program was a Geographic Information System tool, with
layers and scales.
“The program utilises various scales of mapping and imagery
with 3D digital terrain elevation data models of the ground.
“We can zoom in to the world map, and data levels start
to come up,” he said.
Threats can be added by keying in the range of a weapon, elevation
and known obstacles. FalconView will then calculate which
areas within the range are safe to facilitate avoidance of
the threat, or safe routes to engage it.
Maps are then made into PDF format and can be plotted to directly.
Capt Verhagen said the program was becoming a joint tool,
so it has air force and also land requirements.
The air force capability is reflected with the Sky-view, another
handy application in FalconView where users can fly through
an area and see the lie of the ground.
DIGO has an agreement with the US National Imagery and Mapping
Agency for free distribution throughout the ADF. The software
may be loaded onto the JCSE network by users submitting a
valid change request to the JSSA.
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By
Pte Simone Heyer
NOT just maps. That’s the unit’s catch cry and a truth
made evident when 1 Topo Svy Sqn sets up and operates with full
capabilities.
1
Topo Svy Sqn is a specialist unit within the Army although the Navy
and Air Force have similar capabilities.
With
elements in 1, 3 and 7 Bdes and supporting DJFHQ, 1 Topo Svy Sqn
is often called upon to provide its unique support with all things
map-related.
The
unit is divided into data support, formation, force and operation
support troops.
Within
these troops are the capabilities of geodetic survey, imagery acquisition
and database development.
OPSO
Capt Clint Verhagen said the squadron had an important role to support
DJFHQ and does all manner of mixed-service mapping.
“We’re
supporting much more than the Army,” he said.
“We
really are the only people with the capability. The hydro people
[19 CE WKS] can produce those charts but they aren’t in the
business of supporting a commander and his decision making.”
Most
members of the squadron had been to East Timor, where they performed
engineering survey tasks with the MGI section, doing route analysis.
Thanks
to 1 Topo Svy Sqn, maps that were as old as Portuguese rule were
upgraded. Necessary, too, because of the number of buildings destroyed
during the crisis.
1
Topo Svy Sqn was also able to educate the locals about the ADF’s
role in the country by producing information leaflets.
The
main corps at the squadron is RAE. Members are either ECN 423 –
geomatic technician or ECN 180 – multi-media technician.
Capt
Verhagen said engineers were attracted to the unit because of the
technology and the diversity of what it does. New OR members had
about 12 months training before joining the squadron.
“As
we become more widely accepted, we’ll grow,” he said.
What
is TopoSS
ToposSS
stands for Topographical Support System. It comprises:
- Four
sections each with two unimogs.
- Airconditioned
connexes on the back of the trucks contain:
- Latest
image software on fibre-optically networked computers.
- Computers
protected from the elements in airtight, dust-proof casings.
- TV
and video recorder for editing fly-throughs
- The
squadron is looking at getting a light version of the same thing
to go into the back of an armoured command vehicle or similar.
The
low down on maps
1 Topo
Svy Sqn doesn’t just make maps for finding your way from point
to point. It is also created for:
-
NVG and red light conditions
- Water
resup
- General
refuelling
- Rubbish
pick up
- Accident
survey maps
- Combined
hydro chart with land maps
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