Two RIT Students on Path to Improving National Security

The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation has awarded scholarships to a pair of Rochester Institute of Technology students. James Albano and Philip Salvaggio will both receive $5,000 towards their education based on academic and professional excellence in a field related to the geospatial intelligence tradecraft.

Geospatial intelligence is used to exploit and analyze satellite imagery and mapping data to reference activities on Earth. This intelligence has the potential to help in matters of national security with the correct applications.

Albano, a 2002 Fairport High School graduate, is a student in the imaging science doctoral program. His current research is in the area of target detection algorithms and modeling.

Salvaggio is a first-year student pursuing a double major in computer science and imaging science. In the past year, he has developed geospatial applications to distribute ground truth data and redesigned the Web site and databases at the Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory in RIT’s Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science. Salvaggio graduated in June from Webster Thomas High School.

The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation awarded 13 students with scholarships this year, totaling $56,000. This is the first year RIT students have received scholarships since the program started in 2004.

The foundation is a not-for-profit educational corporation dedicated to promoting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft. Its focus is on the development and application of geospatial intelligence to address national security objectives.

For more information on the foundation, visit www.usgif.org