Example projects

Professor Mat Williams

The Ecometrica water footprint application offers commercial clients an easy and intuitive solution to calculate their water footprint, by integrating readily available open satellite data and a process model. This business-led innovation is a collaboration between Ecometrica and the University of Edinburgh, funded by The Data Lab.

• Mapping the water footprint of your crops with Ecometrica

Professor Ruth Doherty

Researchers at the University’s School of GeoSciences have been awarded funding to create a network to help tackle air pollution.  The network will strengthen evidence to optimise the health and equity impacts of changes in air pollution at the indoor/outdoor interface as we transition to a low carbon future.

• Network to help tackle air pollution​​​​​​

Dr Casey Ryan

The World Bank’s new Satellite Monitoring for Forest Management (SMFM) project will develop satellite Earth Observation methods and global knowledge to address challenges related to monitoring tropical dry forest ecosystems and forest degradation assessment. 

• Satellite monitoring for forest management

Professor Ed Mitchard

Laser-carrying drones that can see through the forest canopy are being used to protect native Scottish plants threatened by invasive species.  Led by Edinburgh-based company Ecometric and partnered with the Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Orienteering, Woodland Trust and Edinburgh University.

• Laser drones protect Scottish forests

Professor Simon Mudd

The FORESEE project is working to provide short and long term resilience schemes for rail and road corridors and logistics terminals that are able to reduce the magnitude and/or duration of disruptive events produced by humans or the nature.

• FORSEE project

Professor Iain Woodhouse

The collaboration with UNEP – which also involves Google – is led by academics from the University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences and start-up company Earth Blox, which was founded by University staff and alumni.  The collaboration is working to develop an early warning system to spot where climate change could impact areas already affected by conflict or natural disasters. The tool – known as the Environmental and Climate Stress Index (ECSI) – will use satellite data and cloud computing to provide a fast, accurate way of identifying environmental and climate hotspots.  It will be available to more than 130 countries through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

• Environmental and Climate Stress Index (ECSI)

Professor Mat Williams

Trade in Space Fuse satellite generated data into contracts for supply of agricultural goods.

• Satellite-brokered, end-to-end coffee trade… is this a world first?

You can also find out more about our work in space and satellite technology and the energy sector under 'impact, innovation and engagement' on our website.

Transforming the energy sector

We are leading the future development of technologies that will decarbonise the energy supply industry and enable the responsible management of our natural resources.

Transforming the energy sector

Space and satellite technology

Our innovative research in satellite observation and data modelling is making a difference from helping local environments and economies to informing national and international policies. We are monitoring environmental impacts, extreme weather and tackling climate change.

Space and satellite technology