If there's a utility break in a line on a road, it is very typical to have a crew of 2 or 3 men come in and dig it up, with ancillary surveying/measuring equipment, pipes, etc. near the site. Believe it or not, I have seen this with my own eyes. Of course over here they use power equipment too, but in Iraq that is probably not so available, it would more likely be done manually.
It would be possible to mistake this actvity for an IED crew. And, as others have helpfully pointed out, the predator has the ability to make that distinction. You my friend, do not.
I don't think you've been reading what I have told you in my previous posts. The optics on the predator are more than capable enough to allow the ground controllers to evaluate what is going on, with detail accuracy to discern survey equipment, etc. from other non constructional materials. They watched the activity for 30 minutes. That activity was not that which would be related to regular maintenance work. Thus I have said that the predator has the ability to allow the ground controllers to distinguish that activity. And yes, I know in Montana they sometimes still dig by hand, but the trained observers controlling the aircraft know the difference between a hole a couple of feet deep and one that is deeper to access utilities.