The Titan airborne topographic laser system takes spatial and spectral data at three wavelengths at once, mapping threats from climate change and ecological disasters in regions with complex terrain.
mapping
Posted inResearch Spotlights
A New View of the Plate Dynamics Behind Earthquakes in Ecuador
Scientists get one step closer to an updated seismic hazard map that could help Ecuador prepare for future tremors.
Posted inNews
Space Telescope Findings Suggest Molten Planetary Surface
Researchers studying the super-Earth 55 Cancri e spotted some puzzling features that provide a new vision of the orb's surface.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Antarctica Gets a New Gravity Map
A comprehensive collection of variation in Earth's gravity could aid studies of the Antarctic geoid and of Antarctica's geology and ice sheet dynamics.
Posted inScience Updates
Teaching the Integration of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences
Atmospheric scientists spent a decade incorporating geographic information systems into their research and operations. Now it is time to incorporate GIS into atmospheric science education.
Posted inNews
USGS Budget Plan to Advance Earth Observations, Hazards Measures
The request for across-the-board increases in fiscal year 2017 also seeks to improve water monitoring and terrain mapping, downsize infrastructure, and grow operations in support of scientific work.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Tracking Radioactive Cesium Released During Fukushima Disaster
Scientists probe the Pacific to determine how far the damage from one of the largest nuclear meltdowns in history extends.
Posted inScience Updates
Visualizing Cross-Sectional Data in a Real-World Context
Combining the capabilities of an open-source drawing tool with Google Earth maps allows researchers to visualize real-world cross-sectional data in three dimensions.
Posted inScience Updates
Sounding the Northern Seas
A new compilation of underwater terrain provides the most up-to-date mapping of portions of the western Arctic and North Pacific.
Posted inNews
Autonomous Undersea Technologies to Vie for New XPRIZE
The competition aims at improved health and understanding of Earth's oceans by spurring teams to devise better robotic technologies for seafloor mapping and exploration.