Professor Ralph Dubayah Talks Forest Mapping and Persistence on LIDAR Magazine Podcast

From early inspiration to commercial lidar’s future, Dubayah discusses the science, challenges and legacy of GEDI.

In a recent episode of the LIDAR Magazine Podcast, Professor Ralph Dubayah at the Department of Geographical Sciences reflects on the 20-year journey behind NASA’s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission on the International Space Station mapping forest structure.

Dubayah shares how repeated mission setbacks shaped his path as Principal Investigator, leading to the successful launch of GEDI in 2018. He recounts earlier proposals that were canceled or passed over and describes the moment GEDI was finally selected as one of both joy and relief.

He also dives into the science behind the mission, from firing over 20 billion laser pulses to surviving a yearlong hibernation in space. With GEDI now extended through 2026, Dubayah looks ahead to future possibilities in space-based lidar, including commercial constellations and next-generation mapping missions.

Hosted by Austin Madson, the LIDAR Magazine Podcast explores innovation in remote sensing, mapping and geospatial science. Dubayah’s full interview is available at lidarmag.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the Interview

Published on Wed, 05/28/2025 - 11:50