1. An apparatus for determining transportation routes using a geographical information systems (GIS) database that represents a geographical area, wherein the GIS database includes at least one node representing at least one geographical location within the geographic area and at least one arc representing at least one street within the geographic area, comprising: at least one airborne surveillance platform; a computer system having a memory and a data storage device coupled thereto, the computer system receiving information from the airborne surveillance platform; one or more programs, performed by the computer, for: converting the information received from the airborne surveillance platform into a format acceptable to the data storage device; and determining a transportation route for at least one vehicle within the geographical area using the information from the airborne surveillance platform.