List of intelligence gathering disciplines


This is a list of intelligence gathering disciplines.

HUMINT

Human intelligence are gathered from a person in the location in question. Sources can include the following:
MI6 is often thought to use human intelligence to operate in different countries or Britain itself to protect the country from global affairs. However, this is usually confused with their brother agency MI5, which focuses on the security of Britain.

FININT

Financial intelligence are gathered from analysis of monetary transactions.

GEOINT

Geospatial intelligence are gathered from satellite and aerial photography, or mapping/terrain data.
Measurement and signature intelligence are gathered from an array of signatures of fixed or dynamic target sources. According to the Air Force Institute of Technology's Center for MASINT Studies and Research, MASINT is split into six major disciplines: electro-optical, nuclear, radar, geophysical, materials, and radiofrequency.
  1. Electro-optical MASINT
  2. * Airborne electro-optical missile tracking MASINT
  3. * Tactical counter-artillery sensors
  4. * Infrared MASINT
  5. * Optical measurement of nuclear explosions
  6. * LASER MASINT
  7. * Spectroscopic MASINT
  8. * Hyperspectral MASINT
  9. * Space-based staring infrared sensors
  10. Nuclear MASINT
  11. * Radiation survey and dosimetry
  12. * Space-based nuclear energy detection
  13. * Effects of ionizing radiation on materials
  14. Geophysical MASINT
  15. * Weather and sea intelligence MASINT
  16. * Acoustic MASINT, also known as acoustical intelligence
  17. * Seismic MASINT
  18. * Magnetic MASINT
  19. * Gravitimetric MASINT
  20. Radar MASINT
  21. * Line-of-sight radar MASINT
  22. * Synthetic aperture radar and inverse synthetic aperture radar MASINT
  23. * Non-cooperative target recognition
  24. * Multistatic radar MASINT
  25. * Passive covert radar
  26. Materials MASINT
  27. * Chemical materials MASINT
  28. * Biological materials MASINT
  29. * Nuclear test analysis
  30. Radiofrequency MASINT
  31. * Frequency domain MASINT
  32. * Electromagnetic pulse MASINT
  33. * Unintentional radiation MASINT

    OSINT

Open-source intelligence are gathered from open sources. OSINT can be further segmented by the source type: Internet/General, Scientific/Technical, and various HUMINT specialties, e.g. trade shows, association meetings, and interviews.

SIGINT

Signals intelligence are gathered from interception of signals.
Technical intelligence are gathered from analysis of weapons and equipment used by the armed forces of foreign nations, or environmental conditions.
  • Medical intelligence – gathered from analysis of medical records and/or actual physiological examinations to determine health and/or particular ailments and allergic conditions for consideration