Aerial top-down view of a dense, vibrant green forest meeting water, with a winding shoreline of light green aquatic vegetation and clear, shallow water.

Turn satellite and drone data into conservation decisions

Conservation teams have more remote sensing, drone and AI data than ever. The advantage goes to the people who can turn it into decisions. Earth Intelligence is a practical, credit-bearing course that builds that skill.

July 16, 2026

Satellites, drones and sensor networks deliver a constant stream of data on the ecosystems you manage. The hard part is choosing the right tool for the question, reading the output with a clear eye and defending the decision that follows. That gap, between raw data and a call your partners will back, is where outcomes are won.

The frontier

The scale is already remarkable. Jiwei Li, assistant professor in the School of Ocean Futures at Arizona State University, was first author on the first AI-driven map of the world's shallow coral reefs, combining satellite imagery, water-depth modeling and machine learning across more than six million square kilometers of ocean. Teams now use it to decide where to watch for coral bleaching. In 2025 he co-authored a study identifying where reef restoration can take hold in Hawaiʻi. This is the level of practice the field is moving toward.

Practitioner training you can take now

CGF 194 — Earth Intelligence: Data, AI and a Changing World gives working professionals a grounded understanding of the modern conservation-data toolkit. In eight weeks, you learn to judge when satellite imagery, drones and generative AI fit a question and when they don't, work hands-on in Google Earth Engine, apply data ethics and governance across sectors, and communicate findings stakeholders can act on.

It's taught by Jiwei Li and priced to remove the barrier: $25 to enroll, with the $400 due only if you like your grade and want the credit on your transcript. That credit is widely transferable, and can ladder toward a degree at ASU if you or a team member are considering that path.

Go further at the Conservation Futures Academy

For conservation leaders ready to extend these skills, Conservation Futures Academy offers Conservation Technology Innovations: AI, Drones and GIS, co-taught by Li with specialists from Conservation International. It builds on the same foundation with drone-based monitoring, priority-zone assessment and scenario modeling for the field.

Ready to sharpen your skills on remote sensing? Learn more about ASU's Universal Learner Course in Earth Intelligence.