Carnegie Airborne Observatory
Carnegie Airborne Observatory is a remote sensing system for macroecological research. Among other things, it enables the cataloging and 3D modeling of tropical rainforests .
The system was developed in the Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology at Stanford University . Technically, the system combines optical, chemical and laser-based sensors to generate high-resolution images and to collect data for three-dimensional maps of the vegetation structure. The system is used on board aircraft during overflights. According to Carnegie, the system has the capacity to examine an area of 40,000 acres of rainforest for its chemical and spectral conditions (light reflections).