© 2025 © 2024
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
KWMU 90.7 FM will be at lower power overnight due to maintenance on our tower. Listen here, via our web player.

How SLU’s Geospatial Institute Is Working On Wildfires

From left, Ness Sandoval and Shawn Steadman
Emily Woodbury | © 2024

Vast wildfires in Australia, California and elsewhere continue to have wide-sweeping impacts, testing the limits of firefighters on the front lines and presenting new challenges for experts in all sorts of sectors. At St. Louis University’s Geospatial Institute — also known as GeoSLU — researchers are using remotely sensed images and spatial analysis to extend our understanding of these disasters and others.

The geospatial technology helps them predict wildfires as well as map the extent and severity of wildfires after they have occurred.

On Wednesday’s St. Louis on the Air, host Sarah Fenske led a conversation about the difference this research can make. She talked with Ness Sandoval, associate professor of sociology at St. Louis University and an associate director of the Geospatial Institute, and with Shawn Steadman, director of SLU’s emergency management program.

Listen to the discussion:

” brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is hosted by and produced by , , and . The engineer is , and production assistance is provided by Charlie McDonald.

Send questions and comments about this story to feedback@stlpublicradio.org.

Evie was a producer for "St. Louis on the Air" at © 2024 .