
Gain insights to national security, geopolitics, intelligence, and technology. Be informed, not just opinionated! CEO @geo_owl | Join the Ops on YouTube
Washington, DC
Joined November 2009
- Tweets2.4K
- Following309
- Followers1.8K
- Likes1.6K
Nick retweeted
Pumped to team up with @RobinhoodApp! @SkyFiApp is putting Satellite Intelligence in the hands of retail investors through Robinhood’s Agents App.
Launching soon will be recurring observations of real-world business activity at numerous U.S. sites tied to top-traded symbols.
Four sets at launch:
🏭 Production Watch: finished vehicles at auto plants
🚚 Fulfillment Pulse: trucks/trailers at e-comm hubs
🖥️ AI Buildout Monitor: hyperscale data center buildout
🎢 Park Attendance Tracker: theme park lot fill
Huge thanks to the SkyFi team + @BlackSky_Inc, our first imagery provider.
Details: robinhood.com/us/en/newsroom…
Nick retweeted
Today we introduce a new vectorized dataset for mapping fine-scale ecological features, such as hedgerows, that often go undetected by standard satellites. This precision provides a new roadmap for addressing climate & biodiversity challenges without compromising food security. More: goo.gle/4eMWqG0
Nick retweeted
GeoLibre Desktop v0.7.0 is out.
This release adds a big round of data loading, identify, editing, settings, and processing improvements:
- GPX layers from URL or local file, with waypoints, tracks, and routes loaded as separate selectable layers
- Delimited text layers from URL or local file using longitude and latitude fields
- WFS layer support in the Add Data dialog
- WMS GetFeatureInfo identify support
- Inline attribute table editing
- Wider, scrollable attribute tables and identify popups
- Plugin state persistence in project files
- Whitebox toolbox backed by a managed Python sidecar (700+ geoprocessing tools)
GitHub: github.com/opengeos/GeoLibre
Website: geolibre.app
Live demo: geolibre.app/demo
#geospatial #opensource
Nick retweeted
I'm excited to introduce GeoLibre, a lightweight, cloud-native desktop GIS built with MapLibre GL JS and Tauri.
GeoLibre is designed for modern geospatial workflows, combining the flexibility of web technologies with the performance of a native desktop application. The current prototype includes a MapLibre-powered map workspace, local vector data import, project persistence, and built-in plugins for basemaps, layer control, swipe, street view, lidar, GeoAgent, and GeoEditor integrations.
GeoLibre can run directly in a web browser or as a standalone cross-platform desktop application (<30 MB).
GitHub: github.com/opengeos/GeoLibre
Website: geolibre.app
Live demo: geolibre.app/demo
Feedback, ideas, and contributions are welcome.
#GeoLibre #GIS #Geospatial #MapLibre #OpenSource #CloudNative
Huge news!
We have acquired the intelligence and ISR tradecraft experts at Quick Services LLC.
With two decades supporting Special Operations and Intelligence Community missions, they add highly valuable depth and breadth to Geo Owl’s capabilities.
#sofweek #intelligencommunity #govcon
geoowl.com/geoowl-acquires-q…
Nick retweeted
Python can now render a 3D satellite timelapse of any part of the world, draping Sentinel-2 imagery over Copernicus DEM terrain with soft transitions and an orbiting camera. Built with forge3d
Try forge3d 👉github.com/milos-agathon/for…
Nick retweeted
Terrain impacts nearly every project. Luckily, Google Earth’s measure tool just got a major upgrade. Introducing elevation profiles. goo.gle/4elbdIj
Simply draw a line, as you always have, to instantly generate a detailed and interactive elevation profile in the inspector panel. Whether you are tackling complex route and transportation planning, conducting viewshed analysis, or mapping out logistics for heavy machinery, you can now instantly contextualize terrain dips and peaks directly on the map.
Nick retweeted
Bored of boring flat heatmaps?
Introducing Topographical Explorer that turns any country into a real-time tactile landscape
Search any country → watch real elevation data come alive as thousands of satisfying 3D blocks.
Built entirely client-side with:
- React Three Fiber + Three.js
- AWS Terrain Tiles + OpenStreetMap
- Real-time boundary
@threejs @reactthreefiber #DataVisualization #Geospatial #CreativeCoding #BuildInPublic
Nick retweeted
Major updates to OpenGeoPub: opengeopub.com
OpenGeoPub now supports reading books directly online, in addition to downloading them as PDF or EPUB. This makes it much easier to search, browse, and navigate content seamlessly.
The platform is also fully optimized for mobile devices, so you can read your books anytime, anywhere.
#geospatial #opensource
Nick retweeted

Sawyer Merritt@SawyerMerrittApr 29
United States!
United StatesConnected via United States App StoreLocation may be affected by a proxy or VPN.Account-level information, not a live location or per-post device.
This deserves more attention, because it’s a really cool @Starlink use case.
