Three-D models of urban environments are now becoming available for military leaders, thanks to a team working at the University of California at Berkeley. The team, which is funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, has created a digital surface model out of airborne laser scans, reports Maria Callier of AFOSR. “Knowing the exact 3-D map of the city is useful to counterterrorism activities, mission planning and disaster management,” said Avideh Zakhor, team leader. “The team would like to extend the 3-D modeling of the indoor environment and consider the problem of incremental model updating after a building is demolished.” This new technology allows for continuous mode scanning, which cuts scanning time to approximately 25 minutes.
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…