Sociocultural-Geospatial Anthropological Portal (SC-GAP): enhancing sociocultural understanding through crowdsourced service member narratives
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Authors
Aschenbrenner, Mark
Koo, Jason D.
Toshner, Daniel J.
Subjects
Department of Defense
sociocultural
geospatial
anthropological
culture
operational environment
repository
narrative
story
crowdsource
population
human terrain
human geography
decision making
intelligence
strategic performance
human domain
sociocultural
geospatial
anthropological
culture
operational environment
repository
narrative
story
crowdsource
population
human terrain
human geography
decision making
intelligence
strategic performance
human domain
Advisors
Jaye, Michael
Tsolis, Kristen
Date of Issue
2015-06
Date
Jun-15
Publisher
Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Despite the Department of Defense’s (DOD) investment in programs designed to advance sociocultural knowledge, the DOD lacks a shared repository through which all entities can aggregate, visualize, and share sociocultural data across the enterprise. A gap analysis of DOD’s desired and actual ability to achieve a sociocultural understanding reveals three shortcomings: data, repository, and collaboration. Therefore, we created a proof of concept that bridges the sociocultural gap by harnessing the overlooked potential of deployed service members and their cross-cultural experiences. Service member observations form an untapped resource of sociocultural data; this existing wellspring of sociocultural information needs to be collected and indexed using a common framework. Residing in a geodatabase and interfaced via a crowdsourced Geographic Information System (GIS), this framework aggregates the collected data of service member narratives for the greater Joint Force, thereby creating a dynamic and collaborative living repository. Combining an anthropologically sound and operationally relevant framework with the capabilities of GIS results in a solution that will allow DOD personnel to populate, visualize, and share near-real-time cultural data relevant to military operations across all services. This DOD enterprise solution can enhance the nation’s armed forces’ strategic performance through the application of culturally adept military power.
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Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.