NASA | Laser Mapping The Earth

NASA scientist Bryan Blair introduces a laser mapping sensor known as LVIS (the Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor), which is flown by aircraft over target areas to collect data on surface topography and vegetation cover. Bryan also discusses the benefits to mounting LVIS onto high-altitude, long-duration aircraft such as the Global Hawk.

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[TheLostHistoryChannelTKTC]

Fascinating, What an age we live in, I cant help but feel though we will be Laughing about our Tech in 50 Years, Sort of Looking back in Disbelief at how much we have evolved..Great Vid NASA, G

[thelethalmoo]

that 3d view looks awesome, wonder if google with get this level of detail onto google earth at any time.

[dsatt]

Awesome!! Sooo when we send LVIS to space we can say "LVIS has left the planet!" ;)

[RogerinKC]

I suspect you'll being hearing from the Presley estate sometime

[pastorcoreyadams]

Seems like an extension of the Landsat program, but with even finer details. 

[jlwhiteside]

Love it ! Nasa and Google maps! Go 4 it, , please

[brickmack]

What's the advantage of this over a satellite-based system? High resolution mapping like this has been done before from orbit, and ESA is launching a series of satellites to do that right now.

[SleekMouse]

I wonder what effect this will have on environmental research...

[stuartnb]

Is that Adam Savage moonlighting for NASA?

[CHAS]

Just another genius behind the scenes at NASA. Our tax dollars well spent. I hope Brian is a millionaire, he's worth far more than most I can think of, but that probably wouldn't matter to him. 

Thanks Brian and all those at NASA who are like him.

[lordcrobar]

Maybe now we can get accurate data on the polar ice caps and how it relates to climate change. Time to put the "end of times" prophets to bed.