In the wake of natural disasters, being able to quickly and accurately assess the damage to roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure can save lives. That fact is one of the driving forces for a University of New Mexico research team making big strides in the field of remote sensing.
When fires break out, it’s not always flames that do the only damage – sometimes the scorched earth can cause even more destruction in the form of landslides. That’s why Chris Lippitt, assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at The University of New Mexico, is working on a project that would give emergency management crews state-of-the-art imaging technology to mitigate potential slides before they happen.