They’re using collars on cattle that connect to Starlink satellites in space, allowing ranchers to create and adjust a “virtual fence” in real time right from their phone in the middle of nowhere. You don't need to be close to a radio tower anymore. Literally no-one has done this before.
Sawyer Merritt@SawyerMerrittApr 28United States!
United StatesConnected via United States App StoreLocation may be affected by a proxy or VPN.Account-level information, not a live location or per-post device.
Halter announced today the launch of direct-to-satellite connectivity using SpaceX's @Starlink for its smart cattle collars, a world-first that removes the need for cell towers or on-ranch infrastructure.
"Using Starlink enables ranchers to manage cattle anywhere they can see the sky. Combined with a suite of new tools for reproduction, animal behavior, and precision pasture management, the release significantly expands what is possible for cattle ranch management.
Beef ranchers in remote and rugged regions that were limited by connectivity can now turn to virtual fencing to run more productive and sustainable operations - at a time when they face rising fuel costs, labor shortages, and an aging workforce pressures."
Halter’s internal modeling estimates direct-to-satellite capability expands coverage of the U.S beef cattle market by 2.5x. Until now, Halter’s solar-powered, GPS-enabled collars relied on Halter’s proprietary long-range radio towers. With direct-to-satellite, the collars can communicate via Starlink, eliminating ground infrastructure entirely.
Nick retweeted
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲.
I've been collaborating with the Fields of the World (FTW) organization for over a year through Taylor Geospatial and it's finally released publicly in cloud storage for anyone to use, at no cost.
🚨Former NGA Chief AI Officer Mark Munsell joins the podcast to discuss the state of A.I. in the national security and intelligence community, don’t miss this one!
#geoint #geoint2026 #natsec
youtu.be/5boowD-Dhxc?si=bfzK…
Nick retweeted
I’m excited to introduce OpenGeoPub (opengeopub.com), a new platform designed for geospatial learning and publishing.
The goal is simple: bring books, video courses, and hands-on lab assignments together in one place, with flexible pricing and lifetime access.
Here’s what you’ll find on OpenGeoPub:
• Self-paced video courses with structured lessons and Markdown notes
• Downloadable books in PDF and EPUB formats
• Bundles that combine books and courses at a reduced price
• Practical lab assignments with instructor feedback
Everything is built with a pay-what-you-want model, so learners can choose what works for them while supporting open geospatial education.
To celebrate the launch, you can get my book bundle at a discounted price:
opengeopub.com/bundles/geopy…
Creators earn 85% royalties. If you’re interested in publishing books or courses on OpenGeoPub, feel free to reach out.
#geospatial #gis #remotesensing #python #opensource
Nick retweeted
The UN estimates there are roughly 4 billion buildings on Earth.
Researchers have just released the first open dataset providing 3D models for 2.75 billion of them at 3m resolution:
Nick retweeted
Education changed my life!
Check out my conversation with Nick Smith on open-source #geospatial and #GeoAI
youtu.be/BdOW8vkBSLA?si=fJcp…
🔴 NOW AVAILABLE
ATTN GEOSPATIAL PEOPLE
This is for you! (or anyone looking to get into geospatial) you NEED to watch this episode.
This is Qiusheng Wu (@giswqs) He is on a mission to proliferate Open Source geospatial tools, technology and education.
We talked about Open Source Geospatial, the state of Geo AI, Geospatial Education, and so much more.
Link in comments!
Nick retweeted
A Chinese firm, MizarVision, posted detailed satellite imagery of U.S. forces in the Middle East while not disclosing its data sources.
@ChinaSelect analysis found @AirbusSpace satellites had multiple daily windows, up to 10 hours, where they could have captured imagery of U.S. troop positions before the Iran conflict. That imagery later appeared online via a China-based AI company.
"These documented facts present a troubling scenario: 1. A Chinese firm with undisclosed satellite sourcing published precise, annotated imagery of U.S. military assets at a specific base. 2. That imagery identified the exact aircraft types that were subsequently destroyed in a precise Iranian strike. 3. A technical analysis suggests Airbus Space satellites were the most plausible sources for that imagery,” concludes Chairman @RepMoolenaar.
chinaselectcommittee.house.g…
Nick retweeted
We are in the era of local AI orchestration
Gemma 4 evaluates a scene, reasons about what to ask, and calls a segmentation model to execute the vision tasks:
🚗 "Segment all vehicles." ➔ 64 found
🚙 "Now just the white ones." ➔ 23 found
All happening offline on a laptop.
Nick retweeted
No one should doubt we have the best troops on planet Earth. Our airman mastered an Iranian mountain, terrain not his, in a land not his, and still came out on top!
WELCOME HOME. 🇺🇸
Nick retweeted
JSOC was created after the failure of Operation Eagle Claw, the rescue mission that took place deep inside Iran. 46 years later, the command got another opportunity with less time to plan and they were successful. Speaks to the evolution of U.S. Special Operations Forces.






















