NASA announced on Apr. 9 that it is collaborating with the University of California Los Angeles and other institutions on the Earth Dynamics Geodetic Explorer, or EDGE, a satellite project set to launch in 2030. The mission aims to map Earth’s topography, vegetation, ice, and coastal regions in unprecedented three-dimensional detail.
The EDGE project is significant because it will provide scientists with new tools to track environmental changes such as melting ice caps and carbon absorption by forests. Chris Hakkenberg from UCLA’s Department of Geography will co-lead global biodiversity and habitat mapping efforts for forests and may also lead wildfire fuel research if approved.
EDGE will use advanced laser technology known as lidar to generate detailed images of ground elevation, forest structure, and even buildings. Hakkenberg said, “EDGE uses laser, or lidar, technology — like that used by Waymo cars to construct a 3D picture of their environment — to measure forests and ice sheets from space at a never-before-seen frequency and resolution. Our goal is to provide gold-standard data, so scientists, managers and policy-makers around the world have the data to support their on-the-ground work and decisions.”
The satellite’s five laser beams can distinguish different layers within forest canopies down to one-meter vertical increments. This allows researchers not only to estimate plant volume but also identify habitats for endangered species based on vegetation structure profiles. “By mapping the full distribution of flammable materials…with every satellite pass we can update fire risk maps across large areas,” Hakkenberg said.
Current satellites offer much lower resolution compared with what EDGE promises; airborne lidar flights are expensive and limited in scope while NASA’s existing Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation does not deliver continuous or globally comprehensive data at this precision level. As part of its role in biodiversity research, UCLA researchers have already applied similar methods for mapping threatened mammal habitats in Borneo.
According to the official website, UCLA has been associated with Nobel laureates and MacArthur Fellows as well as achievements across scholarship, arts, athletics; it operates within the University of California system on a 419-acre campus supporting academic excellence; it fosters diverse perspectives through its programs; these factors contribute both national and international acclaim.
Nicky Fox from NASA Headquarters said: “NASA uses the unique vantage point of space to study our home planet to deliver life-saving data into the hands of disaster response and decision-makers every day for the benefit of all…” The broader implications include improved weather forecasting capabilities and better understanding Earth’s changing ecosystems.