"New NASA probe will study Earth’s forests in 3D"

An artist's conception of the 3D maps of forest architecture that data from GEDI could produce.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

            A laser-based instrument being developed for ISS (International Space Station) which will play a major role in Gathering data Pile on carbon cycle in 3D view of Earth’s Forests.  Called the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) LIDAR, the instrument will be the first to systematically probe the depths of the forests from space.

“As a global leader in research and discovery related to environmental sustainability, the University of Maryland is extraordinarily proud to be a part of this new venture with our partners from NASA,” said University of Maryland Vice President and Chief Research Officer Patrick O'Shea. “GEDI lidar will have a tremendous impact on our ability to monitor forest degradation, adding to the critical data needed to mitigate the effects of climate change.”

Project GEDI is scheduled to be completed by 2018.