TACTICAL DIAGRAMMING

GATHERING INTELLIGENCE FOR TACTICAL DIAGRAMMING

Fly-bys• “L-Shaped” flight path

provides 360º perspective with one pass

• Altitude 500 to 1,500׳ AGL• Use zoom lens for both

close up and perspective• 80-300mm good all purpose• Skylight filter of 1A or 1B

• Film ≤100 ASA• Digital ≥ 3.2 megapixels

• Higher is better

• High shutter speed ≥ 1/250th a second

Vertical Look-Down Gain perspective Identify avenues of approach Reveals features that cannot be seen from ground

(or even anticipated!) Noon is best for reducing shadows but shadows at dusk

and dawn reveal smallunobtrusive details Shadows may be

more conspicuousthan feature

Vents, door knobs,wires, etc.

Air Orientation Address

Most precise but notalways mostconspicuous

Prominent Terrain Feature Pick one that can be

clearly identified andeasily seen

Shift from a knownpoint What might be used?

• Average sizes of known objects• Mental multiples

Estimating Distance

Drive Bys Will almost always require more than one pass and

multiple observers/photographers are common Ingenuity is often required

Time of best observation may not coincide with time of operation Time of operation for “yard cars,”

“sleep overs,” etc. Take LOTS of photographs

Film ≥ 400 ASA Digital ≥ 3.2 megapixels Medium shutter speed

≥ 1/100th a second

Ground Orientation Don’t take the simple for

granted Street addresses, road

intersections, cardinal directions, etc. Prominent Terrain is even better

Can identify even in low light

Become familiar with urban conventions Street signs for jurisdictions Surge traffic and parking Sensitive areas (schools, playgrounds, hangouts, etc.)

Behaviors of neighbors and community

• High traffic times• Inconspicuous

opportunities fromvantage points

• Behavior blending• Walking, jogging,

bicycling, etc.• At or near noon has smallest and faintest shadows• Dusk often allows unobtrusive “peeks”

Exploit opportunities

• Building conventions and codes are precise and reliable• Once one item is “measured” it can be used to estimate

others• Calipers or compass

can be used toestimate moreaccurately

• Rulers can providescale, especiallyarchitectural ruler

Estimating Dimensions

Subtle Details• Many seemingly trivial details can be used to

extrapolate valuable intelligence• License plates• Gas meters• Electrical meters• Mail boxes• Cameras under

eaves• Door mats• Toys• Dog houses

• Many Suspects go to great lengths to:

• Fortify their locations• Hide their contraband• Detect intruders• Create escape routes

Anomalies

• Be suspicious!• Windows not in the center of a wall• Squeaky floors & different floor coverings• Out of place furniture• Dead grass and faint pathways

• Works from the inside out!• Furniture also comes in standard sizes

• Sizes available from any retail catalog• Memorize furniture and placement then draw walls

around them• Each dwelling in an

apartment, hotel,motel, etc. will havesame size roomsand nearly identicalfloor plans (including reverse floor plans)

Reverse Diagramming

• Used to supplement, not replace, conventional diagramming procedures

Reverse Diagramming

• Use all available sources and information.

• All diagramming principles apply

• Work from confidence to ambiguity

QUESTIONS?