U.S. armed forces are using a laptop package created by the University of Southern California that “can instantly dissect the geography of a city, showing users the electrical power grid, all rail, roads, pathways, and and other man-made features, plus much more both in map and photographic form.”
Using a variety of tools such as intelligence agents, HeraclesMaps extracts information from diverse sources, enabling it to instantly solve life-and-death tactical questions like, “Help us find a route from point A to B where we cannot be observed (or shot at) by someone at point C.”
Civilian applications may be coming next, such as super powerful travel planners that can highlight the cheapest fuel available or all-night restaurants serving a specific cuisine. Imagine the potential for journalists.
(Thanks to CNBC’s Jeff Gralnick for sending in the tip.)
