National Uncrewed Systems Office

Drone-captured photo of a vegetated field in Golden, Colorado. Faint paths visible across the grass formed from the consistent, repeated pattern walked by a spectrometer operator multiple times per day for multiple days in a row.

USGS remote pilot Matt Burgess flies a drone to collect hyperspectral data over a field in Golden, Colorado. 

USGS remote pilots Joe Adams and Todd Burton carry a drone during flight training at the Denver Federal Center.

U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service personnel stand with drone technologies used for mapping the Abó Ruins at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument in Mountainair, New Mexico.

U.S. Geological Survey remote pilot Victoria Scholl flies a drone with camera payload to capture natural color images for photogrammetric mapping of the Abó Ruins at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument in Mountainair, New Mexico.

The U.S. Geological Survey National Uncrewed Systems Office flew uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) to map the Abó Ruins at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument in Mountainair, New Mexico.

USGS remote pilots Matt Burgess and Victoria Scholl prepare to conduct a drone mapping flight to collect thermal imagery over a dryland study site near Moab, Utah. 

Drone operations near Moab, Utah to collect spectral remote sensing imagery during a collaborative USGS field campaign in May 2025.

In 2024, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) provided technical support to the National Park Service in assessing road damage and landslide hazards along the Blue Ridge Parkway following Hurricane Helene.

In 2024, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) provided technical support for the National Park Service to assess road damage and landslide hazards after Hurricane Helene along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

In 2024, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) provided technical support for the National Park Service in assessing road damage and landslide hazards along the Blue Ridge Parkway following Hurricane Helene.

USGS geographer and remote pilot Mark Bauer sets up a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) base station, which will be used to correct uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) lidar data during post-processing. It's early during the field day and a layer of frost covers the ground.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) employs a range of drone technologies for data collection in science, mapping, and monitoring.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is renowned for its winding path through the rugged Appalachian Mountains. The steep terrain and dense forests make for scenic views but also create a challenging environment for drone operations. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) remote pilots seek out open areas from which to conduct flights to enable good visibility of their surroundings.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) remote pilots Joe Adams and Matthew Burgess prepare to conduct drone flights at the Tanbark Ridge Overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene brought heavy rain and powerful winds, resulting in multiple landslides along the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway. The National Park Service requested technical assistance from the U.S.

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene brought heavy rain and powerful winds, resulting in multiple landslides along the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway. The National Park Service requested technical assistance from the U.S.

NUSO researchers Matt Burgess and Mark Bauer prepare for evaluation flights with the WingtraOne GEN II vertical take-off and landing mapping UAS equipped with the newly released lidar payload.