About GERS Lab
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
The Global Environmental Remote Sensing (GERS) Lab at the University of Connecticut was founded to advance our understanding of the dynamic changes occurring on Earth. Spearheaded by Professor Zhe Zhu, whose vision and dedication have been instrumental to the lab's establishment and growth, GERS has become a hub of innovation and discovery.UConn students play a vital role in the lab’s research, contributing to cutting-edge projects that utilize remote sensing technologies to monitor and analyze environmental changes. Beyond the campus, the lab has partnered with EnvironScience4Kids to inspire curiosity and engagement among teachers and students. This collaboration brings the lab’s groundbreaking work to classrooms, fostering a new generation’s interest in environmental science and global change.
Our Story
Viewing Earth from space is a truly awe-inspiring experience. By day, the greens and browns of continents blend seamlessly with the vast, deep blue oceans, all veiled by delicate, curling clouds. By night, the planet transforms into a glittering tapestry of golden lights—each one a testament to human presence and activity.
These stunning images are more than just visually captivating; they serve as powerful tools for research, helping us understand how our planet is changing. From space, we can capture the "big picture" that ground-level perspectives often miss. This perspective is central to the mission of the Global Environmental Remote Sensing (GERS) Laboratory, where we explore the dynamic changes shaping Earth’s systems through quantitative remote sensing.
At GERS, we leverage cutting-edge technology to monitor environmental change at regional and global scales. Using tools like drones, small satellites, Landsat, Sentinel-2, MODIS, VIIRS, LIDAR, and radar, we study shifts in land use, vegetation, water dynamics, urban growth, and agricultural practices. These technologies give us insights into four decades of transformation, revealing patterns and processes critical to understanding Earth's future.
The images displayed here tell part of this story. In the top row, Landsat imagery forms the letters "GERS," symbolizing our commitment to global environmental research. The animated GIFs in the lower row bring this story to life, showing time-series data highlighting changes in land-water interactions, forest cover, urban development, and farming practices over the last 40 years. Together, these visuals capture the essence of GERS: combining science, technology, and a global perspective to understand and address the challenges of a changing planet.
