What We Do
Field-science services across the research lifecycle — available on their own or end to end.
The Fossett Lab works to accelerate discovery in the field sciences. We take on the technical work around observation — field surveys, data processing, analysis, and open publishing — so research groups can stay focused on their questions instead of the tools behind them.
From the field to discovery
Every dataset is handled the same way — automated, versioned, and repeatable.
The pipeline climbs from field data through cloud storage, automated processing, AI analysis, and visualization to research products and, finally, discovery.
- Field Data
- Cloud Storage
- Automated Processing
- AI Analysis
- Visualization
- Research Products
- Discovery
- Field Data
- Cloud Storage
- Automated Processing
- AI Analysis
- Visualization
- Research Products
- Discovery
The research lifecycle
Four stages, each available on its own or as part of an end-to-end project.
01
Collect
Drone surveys, terrestrial laser scanning, GNSS, total stations, and ground-penetrating radar — run end-to-end by lab staff, or by collaborators we train.
Explore Collect →02
Process
Raw field data become research-ready products — photogrammetric reconstruction, orthomosaics, and point clouds — through reproducible, automated pipelines.
Explore Process →03
Analyze
Deep-learning segmentation and classification, GIS workflows, and statistical analysis, delivered as version-controlled code with methods documentation.
Explore Analyze →04
Share
Publication figures, interactive 3D viewers, XR experiences, and an open data catalog with programmatic STAC access.
Explore Share →AI consulting
Beyond the research lifecycle, the lab advises other groups on applying machine learning to their own data — helping choose an approach, then build and evaluate the models. Most of this work involves deep learning and foundation models for imagery and point clouds, with an emphasis on methods a group can reproduce and keep using on its own.
Talk to Us About AIAccess & Rates
Open to WashU researchers, external collaborators, and industry partners. The lab operates as a recharge facility under a published User Agreement, and initial scoping conversations are free.
See Access & RatesReady to start, or have questions?
Lead times, training, data formats, and other common questions are answered on the Contact page. Reach out and we'll respond within a few business days.
Contact the Lab