text: Chapter 3
  Determine Specified, Implied, and Essential Tasks
  3-19. The staff also identifies specified, implied, and essential information collection tasks. Specified tasks
  are directed towards subordinate units, systems, sensors, and Soldiers. Implied tasks determine how a
  system or sensor is initialized for collection. Essential information collection tasks are derived from
  specified and implied tasks. These tasks are the focus of the information collection effort.
  Review Available Assets
  3-20. The staff must review all available collection assets and create an inventory of capabilities to apply
  against collection requirements. Building the inventory of assets and resources begins with annex A of the
  higher headquarters order. The staff takes those assets attached or under operational control of the unit and
  adds those resources available from higher echelons and those belonging to adjacent units that may help.
  The higher headquarters order should specify temporary or permanent operating locations and the air
  tasking order details for aerial assets.
  3-21. While reviewing the available collection assets, the staff evaluates the collection assets according to
  their capability and availability. First, the staff measures the capabilities of the collection assets. They must
  know and address the practical capabilities and limitations of all unit organic assets. Capabilities include—
  * Range.
  * Day and night effectiveness.
  * Technical characteristics.
  * Reporting timeliness.
  * Geolocation accuracy.
  * Durability.
  * Threat activity.
  * Sustainability.
  * Vulnerability.
  * Performance history.
  3-22. Range deals with the collector’s ability to provide target coverage. It is important to consider mission
  range (duration and distance) and the distance of the collection asset from the target. In addition,
  intelligence staffs consider the communications requirements from the asset to the controlling headquarters.
  * What is the asset’s effective range to observe target activity?
  * What is the asset’s ability to move and maneuver including travel and support times?
  * If the best asset is an unmanned aircraft system, what it the range of the aircraft?
  * What is the flight time duration? How far is the preplanned coverage area from the aircraft
  launch locations?
  3-23. Day and night effectiveness is the collector’s ability to collect information in varying degrees of
  light. Some collection sensors are designed for nighttime or limited visibility conditions, while some
  sensors cannot operate at night or with limited visibility.
  * Is the asset capable of conducting collection during the hours of darkness and low visibility?
  * How does thermal crossover affect the asset’s capabilities?
  3-24. Technical characteristics address the capabilities and limitations of the collector’s resources. Urban
  environments degrade some capabilities of collection sensors. Weather effects on sensors must be
  considered. Collectors consider the time factors each asset requires for task performance.
  * Can the sensor see through obscurants?
  * What are the effects of the environment (including such factors as urban or rural terrain and soil
  composition) on the collection asset?
  * Can the sensor continue despite hostile electronic attack?
  * Can the aircraft launch in high winds or limited visibility?
  * Can the prime mover cross restricted terrain?