National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence

UK national centre for geospatial and open source intelligence, part of Defence Intelligence

National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI) is the United Kingdom’s national lead for Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) and the defence lead for Open-source intelligence (OSINT). It forms part of Defence Intelligence within Strategic Command of the Ministry of Defence.

History

The National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI) was created in 2016 from the core capabilities of the Defence Intelligence Fusion Centre (DIFC) following the disbandment of the Joint Forces Intelligence Group (JFIG). It transitioned to a one-star commanded organisation on 1 December 2019, consolidating all specialist geospatial intelligence capabilities under a single command for the first time.

Timeline of predecessors

• 1940s (Second World War): Origins in MI4, the Central Interpretation Unit (later Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre – JARIC), initially based at RAF Medmenham.
• Post-war to 2013: JARIC continued as the UK’s primary geospatial intelligence centre, later moving to RAF Brampton and then to RAF Wyton.
• 13 July 2012: Renamed the Defence Geospatial Intelligence Fusion Centre (DGIFC).
• 2013: DGIFC relocated to the Pathfinder Building at RAF Wyton.
• 17 September 2014: Renamed the Defence Intelligence Fusion Centre (DIFC) to reflect its broader multi-source fusion role.
• 2016: DIFC’s core capabilities re-roled to form the NCGI.
• 1 December 2019: NCGI established as a one-star command at RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire.

The NCGI remains based at RAF Wyton, with some sub-units in the Greater London area.

Location

The National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI) is centred at RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire, but maintains sub-units around Greater London. The most significant of these is the Defence Geographic Centre (DGC) at Mercator House, Welbeck Close, London Road, Feltham, Middlesex TW13 7AH (London Borough of Hounslow). The DGC is a subordinate organisation of NCGI and provides core geospatial intelligence support. Plans exist to relocate the DGC from Feltham to RAF Wyton as part of wider Defence estate rationalisation, but it remains in Feltham as of the latest available information.

Activities

NCGI is the national centre and authority for UK GEOINT delivery. It provides impactful geospatial intelligence and open-source intelligence to support:

• Understanding, planning, targeting and navigation for the UK Armed Forces on global operations
• Homeland security and civil contingencies
• Wider government partners

It played a key role in high-profile operations including tracing the Novichok trail during the Salisbury poisoning investigation.

The official description of its activities:

Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT)

Everything happens somewhere. GEOINT refers to the analysis and exploitation of geospatial information for intelligence purposes. It involves gathering, analysing and interpreting data from various sources such as satellite imagery, aerial photography, maps, charts and geographic information systems.

This enables analysts and decision-makers to understand and visualise the physical and cultural features of a location, the relationship between different elements within that space, and the implications of all these aspects together.

NCGI is the national centre and authority for UK GEOINT delivery. It is the primary provider to the Ministry of Defence and its partners of:

• authoritative global geospatial data
• GEOINT expertise, analysis and services
• imagery intelligence, exploiting satellite and aerial reconnaissance imagery from a range of classified and commercial sources to deliver imagery intelligence and bespoke analytical GEOINT products to customers in defence, across UK Government, and to allies and partners
• deployable geographic technicians, specially trained and nationally recognised soldiers and officers are experts at assisting decision-makers and deployed commanders to understand, plan, navigate and target. They manage, analyse, and visualise multiple forms of geospatial data, disseminating their products through digital portals and in hardcopy formats
• military mapping
• aeronautical charts and flight procedures
• assured data to support aviation safety and enable safe maritime navigation (in partnership with the UK Hydrographic Office and Met Office)

Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)

OSINT is the collection and analysis of information from publicly available sources, such as social media, websites, news articles, and other publicly accessible data. NCGI is the defence lead for OSINT.

In delivering its mission NCGI works with partners throughout the UK and across the world.