Aerial Lidar and Imaging | GEO1

Notable Work

"The Wall": US-Mexico Border Study

In collaboration with: USA TODAY
Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Journalism

Screen Shot 2022-07-25 at 5.38.32 PM.png

GEO1 acquired video and lidar of the entire US/Mexico border in a Pulitzer Prize winning endeavor for USA Today. The result was a ground-breaking, comprehensive report of the border that outlined its challenges and complexities through virtual reality and journalistic storytelling.

Vancouver International Airport Digital Twin

In collaboration with: Vancouver Airport, Geosim Cities

World's most advanced digital twin | Excellence in Industry Innovation at 2022 Technology Impact Awards

Screen Shot 2022-11-07 at 1.44.02 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-11-07 at 1.43.48 PM.png

GEO1 was tasked with acquiring all the data needed to develop the Digital Twin for YVR. Like many of our projects, the data acquisition at YVR was a great example of our team’s ability to overcome challenging environments and planning restrictions. The project was initiated at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and our operator quarantined for 14 days in Vancouver before rigging and acquisition could begin. The team also worked closely with air traffic control to plan acquisition around arrivals and departures at Canada’s second biggest airport.

Our partner GeoSim, stitched all the data together to produce the final model. The resulting 3D model is incredibly precise, fully navigable and interactive. GeoSim also works with partners like Unity to maximize the value of their models.

Muir Woods

In collaboration with: The Earth Archive
2021 MAPPS Geospatial Excellence Award for Small Projects | Member’s Choice Award

In collaboration with The Earth Archive, GEO1 acquired lidar and imagery to produce a permanent, open-sourced, digital archive of Muir Woods National Monument. A publicly accessible digital twin provides research opportunities for a wide-range of scientists contributing to a fuller understanding of global earth system change.

La Mojana

In collaboration with: CARS and The Earth Archive
2020 MAPPS Geospatial Excellence Award for Small Projects

GEO1 acquired lidar and nadir imagery of La Mojana, a remote floodplain in Colombia, to supplement archaeological studies in the area. The data revealed locations and patterns of pre-Columbian settlements, including society and agriculture, and was monumental in advancing research on local indigenous communities.

Ciudad Perdida

In collaboration with: National Geographic
Lidar acquisition and findings featured in television series Lost Cities with Albert Lin

The GEO1 team worked closely with National Geographic explorer Albert Lin to acquire lidar data in Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta—an isolated and difficult-to-access coastal mountain range. The data revealed man-made plateaus along the mountainside, leading to the discovery of six new locations of ancient settlements and dramatically changing previous theories of indigenous influence in the region.

Mt. Everest

In collaboration with: National Geographic
Lidar acquisition used to produce the most comprehensive map ever of Mt. Everest

In 2019, GEO1 worked with National Geographic geographer Alex Tait to create a complete virtual reconstruction of the Everest Base Camp, the surrounding Khumbu Glacier, and the adjacent mountain walls. GEO1 acquired aerial lidar and imagery of the mountain which, combined with terrestrial lidar and imagery, was used to produce the highest-resolution model of the glacier and mountain. Modeling Mt. Everest will provide unprecedented insight into the impacts of climate change on the glacier.

Mt. Kilauea

In collaboration with: NV5 and USGS
2022 MAPPS Geospatial Excellence Award for Data Acquisition and Processing // Member’s Choice Award

GEO1 captured high-resolution lidar and imagery over Hawaii’s Mt. Kilauea during the eruptions in 2018 and 2019. The data revealed groundbreaking changes, including land shifting several meters and a growing underwater lake. The high-profile project brought attention to the value of remote sensing in natural disaster response and monitoring and has become the model for the use of geospatial technology to study active volcanos and improve public safety.