Twenty Years

Discovery.
Conservation.
Action.

For twenty years, the Global Airborne Observatory has pioneered airborne imaging technology that reveals what no satellite can see—the chemistry of life in 3-D. From coral reefs to rainforest canopies, our maps drive conservation decisions at the speed ecosystems require.

See the Historical Timeline→

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20

Breakthroughs

The Discoveries That Changed Conservation

Oceania/Pacific

From Mapping to Restoration

Identified coral refugia along the West Hawaiʻi coast — areas that survived the 2015 marine heat wave intact — at one-meter resolution.

What the Savanna Was Hiding

Male lions hunt aggressively in dense vegetation — not lazy as assumed. Elephant habitat destruction was caused by overconcentration, not overpopulation.

The Forest That Wasn't on the Map

Discovered an entirely undocumented forest type with unique species assemblages found nowhere else in Peru.

The Science of SpectrAnomics

We see the chemistry of life itself

The chemicals in leaves and coral do four things: vibrate, bend, stretch, and rotate. These molecular harmonics create unique spectral signatures across the visible and invisible spectrum. Where satellites see green, we see species. Where others see reef, we see living corals.

Explore Spectranomics →

Colored satellite or aerial view of a coastal area showing land, water, and coral reef formations.

Topographic 3D map of mountainous terrain with red and blue forested areas on white ground.

Colorful false-color aerial image of dense forest and water bodies in varied bright hues.

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Explore

Go Deeper

Meet the people, the science, and the global reach behind two decades of airborne discovery.

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The People of GAO

The scientists, engineers, and collaborators who built GAO from the ground up — and continue to push the boundaries of what airborne science can do.

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The Observatory

The discoveries, the datasets, and the moments that changed how the world understands ecosystems from the air.

Aerial view of a coastal marina with turquoise shallow waters and deep blue ocean.

The Global Reach

From the Amazon to the Arctic, from Hawaiian reefs to African savannas — every place GAO has flown, mapped, and measured over two decades.