Stitch3D is a browser-based platform for sharing and visualizing 3D geospatial and lidar data. Terra Incognita, an expedition-focused archaeological research group, uses it to the explore and communicate archaeological discoveries around the world.
Deep beneath the Amazon rainforest canopy, massive geometric earthworks are being revealed through lidar archaeology in the Amazon—uncovering evidence of ancient civilizations long hidden from view.
But for Terra Incognita, discovery is only part of the mission.
Their work depends on the ability to share complex geospatial data clearly with the public, partners, and collaborators—a challenge that led them to adopt Stitch3D.
A New Model for Archaeological Research
Terra Incognita was founded to rethink how research is funded and conducted.
“Terra Incognita was formed out of a need to find a way to do high-impact, expedition-focused research through public support. With grant-based funding and university budgets increasingly impacted by unpredictable politics, economics, and social pressures, it became clear that we needed another path forward.”
“We created the 501(c)(3) Terra Incognita Research Institute to go directly to the public—funding our work through private donors and partnerships with industry. Those partners aren’t just sponsors; they’re collaborators bringing real-world expertise into the research.”
This model makes communication and visibility essential.
The GOJIRA Project: Revealing Hidden Civilizations
Through the project Geoglyph Observations through Jungle Imagery in Remote Amazonia or GOJIRA project, Terra Incognita uses lidar to see through dense rainforest canopy specifically to identify large, man-made geoglyphs.
“For this project, we used lidar imagery to look through the dense canopy of the Amazon to identify large ancient features built into the earth. These geoglyphs indicate the existence of a completely unknown ancient settlement deep within the jungle.”
These discoveries are reshaping assumptions about the Amazon—but also creating new challenges in how data is shared.
Challenges in Lidar Data Sharing
Before adopting Stitch3D, sharing interactive lidar data was a major bottleneck.
“Data management has always been a major issue. Anyone who works with geospatial data knows how cumbersome it can be to share. People outside the geospatial world often don’t even have the software to open the data.”
“We were restricted to sharing 2D images—JPEGs and PNGs—with press and partners. That meant they had to tell us exactly what views they wanted, and we would generate and send them manually.”
This created serious limitations as collaboration was slow and fragmented, non-technical stakeholders were excluded, and complex datasets were reduced to flat visuals
“We couldn’t create a fully collaborative environment. Different partners used different tools, had different levels of experience—or no access at all.”
How Stitch3D Enables Lidar Collaboration
Adopting Stitch3D transformed how Terra Incognita shares and communicates its work.
“Stitch3D has really helped us with sharing our work. The continuation of our research is dependent on our ability to show people what we’re doing.”
“We want to hold ourselves accountable. We want to be able to show the public that our work has value. If we can demonstrate that clearly, people are more inclined to support us.”
“If we aren’t able to efficiently share our work, the public is left wondering what it is we’re even asking them to support—whether we’re doing good work at all.”
Instead of static images, Stitch3D enables, real-time, browser-based exploration, seamless sharing with collaborators and media, and immediate access without specialized software. It allows for anyone with a device and internet access, removing many of the barriers to sharing geospatial data.
Making Lidar Data Accessible to the Public
Stitch3D plays a critical role in making geospatial data accessible beyond technical experts.
“Not everyone is in the geospatial community. Terra Incognita is highly interdisciplinary, so we need tools that allow everyone to engage with our data.”
“Stitch3D is user-friendly and intuitive. People don’t need decades of GIS experience to use it. It gives all of our collaborators a way to actually see and be part of the work.”
This accessibility enables cross-disciplinary collaboration, broader participation, and stronger public understanding
“We believe the public deserves to be part of the work they are supporting.”
Driving Public Engagement and Funding
Because Terra Incognita relies on public and partner support, communication directly impacts funding.
“Using Stitch3D to share our work with the public and media has been a game changer. It allows us to get our research out there in a way that people can actually understand and engage with.”
“It also allows us to give our industry partners exposure—so people can see the incredible work happening in the geospatial space that they otherwise wouldn’t.”
“Our partners know that if they work with us, they’ll be part of meaningful research—and that their brand will be publicly associated with it.”
Why Stitch3D Stands Out
Among geospatial data sharing tools, usability is what sets Stitch3D apart.
“The most impressive part is how user-friendly it is. It doesn’t require a specialist to do powerful things with the data.”
“For years, it’s been incredibly difficult to make geospatial data accessible to non-specialists. But there is so much valuable information in that data—information we wouldn’t know otherwise.”
“Now we can share it with people who can not only access it, but actually interact with it.”
The Future of Lidar in Archaeology
Looking ahead, tools like Stitch3D will play a central role in how research is conducted.
“Research is becoming more collaborative and more dependent on public and business support. I don’t see that changing.”
“Teams are distributed across the country and around the world. Tools like Stitch3D make that kind of collaboration possible in ways that weren’t before.”
Scaling Across Future Projects
Stitch3D is now fully embedded in Terra Incognita’s workflow.
“We already use it regularly—not just for our Amazon research, but across multiple projects. It has become the way that we share data with our partners.”
Upcoming work includes research in Karakorum, Mongolia, studies at Cahokia and Spiro Mounds, and mapping Postclassic sites in Mexico as well as a larger Amazon mapping project.
“We need to be able to quickly and easily share data. Stitch3D helps us do that.”
Conclusion: Transforming 3D Data Sharing
For Terra Incognita, Stitch3D is more than a tool—it’s a foundation for modern research.
By transforming geospatial data sharing into an interactive, browser-based experience, Stitch3D enables accessible geospatial technology, scalable collaboration, and meaningful public engagement.
As new discoveries emerge, Stitch3D ensures they can be shared, understood, and supported at scale.
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