The Pando Photographic Survey
Documenting the world's largest tree
in immersive 360°
Overview | Updated April 4th, 2025
The Pando Photographic Survey is a first-of-its-kind effort to document the Pando Tree, the world’s largest tree of any kind. Made up of 47,000 genetically identical trunks spread across 106 acres. Each trunk of Pando is connected to a vast interconnected root system that operates as a single organism.
A recent discovery, confirmed only in 2008, this effort documents Pando’s expanse for the first time. Using high-resolution 360-degree cameras, the Pando Photographic Survey team documented 8,542 locations, one every 7 meters in order to create a record that allows anyone anywhere in the world to explore, study, and enjoy the tree using their phone, desktop, or VR headset.
More than just a “picture of a tree”, the Pando Photographic Survey is a first-of-its-kind scientific record. Rigorously developed in collaboration with Fishlake National Forest and Snow College (Richfield), the Pando Photographic Survey is a baseline re-photography project; a record which can be replicated on any scale to observe how the tree changes over time.
On March 28th, 2023, Friends of Pando began to publish data on this historic effort which also figures as the largest image of a tree ever gathered. Today, data 60% of Pando’s land mass has been documented with work continuing behind the scenes to develop and analyze remaining data sets.
Friends of Pando Publishes 1st Virtual Education Tour "Meet Pando"
“Pando is known the world over, but most will never have a chance to experience it first hand…” says Lead Photographer Lance Oditt. “It has always been our vision that work from the Pando Photographic Survey would help make the tree accessible to everyone. The first tour “Meet Pando” is in many ways, a culmination of all the work we have done since we started on the Pando Photographic Survey in 2019. It features work from the community of people that has developed that project, and people who have worked on various protection, monitoring, educational and restoration programs since that time as our organization has grown. This first tour, features aerial views developed when the Pando Living Map Project was just an idea, but also has soundscapes by Pando Artist in Residence Jeff Rice. While it is the first module in the series, we hope this initial offering will delight and inform people as it offers new ways of seeing and experiencing Pando simply not possible before.”
Instructions:
Once you have downloaded the file, unzip the contents. Then, open the unzipped folder and double-click on “Tour Launcher”. Make sure your audio is turned on.
Instructions Meta VR Headsets:
Download the package. Choose the headset package that matches your headset (Ex: Meta 2,3 Pico or Vive) Create a folder called “3dvista” on your headset. Copy the tour folder into that folder. Note: If it does not open, try install the 3D Vista Pro App, then opening the folder. Conversely, you can view the tour via desktop connection to your headset.
Explore Pando in 360°
The Pando Photographic Survey allows anyone to explore Pando without the need for any special hardware or software.
For Desktop Users
- Click the “Play” on Viewer
- Click full screen box in top right
- Drag Your Mouse to move around in space
- Click next or previous image to advance
For Mobile Device Users
- Tap “Play” on Viewer
- Hit full screen box in top right
- Hold phone in hand and move your arm around in space, drag your finger on the screen to pan around
- Tap or Swipe next or previous image to advance
For VR Headset Users
- Click Play on Viewer
- Hit full screen box in top right
- Move head or body around in space or use hand controls to drag or pan around
- Click next or previous image to advance
A Walk Around the World's Largest Tree, Pando
Web Tours from the Pando Photographic Survey
Here is a visual map area you just explored!
You can use the links below to explore the tree by section and route. In addition, each page also includes links to download data sets that you can mix and match for use in research, research planning or, for your personal enjoyment.
Explore Pando by Section
Click any Section button below to explore that region of the Pando Tree.
as of 12/8/23
- 4,948 Locations
- 107 Routes
- Area Documented:
52.18 Acres
Updates Ongoing
How We Did It
Methods and Foundational Data Sets
Methods Review
The Pando Photographic Survey is a rigorous scientific document developed so that it can be replicated over time. Read how we created the record from mapping the tree through publication.
Download Data Models and Maps
The Pando Photographic Survey is an open science project that was developed to help promote research. Download foundational data sets including the methods report (PDF), shoot map (PDF), mapping assets, equipment lists and other resources to use our data on your project.
Watch The Making of the Pando Photographic Survey
Meet the Team
Field work on the Pando Photographic Survey began in early 2021 and continued through 2024. Over the course of the project, 39 people from across the United States took part in the field and behind the scenes. As Pando is a tree of “one” that self-replicates, we asked team members to take part in a fun portrait project. A clone portrait showing what it might be like if there were 47,000 of you…
Learn more about what inspired people to travel from around the world to take part in this first-of-its kind effort to document the world’s largest tree…
Pando Photographic Survey FAQ
More than a picture of a tree, the Pando Photographic Survey can…
For Media Professionals and Storytellers
Pando Photographic Survey Project Quick Facts
- Shoot Dates: Aug 1st 2021-Sept 30, 2022
- Shoot Location: Fish Lake, Utah
- Total Land Mass of Pando:106 acres
- Number of Locations Documented: 8,589
- Area Covered by One Image: 7m2 (527.43 ft square)
- Volume of Each Image: Approximately 6,000 Cubic feet
- Landmass Published to Date: 63 Acres
- Project Concept: Lance Oditt
- Chief Scientist: Ryan Thalman, Snow College, Richfield
- Human Hours: Approximately 1300
- Number of Crew, Staff and Volunteers: 39 (2019-2023)
- Time to Sequence and Publish Images: 7 Months (and counting)
- Data Mass: 7TB (and Counting)
- Friends of Pando Partners:US Forest Service, Snow College
Friends of Pando in the News
Made Possible Through the Support of:
Friends of Pando is dedicated and working to educate the public, support research and preservation efforts and inspire stewardship of Pando, the world’s largest tree.
Your gift of only $18 a month will help protect Pando for generations to come.
Make a one-time or, recurring tax deductible donation today.
Friends of Pando is a proud partner of Pando’s public land stewards, Fishlake National Forest of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
Learn more about our partnership.
Friends of Pando and its partners are equal opportunity employers.
Friends of Pando
PO Box 12
Richfield, UT, 84701
Phone: 435-633-1893
IRS EIN: 87-3958681
