GEOINT workflow

Narrow candidate regions from a photo.

Notes fixed clues in a photo to narrow possible regions; does not claim an exact address and keeps confidence visible.

Passive and safe research workflow

What this page helps you do

This page does not try to find an exact address from a photo. It helps you note fixed clues (mountain skyline, roads, signs, vegetation, shadows), narrow possible regions, and write the result with a careful confidence level.

When to use this

You have a photo or video frame with a location claim but you are not sure yet. Use this flow for news images, rural scenes, mountain terrain, or visible fixed clues like signs.

Rural photos, terrain clues, news images, and visual geolocation practice.

PhotoVideo frameClaimed locationVisible clues

Do not overclaim

Similar appearance alone is not proof. Read the boundaries below and keep uncertainty visible in your report.

This workflow is not for exploitation, probing, or unauthorized scanning. It reads public records, records dates and uncertainty, and avoids turning signals into final claims.

Do not treat one visual similarity as proof of exact location.
Do not expose private homes, vulnerable people, or live location detail.
Do not expand sensitive facility or operational detail unnecessarily.
Do not turn people in the image into targets.

Step by step

Work in order and take notes at each step.

List fixed clues in the image
What to look at
Mountain skyline, valley, road, coastline, sign, building type, vegetation, shadow direction, and weather.
What to write down
Write each clue on its own line: what you see, fixed or temporary, and how sure you are.
Mistake to avoid
Fixating on one detail and reading the whole photo through that single clue.
Are fixed clues, temporary details, and guesses kept separate?
Create broad candidate regions
What to look at
Whether climate, terrain, language, architecture, and vegetation fit the photo.
What to write down
Two to five possible regions, with a short note on which clues support each.
Mistake to avoid
Writing the first place that comes to mind as the only option.
Do you have a short comparable list, not one guess?
Try 3D terrain and mountain silhouette
What to look at
Skyline, valley direction, and viewing angle in Google Earth or PeakVisor.
What to write down
Which candidate fits better, which was ruled out, and why.
Mistake to avoid
Confirming a place because the silhouette looks similar.
Is the 3D match used as one supporting signal, not final proof?
Cross-check maps and imagery
What to look at
The same fixed clues in OpenStreetMap, Mapillary, satellite imagery, or archives.
What to write down
Source name, date, and what you found; supporting and conflicting points.
Mistake to avoid
Reaching a conclusion from one source alone.
Do at least two independent sources support the same candidate?
Check time context
What to look at
Shadow direction with SunCalc, season, snow line, weather, and image date.
What to write down
Whether the date claim fits, is unclear, or conflicts.
Mistake to avoid
Skipping image date and focusing only on place.
Do the place and date claims conflict with the visible clues?
Report with a confidence level
What to look at
All your notes: supporting clues, ruled-out candidates, open questions.
What to write down
One of verified, strong possibility, possible, unverified, or refuted, with a short reason.
Mistake to avoid
Writing an uncertain result as a definite sentence.
Do supporting evidence, conflicts, and limits appear in the report?

Short glossary

Fixed clue: Something in the photo that does not change easily: skyline, road layout, building type, sign.
Candidate region: A possible area still being tested. Keep more than one candidate.
3D terrain: Elevation and viewing-angle models in tools like Google Earth, used for silhouette comparison.
Confidence level: A label for how sure you are: verified, possible, unverified, and similar.
GEOINT: Geospatial intelligence from imagery. Here it means comparing maps and photos, not a magic locator.

Before you report

Fixed clues are written on separate lines
At least two candidate regions are listed
3D or map comparison was done
A second independent source was used
Confidence level and reason are included
Sensitive location detail is reduced when needed

What you should have

Candidate region list, eliminated options, supporting clues, limits, and confidence.

Real tools to open

Report language

The photo supports a candidate area only when several fixed clues align; exact location should not be overstated.

Move to evidence notes

Sources

Start with these sources.

Open resource archive

Bellingcat Online Investigation Toolkit
Verification and fact-checking
Use to separate claim, source, evidence, and interpretation.
Open source
Copernicus Browser
Satellite imagery
Use to compare terrain, infrastructure, and changes over time.
Open source
Google Earth
Location and map verification
Use to compare visible clues with maps, terrain, sun position, and street-level imagery.
Open source
Google Earth Engine Data Catalog
Satellite imagery
Use to compare terrain, infrastructure, and changes over time.
Open source
Google Fact Check Explorer
Verification and fact-checking
Use to separate claim, source, evidence, and interpretation.
Open source
Google Maps
Location and map verification
Use to compare visible clues with maps, terrain, sun position, and street-level imagery.
Open source

Narrow candidate regions from a photo.

Work in order and take notes at each step.

List fixed clues in the image

Create broad candidate regions

Try 3D terrain and mountain silhouette

Cross-check maps and imagery

Check time context

Report with a confidence level

Start with these sources.