National Imagery and Mapping Agency

National Imagery and Mapping Agency

NIMA eyes homeland
The National Imagery and Mapping Agency, known as NIMA, took satellite intelligence photographs of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the crash site in Shanksville, Pa., immediately after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
The high-resolution photographs were used to support civil agencies in the aftermath of the attacks, according to a U.S. intelligence report sent to Congress last week.
"Within hours of the attacks, an imagery-derived damage assessment delineating ash and debris fallout from the collapse of structures at the [World Trade Center] complex was provided to FEMA," the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the report said. "NIMA sent analysts to FEMA's deployed field office in New York City to provide remote sensing expertise. FEMA officials stated that NIMA greatly assisted search and rescue efforts at the WTC complex."
Until September 11, NIMA's primary role was producing and analyzing spy satellite photos overseas. The agency is now focusing its electro-optical lenses on the United States as well.
NIMA has created several city "photomaps" that are a new product being used by the U.S. Joint Forces Command as part of its homeland defense mission.