This is a list of intelligence gathering disciplines.

HUMINT

Human intelligence (HUMINT) are gathered from a person in the location in question. Sources can include the following: * Advisors or foreign internal defense (FID) personnel working with host nation (HN) forces or populations * Diplomatic reporting by accredited diplomats (e.g. military attachés) *

Espionage Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information ( intelligence) from non-disclosed sources or divulging of the same without the permission of the holder of the information for a tang ...

clandestine reporting, access agents, couriers, cutouts *

Military attaché A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission, often an embassy. This type of attaché post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer, who retains a commission while serving with an embassy. Oppo ...

s *

Non-governmental organization A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see American and British English spelling differences#-ise, -ize (-isation, -ization), spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from g ...

s (NGOs) *

Prisoners of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held Captivity, captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold priso ...

Prisoners of war (POWs) or detainees *

Refugee A refugee, conventionally speaking, is a displaced person who has crossed national borders and who cannot or is unwilling to return home due to well-founded fear of persecution.

s * Routine patrolling (

military police Military police (MP) are law enforcement agencies connected with, or part of, the military of a state. In wartime operations, the military police may support the main fighting force with force protection, convoy security, Screening (tactical), ...

, patrols, etc.) *

Special reconnaissance Special reconnaissance (SR) or Recon Team is conducted by small units of highly trained military personnel, usually from special forces units or military intelligence organizations, who operate behind enemy lines, avoiding direct combat and detect ...

* Traveler debriefing (e.g. CIA Domestic Contact Service) MI6 is often thought to use human intelligence to operate in different countries or Britain itself to protect the country from global affairs. However, this is usually confused with their brother agency MI5, which focuses on the security of Britain.

GEOINT

Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) are gathered from satellite and aerial photography, or mapping/terrain data. * Imagery intelligence (IMINT) – gathered from satellite and aerial photography

MASINT

Measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) are gathered from an array of signatures (distinctive characteristics) of fixed or dynamic target sources. According to the Air Force Institute of Technology's Center for MASINT Studies and Research, MASINT is split into six major disciplines: electro-optical, nuclear, radar, geophysical, materials, and radiofrequency. # Electro-optical MASINT #* Airborne electro-optical missile tracking MASINT #* Tactical counter-artillery sensors #* Infrared MASINT #* Optical measurement of nuclear explosions #* LASER MASINT #* Spectroscopic MASINT #* Hyperspectral MASINT #* Space-based staring infrared sensors # Nuclear MASINT #* Radiation survey and dosimetry #* Space-based nuclear energy detection #* Effects of ionizing radiation on materials # Geophysical MASINT #* Weather and sea intelligence MASINT #* Acoustic MASINT, also known as acoustical intelligence (ACOUSTINT or ACINT) #* Seismic MASINT #* Magnetic MASINT #* Gravitimetric MASINT # Radar MASINT #* Line-of-sight radar MASINT #* Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) MASINT #* Non-cooperative target recognition #* Multistatic radar MASINT #* Passive covert radar # Materials MASINT #* Chemical materials MASINT #* Biological materials MASINT #* Nuclear test analysis # Radiofrequency MASINT #* Frequency domain MASINT #* Electromagnetic pulse MASINT #* Unintentional radiation MASINT

OSINT

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) are gathered from open sources. OSINT can be further segmented by the source type: Internet/General, Scientific/Technical, and various HUMINT specialties, e.g. trade shows, association meetings, and interviews.

SIGINT

Signals intelligence (SIGINT) are gathered from interception of signals. * Communications intelligence (COMINT) * Electronic intelligence (ELINT) – gathered from electronic signals that do not contain speech or text (which are considered COMINT) ** Foreign instrumentation signals intelligence (FISINT) – entails the collection and analysis of telemetry data from a missile or sometimes from aircraft tests; formerly known as telemetry intelligence or TELINT

TECHINT

Technical intelligence (TECHINT) are gathered from analysis of weapons and equipment used by the armed forces of foreign nations, or environmental conditions. * Medical intelligence (MEDINT) – gathered from analysis of medical records and/or actual physiological examinations to determine health and/or particular ailments and allergic conditions for consideration

CYBINT/DNINT

Cyber or digital network intelligence (CYBINT or DNINT) are gathered from

cyberspace Cyberspace is a concept describing a widespread interconnected digital technology. "The expression dates back from the first decade of the diffusion of the internet. It refers to the online world as a world 'apart', as distinct from everyday re ...

. CYBINT can be considered as a subset of OSINT.

FININT

Financial intelligence (FININT) are gathered from analysis of monetary transactions.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Intelligence gathering disciplines Open-source intelligence Government-related lists