Remote sensing – The Conversation

Aerial lidar raises ethical questions because it can collect data remotely without the knowledge or consent of Indigenous and descendant populations that are on the ground.

African countries need to urgently develop coherent and strategic policies around water, land and agriculture.

A scientist whose Kangaroo Island home was threatened by the summer’s bushfires says there is a ‘knowledge gap’ between satellite data and useful maps that can protect communities.

Remote sensing satellites provide the crucial data that helps scientists model disasters so that they can work on predicting avalanche patterns in future.

Private satellite companies have boomed in recent years, and many experts have wondered what role they would play in a conflict. They have proved to be invaluable to Ukraine in recent months.

From discovering hidden populations of vulnerable newts to dropping “seed bombs”, two new research papers show how genomics and drones help restore threatened ecosystems.

Geospatial data offers a powerful new way to see the world. But these high-tech images can be misleading or incomplete.

Hundreds of organizations are working around the world to restore damaged coral reefs. New research shows that rapid ocean warming threatens these efforts.

Drones have proven extremely useful for research, collecting detailed data to help monitor hard-to-access areas.

Archaeologists used to dig primarily at sites that were easy to find thanks to obvious visual clues. But technology – and listening to local people – plays a much bigger role now.

Extreme heat waves are putting lives in danger, with some of the hottest urban neighborhoods 10 degrees hotter or more than their wealthier neighbors. Often, these are communities of color.

New research suggests that an effective way to locate and track large concentrations of microplastics in the ocean could be from high in the sky.

For mapping patterns of plant invasion from the sky, understanding plant behaviour on the ground and using it along with remote sensing cameras, is crucial.

Technologies such as remote sensing and artificial intelligence are making it easier to gather more accurate data on biodiversity. Developing these digital tools will help vital ecosystem restoration.

The United States Geological Survey has a vast collection of satellite images capturing breathtaking geological features of our planet. As a geologist, I’ve picked eight of the most fascinating.

Hundreds of US cities have pledged to meet the carbon reduction targets in the Paris climate accord. Now it’s time for them to start showing results.

Batteries that can self-sustain are needed for long-term animal tracking as well as shipping and logistics.

Our data provides a common benchmark unbiased by reporting from companies or governments.

As warming temperatures shift the availability of key food sources, Alberta’s grizzly bears will be forced to adjust.