The Earth Observation Lab (EOL) was launched in 2023, thanks in large part to the efforts and vision of Karen Seto, Frederick C. Hixon Professor of Geography and Urbanization Science at the Yale School of the Environment, and Miriam Olivares, who directed Geospatial Support Services across Yale for over a decade. The EOL was designed to consolidate and promote the use of satellite remote sensing throughout the entire Yale community, expanding beyond the original scope of previous earth observation efforts at Yale.

As of July 1, 2024, the EOL transitioned to become part of the Yale Center for Geospatial Solutions (YCGS) under the leadership of the inaugural Executive Director, Dr. Jennifer Marlon. The center has since expanded into a new building at 37 Hillhouse, allowing us to maintain the EOL facilities at 21 Sachem Street while establishing our support services, workshops, and computing facilities at the Hillhouse location. The YCGS is now moving under the auspices of Planetary Solutions, positioning the center for continued growth and impact in earth observation and geospatial research.

The EOL builds upon decades of earth observation research at Yale. The Yale Center for Earth Observation (YCEO) was created in 1992 to promote the use of satellite remote sensing within the Yale School of the Environment (formerly the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies). In the spring of 1993, base funding for YCEO was approved by the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies and Prof. Ron Smith was appointed the Director. In December 1993 the YCEO opened its central facility on the second floor of Bingham Laboratory on Sachem Street.

The YCEO primarily served the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, engaging in research projects for which satellite remote sensing and geographic information systems were essential. Examples of research included the investigation of lyme-disease bearing ticks and their distribution patterns, agricultural changes in southwest Asia, rainforest deforestation practices, and terrain influences on wind patterns in coastal regions.

In December, 1996, YCEO received a three-year grant under the NASA/MTPE Interdisciplinary Science Initiative. This project, known as the South West Asia Project (SWAP) involved several groups at Yale as well as scientists and collaborators from Syria, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, and Israel. The goal of SWAP was to quantify and monitor processes shaping the landscape in the region.

In 1997 the Center was designated a NASA Center of Excellence and was awarded a grant for new equipment. By the spring of 1998 all of the hardware and software in the lab was upgraded to produce a state of the art Remote Sensing research facility to meet the needs of the students and faculty of the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and their research partners.

In 2001 the YCEO moved into the new Environmental Science Center at 21 Sachem St. Along with the new location, the center upgraded its computer hardware and software in order to provide a high-quality Remote Sensing research facility for the Yale School of the Environment community and collaborators.

After 24 years at the helm, Ron Smith decided to step back from his role as Director. The center was very fortunate to have a strong working relationship with Professor Xuhui Lee of the School of the Environment over the past several years. In January 2017, Professor Lee assumed the role of Director of the YCEO, concluding his term in June 2024.

Recognizing the need to expand earth observation capabilities beyond just the School of the Environment to serve the broader Yale campus, the EOL was established in 2023 to fulfill this expanded mission.