Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance is the process of gathering information about a target or area through observation, measurement, or detection, typically to inform planning and decision making. The term originates from reconnoiter, meaning to inspect or survey in advance. Reconnaissance can occur in military, civilian, scientific, or cyber contexts and may involve direct observation, remote sensing, or data analysis without triggering a direct engagement with the target.

In military use, reconnaissance seeks to identify terrain, infrastructure, resources, and the disposition and capabilities of potential adversaries. It supports maneuver, targeting, logistics, and protection. Common forms include ground reconnaissance, aerial reconnaissance (including drones and aircraft), naval reconnaissance, and space-based reconnaissance using satellites. Information types include imagery (IMINT), signals and electronic intelligence (SIGINT), and measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT), along with human intelligence (HUMINT) gathered by reconnaissance teams or informants.

In civilian and scientific fields, reconnaissance informs mapping, natural resource assessment, disaster response, environmental monitoring, archaeological surveys, and search and rescue. In cyberspace, reconnaissance involves mapping networks, identifying exposed services, versions, and defenses in preparation for intrusion or defense; it may be conducted openly (open-source intelligence, or OSINT) or covertly (cyber reconnaissance).

Process and ethics: reconnaissance typically follows planning, collection, processing and exploitation, analysis, and dissemination. It can be passive or active and may require permissions or legal authorization, particularly in civilian contexts. The use of reconnaissance is governed by laws, treaties, and rules of engagement in military operations, and by privacy and security considerations in civilian settings.