Washington, DC – February 25, 2010 – Socio-Cultural Intelligence Analysis’ (SCIA) CEO Dr. Swen Johnson and Senior Socio-Cultural Analyst and former Afghan mujahidin Neamat Nojumi recently appeared on ABC’s Federal News Tonight discussing the small company’s innovative approach to understanding the battlefield in Afghanistan by combining social science and geospatial technology to “map culture.”
Johnson spoke from his experience as a soldier interacting with locals on the ground in a combat zone: “We should be providing our soldiers maps of where social groups are. We can’t be relying on 100-year old British maps anymore.” Mr. Nojumi added, “In one way, we are exploring where the people groups are; in another way, we are explaining what they do, how they do it, what is their worldview, and what is their perspective within a specific geo-location.”
Human Terrain maps have become an essential instrument for planning, operations, and decision-making in Afghanistan. They provide the basis for a quick understanding of where specific subgroups in a given population are likely found; socio-cultural analysts then analyze the socio-cultural makeup of the groups to predict likely interactions. Such maps are of extreme value not only to soldiers on the ground, but also to those working in foreign policy, international development, and humanitarian assistance, as the maps provide “a visual analytical understanding of the social reality,” Mr. Nojumi explained. “Our analysis helps them in preparing before they go in, and they are there to implement policies and reach out to local communities to build partnerships and establish a relationship that can be beneficial…, serving both our national interests as well as addressing the basic needs of the local population.”
The program aired February 25 at 7:30pm on Federal News Tonight, ABC News Channel 8. The program’s viewership catchment area is 1.2 million people.
About SCIA:
SCIA is a professional services company that applies its in-depth knowledge and understanding of socio-cultural dynamics to solve problems of vital importance to our national security. SCIA is recognized as the industry leader in providing socio-cultural and human terrain analysis training, products, and services and supports the U.S. Department of Defense, the intelligence community, other U.S. Government agencies, as well as key commercial sectors. For more information, visit www.sciasolutions.com.
If you would like more information about human terrain analysis or would like to schedule an interview with Dr. Swen Johnson or Neamat Nojumi, please call Christopher Lunsford at 813.600.9086, or email clunsford@sciasolutions.com.
