Пакистан, по сообщениям, завершил детальное лидарное картографирование Кашмира для военных целей

If reports are true, Pakistan has been doing comprehensive LiDAR mapping of J&K which could have great impact on the military planning against India in the region. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology can create very detailed 3D representations of the terrain, including elevation, slope, valley, vegetation and man-made structures, as opposed to traditional 2D maps. The Survey of Pakistan has openly published their utilization of UAV-based LiDAR, GNSS and digital photogrammetry for high precision geospatial applications in Pakistan. But at present, there is no reliable evidence that has surfaced in the public domain of the Pakistani side of the border with Indian-administered Jammu & Kashmir to confirm the extent of J&K mapping by Pakistani LiDAR. Activity reported should therefore be considered as an allegation only in the absence of any supporting evidence. Where they do exist, these detailed datasets would be most useful as a geospatial intelligence baseline. The geography of J&K is very complex, characterized by high mountains, narrow valleys, forests, ridgelines and a constantly evolving infrastructure. A high-resolution, 3-D terrain database could provide military planners with much more detailed knowledge of the physical battlespace than current maps. The information may be used for terrain analysis, route assessment, line of sight and military simulation. Information on elevation can also be used with other intelligence information to determine the impact of mountains and terrain features on radar coverage, communications and surveillance. Change detection would be an other important application. Analysts could compare the datasets to determine whether roads or other infrastructure have changed; they could also use a terrain model with older data with newer satellite or aerial imagery to determine changes in buildings and bridges. This may help to identify potential information collection needs. LiDAR could be used in conjunction with satellite reconnaissance as well. Visual information from optical satellite imagery is detailed but may be obscured by cloud cover, shadows and vegetation. In mountainous areas and those with dense vegetation, LiDAR can provide highly accurate terrain data even in the presence of vegetation, making it valuable to these areas. These data might be more useful if added to digital mission-planning and simulation systems. A detailed terrain database may be used to assist with terrain-referenced navigation, modelling and command and control applications. But LiDAR wouldn’t have given real-time intelligence or automatically marked military targets. If it could be integrated with other sensors and intelligence it would have military value. In the case of artillery and air use, the availability of accurate elevation and terrain data would help modelling and planning but would require intelligence to determine the actual position and condition of the targets. Roads and bridges, military buildings and other infrastructure can undergo significant changes over time, which necessitates regular updates. The most important benefit would then come from the integration of high resolution geospatial information and ongoing ISR capabilities. Satellite imagery, UAV reconnaissance, electronic intelligence, and other sensors would be able to update the underlying three-dimensional terrain database and would offer a much more detailed view of the operational environment. There was already significant capability within India for geospatial intelligence and mapping of terrain. Indian agencies have been working on huge remote sensing and topographic mapping projects in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, including projects in highly undulating regions. Therefore, having access to LiDAR data in Pakistan does not necessarily mean that India is not capable of having access to it. The meaning would then be determined by the accuracy, comprehensiveness, resolution and timeliness of the data. If Pakistan has really acquired accurate and up-to-date LiDAR data of the relevant region, it could be used as an intelligence multiplier in Pakistan’s military planning and terrain analysis processes. Edited by Raunak Kunde