“It sounds like a joke — a U.S. intelligence agency relying on
software that can be downloaded for free on the internet to turn
complicated data from spy satellites into detailed maps.”
“But a remarkable collaboration between the government, private
industry and academia may lead to just that: downloadable
satellite-image processing software called OSSIM, or Open Source
Software Image Map.”
“The National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA), which
provides maps to defense and intelligence agencies, has sponsored
the project to see if a programming method called Open Source can
benefit the world of spying.“