Legal Definitions - NIMA

NIMA stands for the National Imaging and Mapping Agency.

This was a former United States government intelligence agency, established in 1996, responsible for providing geospatial intelligence, imagery, and mapping products and services to support national security. NIMA's functions included collecting, analyzing, and distributing satellite imagery, maps, and other geographic information to various U.S. government entities, particularly the Department of Defense and the intelligence community. In 2003, NIMA was superseded by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), which continues its mission.

• Example 1: During the late 1990s, military strategists preparing for operations in the Balkans relied heavily on detailed topographical maps and high-resolution satellite imagery provided by NIMA to plan troop movements and identify key strategic locations.

  Explanation: This example illustrates NIMA's core function of supplying critical geospatial intelligence to the U.S. military for operational planning and execution.

• Example 2: An intelligence analyst working for the State Department in the early 2000s would frequently access NIMA databases to obtain high-resolution satellite photographs of foreign infrastructure, which were crucial for assessing potential security threats or monitoring international agreements.

  Explanation: This demonstrates NIMA's role in providing imagery and data to other government agencies for intelligence analysis, policy-making, and diplomatic efforts.

• Example 3: Before its transition, NIMA was instrumental in developing advanced digital mapping technologies that allowed for the creation of interactive 3D terrain models, significantly improving situational awareness for both military and civilian government users.

  Explanation: This highlights NIMA's contribution to technological innovation in the field of geospatial intelligence, a legacy that was carried on by its successor agency.