Join us in recognizing the value of seeing Earth from a new perspective! Earth Observation Day is a celebration of the many ways we study our planet from above. Through satellites, aerial imagery, and other technologies, Earth observation helps us better understand weather, climate, natural resources, and the changing environment. This day highlights the importance of monitoring our world to support science, sustainability, and everyday decision-making. 

Schedule of Speakers: 

1 p.m. – Welcome and introductions 

1:10 – Claudette Sandoval-Green, Research Scientist III, Iowa State University, “Seeing the Gallery Forest for the Savanna Chimpanzee: Remote Sensing for Great Ape Conservation in Kedougou, Senegal” 

This research developed an integrated remote sensing workflow using eCognition classification and ArcGIS Pro MaxEnt habitat modeling to track gallery forest changes in Senegal from 1988-2023 and predict chimpanzee habitat suitability, revealing dramatic forest loss during the gold mining boom and providing conservation managers with a scalable tool that simultaneously monitors ecosystem health and wildlife habitat needs. 

2 p.m. – Colin Betts, Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Anthropology Laboratory, Luther College, “Using Geophysical Remote Sensing to Investigate Iowa’s Archaeological Heritage”  

This presentation discusses recent research projects conducted by Luther College using ground-penetrating radar, soil resistivity, and magnetic gradiometry to investigate archaeological sites in Iowa.  Each of these methods will be briefly summarized along with examples of the ways in which they have provided new insights into Iowa's past cultural heritage.  

2:45 – Brian Gelder, Academic Lead, ISU GIS Facility, "ESRI’s Explorer Tools for Landsat, Sentinel-1, and Sentinel-2 Imagery " 

This will be a demonstration of the Landsat Explorer, Sentinel-1 Explorer, and Sentinel-2 Explorer tools available on the ESRI ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World. These tools make it easy to find and visualize 10-to-30-meter satellite imagery across date ranges, cloud levels, and spectral combinations.