Images

USGS scientists drilling Santa Fe Lake, New Mexico as part of fieldwork conducted with the Did we start the fire? Climate, Fire and Humans project.

3D geologic framework model from west-central New Mexico; graphic shows stratigraphic units in the model being sequentially removed to reveal the deeper units. Faults used in the model appear as vertical “ribbons” as geologic layers are removed.

USGS scientists Mark Bauer and Matt Burgess preparing a UAS mounted with a lidar sensor for flight at Denver Colorado’s City Park

During the summer of 2019 NUSO researchers evaluated the viability of using UAS platforms and data collection sensors to characterize and evaluate an urban forest. 

The stratigraphic architecture of fluvial deposits reveals changes in river behavior associated with active tectonism and climatic change. 

USGS scientist Todd Burton flying a UAS at the Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park

Image of Fountain Creek taken from a natural color sensor mounted on a UAS

In April 2019 the NUSO completed a study to compare UAS collected data versus traditionally manually collected data for supporting geomorphic surface monitoring. Previous data collection efforts having taken place in February 2016, and January and March of 2017.

Image of the 2018 Eruption of the Kilauea Volcano taken from a UAS at night

UAS ground control station at the 2018 eruption of the Kilauea Volcano

USGS researchers Todd Burton and Joe Adams flying a UAS at the 2018 eruption of the Kilauea Volcano

The movie previews a 3-D hydrogeologic model of the Rio Rico and Nogales 7.5’quadrangles Arizona, included in USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2018-5062 (Page and others, 2018). The model was built in EarthVision (Dynamic Graphics, Inc.) 3D modeling software.

Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona

The NUSO, at the request of the National Park Service (NPS), collected high-resolution UAS data over five archeological sites within the park in October of 2018 and then produced highly accurate, high resolution 3D point clouds, orthomosaics, and digital elevation models for each site.

A FireFLY6 Pro vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing UAS sits on the ground between flights at the Corral Bluffs study area to support fossil studies by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

USGS researchers Joe Adams and Mark Bauer at a UAS launch site at Colorado’s Dinosaur Ridge

Jefferson County Open Space and the Friends of Dinosaur Ridge collaborated with the NUSO in September 2018 to collect high-resolution UAS data for use in constructing 3D photogrammetric terrain models of potential landslide areas. 

Image of Corral Bluffs taken from a natural color sensor mounted on a fixed wing UAS

USGS scientists placing a UAS ground control target at Corral Bluffs

Image of the confluence of the Blue and Colorado Rivers taken from a UAS

USGS hydrologists, with help from the NUSO, planned to evaluate the value of UAS data collected over the confluence of the Blue and Colorado rivers in August 2018 for river discharge calculations and velocity rate evaluation. 

Image of the 2018 eruption of the Kilauea volcano taken from a Sony RX1R II natural color sensor mounted on a UAS

Leaf On natural color image at the Colorado State Arboretum taken from a UAS

USGS researcher Todd Burton prepares a UAS with a mounted lidar sensor

At the request of the National Park Service in October 2017 the NUSO utilized UAS to acquire geospatial data to support development of a flood management plan for the Fort Laramie National Historic Site in Wyoming. 

USGS scientist using RTK to establish ground control for a UAS mission

UAS launch site at Talus slopes in the Bitterroot National Forest 

The Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, with help from the NUSO in July 2017, evaluated the use of UAS in high elevation areas of Montana over Talus slopes to collect the thermal imagery needed to map unique habitats for montane species.