Using Global Fiducials Data and Imagery to Support and Inform National Security Decision-Making

In 1994, the antecedent to today's Global Fiducials Program (GFP) began collecting imagery from what are now more than 500 environmentally sensitive locations around the world. The activity's purpose was construction of an archive of imagery time-series, collected at the highest resolution possible from a predetermined set of 'Fiducial Sites.' The goal was to systematically document Earth surface behavior, especially to better understand environmental processes, variations, and changes on annual to decadal scales. A 'Fiducial Site' is a geographic location that is used as a benchmark for long-term process monitoring, both natural and anthropogenic, associated with the causes and effects of global environmental change.

Initially the GFP was a partnership between MEDEA, a group of US academic scientists supported with US Intelligence Community resources, and Federal civil science agencies represented by the Civil Applications Committee (CAC). The acronym MEDEA is derived from Measurements of Earth Data for Environmental Analysis. The group provided the US Government with unique scientific expertise for addressing and solving environmental problems related to national security. Today, the USGS-led CAC continues to build the 'Fiducials' time series and maintain the archive, now called the Global Fiducials Library (GFL). Two USGS websites gfl.usgs.gov and EarthExplorer (earthexplorer.usgs.gov) provide access to these time series.

Imagery and supporting metadata have been publicly released for 150 'Fiducial Sites'. Among the selected sites is East Timbalier Island, Louisiana, a rapidly changing barrier island, dramatically being influenced by changes in ocean processes, regional subsidence, sea level rise, and land-use practices. The imagery time series documents continuing changes that occurred at the island including rapid erosion, island breaching, placement of protective structures, sediment restoration, and the impact of petroleum extraction activities. The time series is comprised of more than 50 images, all available for free download at 1 m resolution. Analysis of the imagery provides insights into complexities and processes of the site and serves as a blueprint for understanding how anthropogenic and natural processes may play a role in influencing national security decision making.