5 ms·
Here's my guess based on the following info: - The article points out that the planes are typically only seen M-F, which suggests that what they are doing is u
by danielrhodes 11y ago
Here's my guess based on the following info:
- The article points out that the planes are typically only seen M-F, which suggests that what they are doing is usually not time-sensitive.
- They mention the planes have a very high quality camera on board.
- From the flight patterns, you can see they repeatedly circle the same location, but not apparently for hours and hours at time.
When Apple first released their Maps product, it was revealed that they also flew planes at low altitude to capture super high quality pictures of cities at different angles. They would then process the data later and create 3D models. [1]
Satellites are too expensive to use for this sort of thing, are affected by cloud cover and non-optimal angles, and won't be higher quality than what you can capture from a plane.
So my guess is they are doing exactly what Apple was doing: capturing high quality images of various points of interest and then creating 3D models in case they need to use them later.
Another thing they are probably looking for (from the mention of the FLIR camera) is people growing drugs in their basement or perhaps where people congregate in a building.
They probably find this useful for among other things, having very up to date photography of a particular area, and also in case they need it for some operation like a raid.
[1] http://www.applegazette.com/apple-inc/how-apple-creates-3d-flyover-maps/ http://www.applegazette.com/apple-inc/how-apple-creates-3d-f...
- carbocation 11y agoUsing FLIR for drug growing detection requires a warrant.
- jessaustin 11y agoSo they're using it for some other purpose. It's just a coincidence that all growers on the flight path have been busted via "anonymous tips".
- pavel_lishin 11y agoI assume that the 'coincidence' you mention is just hypothetical, but that would be a pretty interesting topic to research.
- bigiain 11y agoaka: parallel construction
- bigiain 11y agoInterestingly, I immediately considered the use of FLiR looking for their modified exhaust systems - I wonder whether the current inexpensive Lepton FLiR modules could "see" the difference between "normal" plane and these ones with (presumably quite large/hot) underslung mufflers?
- afarrell 11y agoIt requires a warrant as long as FLIR is "a device that is not in general public use"[1] That is changing. [1] http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/533/27.html http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/533/27.html
- DINKDINK 11y agoI heard from someone who worked for government contracts that they were told to 'do production testing on equipment' at the same time they wanted to use it in situations that would have required a warrant.
- Razengan 11y agoCan't balloons or drones be used instead of planes? I can't imagine their fuel must be cheap. Who pays for all this and what are they getting?
- jzwinck 11y agoTaxpayers pay for it. I'm not sure balloons could give adequate control, but drones are a great idea and I look forward to the day when they are so cheap that the same amount of tax money can pay for drastically increased surveillance from the sky. Oh wait.
- repiret 11y agoI'm sure they will eventually. Right now we're in the very early days of unmanned and manned aircraft sharing the national airspace system, and its still administratively easier to use a manned aircraft. But I'm sure in 10 years they'll be a ton of surveillance drones.
- detaro 11y agoI'd assume the following reason: Planes are the "easy" default, clearly legal to operate, well-understood and most people don't think twice if they happen to see a Cessna somewhere. Drones probably have legal issues, big ones (range, payload) are also quite expensive to build and operate and require more specialized skills (unless there are tons of ex-military drone operators to be hired cheaply?). Would also probably attract more attention. Blimps have been proposed and tested for all kinds of surveillance tasks, but you'd get the main benefit again if they were autonomous. Seems to be in development, but not there yet.
- jjwiseman 11y agoMost of the FBI planes (and DHS planes) I've tracked for the past year often do fly over one location for multiple hours. They may sometimes shift position slightly, or occasionally seem to follow someone along a freeway.