U.S. Air Force Research Lab: Geospatial Intelligence for Strategic Range Site Assessment

Discipline: IEMS

Advisor: Charles Major

Spaceport suitability and launch-range planning require the integration of numerous geospatial constraints, including airspace structure, population exposure, weather and hurricane risk, terrain, infrastructure connectivity, and environmental limitations. These data are often fragmented across tools and teams, creating inefficiencies and reducing consistency in site evaluation. This project develops a GIS and Spatial Intelligence methodology that enables the U.S. Space Force to compare launch-range alternatives through a structured, repeatable, and engineering-driven workflow. The team is evaluating open-source GIS technology, with emphasis on QGIS, as a scalable platform for generating and maintaining the spatial intelligence layers required for feasibility and suitability analysis. Deliverables include standardized geospatial datasets, documented processing workflows, and outputs prepared for integration with downstream models such as Monte Carlo range scoring, logistics simulation, and infrastructure planning tools. The project supports GIS specialists, range planners, and mission-support stakeholders by improving data accessibility, workflow transparency, and analytical consistency. Its differentiator is the creation of reusable and well-governed spatial artifacts with strong documentation and data provenance. The result is a more efficient and defensible geospatial decision-support capability for launch-range planning, helping reduce risk, accelerate analysis, and improve strategic readiness.

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