Contact

Start a project, request equipment, or arrange a scoping call. We respond within a few business days.

What to include in your message

You don't need every answer up front — anything you can share helps us scope faster. Include what you have; we'll work out the rest together.

  • Project goal in 1–3 sentences
  • What you have to start with — existing data, model weights, source 3D content, or nothing yet
  • What you need delivered — orthomosaic, classified point cloud, AI predictions, XR experience, processed dataset, methods write-up, etc.
  • Target dates and any hard deadlines
  • Affiliation and funding source — WashU department, partner organization, grant

How we work

Most projects move through three steps. We reply within a few business days, schedule a short scoping conversation to understand your goal, then send a written proposal with deliverables, timeline, and cost. Once agreed, we execute and deliver against scope. Initial scoping conversations are free.

The lab is open to WashU faculty, staff, students, and postdocs (recharge billing), and to external academic and industry collaborators (fee-for-service or sponsored research). The lab operates as a recharge facility under a published User Agreement; rates are scope-dependent and quoted per project.

For an overview of services and equipment, see Services. For data and our STAC catalog, see Data.

Send a Message

We typically reply within a few business days.

Bill Winston

Geospatial Technology Specialist

First point of contact for project inquiries, equipment, and field-work coordination.

billwinston@wustl.edu

Alex Bradley

Director, Fossett Laboratory

Collaborations, methodology consultation, and partnerships.

Lab Address

Fossett Laboratory for Virtual Planetary Exploration
Rudolph Hall
Washington University in St. Louis
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130

Earth, Environmental & Planetary Sciences (EEPS) →

Frequently asked questions

Who can use the lab?
Faculty, staff, students, and postdocs at Washington University in St. Louis, plus external academic and industry collaborators. Students typically engage through their faculty advisor's account.
How is pricing structured?
The lab operates as a recharge facility under a published User Agreement. Internal (WashU) and external rates differ; both are scope-dependent. We do not publish rate tables in advance — we provide written estimates after a scoping conversation. Initial scoping conversations are free.
How far in advance should I plan?
For field campaigns: typically 2–8 weeks, longer for international travel or specialized permits. For data processing of existing data: typically 1–3 weeks depending on scope and queue. Urgent requests are sometimes possible — ask.
Can the lab support work outside St. Louis?
Yes. We have supported field campaigns across the USA and internationally, including Indonesia, Madagascar, and Central Asia. International travel adds lead time and typically requires partner-organization coordination.
Do I have to use the lab to process my own data?
No. You can rent equipment, take training, and run your own pipeline. The lab also offers standalone data processing services if you have already collected data and want photogrammetric reconstruction, point cloud classification, or AI-based analysis.
What data formats do you deliver?
Cloud-native by default — Cloud-Optimized GeoTIFF (COG), Cloud-Optimized Point Cloud (COPC), GeoPackage. Standard formats (GeoTIFF, LAS/LAZ, shapefile) on request. Custom formats negotiable.
Can my dataset be added to the public Fossett Lab catalog?
Often, yes. Datasets that aren't bound by an embargo or partner restriction can be published in our STAC catalog under a Creative Commons license, with attribution to you. Discuss this during scoping.
Do you provide training on equipment use?
Yes. Training is available for all lab equipment. Contact Bill Winston to arrange a session.
What AI and machine learning methods does the lab use?
Concrete models in regular use: lidar tree-instance segmentation (TreeLearn, SegmentAnyTree, ForAINet, FSCT), aerial / drone imagery analysis (DeepForest, SAM 2 + samgeo), remote-sensing foundation backbones (Clay, Prithvi-EO, Satlas, RemoteCLIP), and a few specialty models for thermal-video animal detection, seismic phase picking, hydrology, and powder XRD. See /services#analysis for the full list.