reconnaissance

n. act of reconnoitering, gathering information in enemy territory; survey, collection of data

Reconnaissance, sometimes referred to as scouting, is the act of exploring (especially military or medical) to gain information. Often referred to as recce (UK, Canada and Australia, pronounced ) or recon (U.S.), the associated formal verb is reconnoitre (British spelling) or reconnoiter (American spelling). In informal English, both recce and recon are often also used as a verb.
See more at Wikipedia.org...

Noun
1. the act of reconnoitring (especially to gain information about an enemy or potential enemy); "an exchange of fire occurred on a reconnaissance mission"
(synonym) reconnaissance mission
(hypernym) intelligence, intelligence activity, intelligence operation
(hyponym) recce, recco, reccy
(derivation) scout, reconnoiter, reconnoitre

n. gratitude, gratefulness, thankfulness; reconnaissance, acknowledgement, recognition

(n.)
The act of reconnoitering; preliminary examination or survey.
  

(n.)
An examination or survey of a region in reference to its general geological character.
  

(n.)
An examination of a territory, or of an enemy's position, for the purpose of obtaining information necessary for directing military operations; a preparatory expedition.
  

(n.)
An examination of a region as to its general natural features, preparatory to a more particular survey for the purposes of triangulation, or of determining the location of a public work.