UAS Radiometric Calibration Research in South Dakota, July 2023

In July 2023, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) and the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center conducted a joint field campaign in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Ground and aerial measurements were collected over a series of reference targets and a vegetated field in support of a radiometric calibration study led by EROS Cal/Val Center of Excellence (ECCOE) researchers. NUSO remote pilots flew multiple uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS, also known as drones) equipped with hyperspectral and multispectral imaging sensors in succession to obtain data as close in time as possible for quantitative comparisons.