Aplicabilidade da Geoinformação Digital na proteção de estruturas estratégicas terrestres

Abstract

In light of the impact of the vulnerability of critical infrastructures on state security and sovereignty, this article sought to assess military personnel’s perceptions of the potential of digital geoinformation—particularly three-dimensional (3D) models and 360-degree panoramic imagery—in operations for the protection of strategic land-based structures by the Brazilian Army (EB). The study also sought to identify other relevant information, including features of interest to be mapped and desirable functionalities for the platform responsible for geoinformation visualization and dissemination. A questionnaire was administered to 50 military personnel from the operations and intelligence areas, most of whom had experience in the protection of strategic infrastructures. The results show broad agreement on the relevance of digital geoinformation in those activities, in special for improving preliminary reconnaissance, standardizing terrain understanding, supporting operational planning, and reducing logistical demands. The participants rated 3D models and 360° imagery as especially useful for troop briefings, vulnerability analysis, and defining defensive positions. Challenges to the provision of geoinformation were also identified, including connectivity limitations, information security concerns, and the need for capacity building. Based on the participants’ perceptions, it is concluded that such technologies constitute promising instruments for enhancing the efficiency of protection operations, in alignment with institutional modernization guidelines.