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Sandra M Brosnahan

Sandy Brosnahan is a Physical Scientist with the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group. 

Science and Products

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lots of colorful bags and equipment on the beach as two men look on

DUNEX Pea Island Experiment

The DUring Nearshore Event eXperiment (DUNEX) is an aggregation of multiple scientific organizations collaborating to increase understanding of nearshore processes. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has chosen Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge as a study location to investigate and characterize the magnitude and timing of changes to coastal morphology (i.e., dunes, shorelines), bathymetry, and...
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Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
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DUNEX Pea Island Experiment

The DUring Nearshore Event eXperiment (DUNEX) is an aggregation of multiple scientific organizations collaborating to increase understanding of nearshore processes. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has chosen Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge as a study location to investigate and characterize the magnitude and timing of changes to coastal morphology (i.e., dunes, shorelines), bathymetry, and...
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Two boats and multiple people on a calm ocean with a clear blue sky

USGS DUNEX Operations on the Outer Banks

DUring Nearshore Event eXperiment (DUNEX) is a multi-agency, academic, and non-governmental organization (NGO) collaborative community experiment designed to study nearshore coastal processes during storm events. The experiment began in 2019 and is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2021. USGS participation in DUNEX will contribute new measurements and models that will increase our...
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
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USGS DUNEX Operations on the Outer Banks

DUring Nearshore Event eXperiment (DUNEX) is a multi-agency, academic, and non-governmental organization (NGO) collaborative community experiment designed to study nearshore coastal processes during storm events. The experiment began in 2019 and is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2021. USGS participation in DUNEX will contribute new measurements and models that will increase our...
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sunset over wetland

Estuarine Processes, Hazards, and Ecosystems

Estuarine processes, hazards, and ecosystems describes several interdisciplinary projects that aim to quantify and understand estuarine processes through observations and numerical modeling. Both the spatial and temporal scales of these mechanisms are important, and therefore require modern instrumentation and state-of-the-art hydrodynamic models. These projects are led from the U.S. Geological...
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Sandy, USGS Science in Long Island Sound and its Watershed
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Estuarine Processes, Hazards, and Ecosystems

Estuarine processes, hazards, and ecosystems describes several interdisciplinary projects that aim to quantify and understand estuarine processes through observations and numerical modeling. Both the spatial and temporal scales of these mechanisms are important, and therefore require modern instrumentation and state-of-the-art hydrodynamic models. These projects are led from the U.S. Geological...
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3DR Solo quadcopter in flight

Aerial Imaging and Mapping

The Aerial Imaging and Mapping group (AIM), at the U.S. Geological Survey Woods (USGS) Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center provides UAS services to scientists to advance the science mission of the Coastal and Marine Geology Program. Scientists at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center have been using UASs to acquire imagery of coastal and wetland environments, which is then used to...
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
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Aerial Imaging and Mapping

The Aerial Imaging and Mapping group (AIM), at the U.S. Geological Survey Woods (USGS) Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center provides UAS services to scientists to advance the science mission of the Coastal and Marine Geology Program. Scientists at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center have been using UASs to acquire imagery of coastal and wetland environments, which is then used to...
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Rotary side scan images at a grain-size boundary

Coastal Model Applications and Field Measurements

Numerical models are used by scientists, engineers, coastal managers, and the public to understand and predict processes in the coastal ocean. This project supports the development and application of open-source coastal models and has several objectives: 1) improve the code of numerical sediment-transport models by implementing new or improved algorithms; 2) obtain measurements of coastal ocean...
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
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Coastal Model Applications and Field Measurements

Numerical models are used by scientists, engineers, coastal managers, and the public to understand and predict processes in the coastal ocean. This project supports the development and application of open-source coastal models and has several objectives: 1) improve the code of numerical sediment-transport models by implementing new or improved algorithms; 2) obtain measurements of coastal ocean...
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satellite image of Hurricane Sandy

Estuarine Processes Tidal Wetlands

Tidal wetlands are an important geomorphic and ecological feature of the coastal zone. Our projects deal with the physical forcings that affect wetland stability over event-to-annual timescales, including wave attack, sediment supply, and sea-level rise.
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Sandy
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Estuarine Processes Tidal Wetlands

Tidal wetlands are an important geomorphic and ecological feature of the coastal zone. Our projects deal with the physical forcings that affect wetland stability over event-to-annual timescales, including wave attack, sediment supply, and sea-level rise.
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satellite image of Hurricane Sandy

Estuarine Processes Tidal Wetlands

Tidal wetlands are an important geomorphic and ecological feature of the coastal zone. Our projects deal with the physical forcings that affect wetland stability over event-to-annual timescales, including wave attack, sediment supply, and sea-level rise.
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Sandy
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Estuarine Processes Tidal Wetlands

Tidal wetlands are an important geomorphic and ecological feature of the coastal zone. Our projects deal with the physical forcings that affect wetland stability over event-to-annual timescales, including wave attack, sediment supply, and sea-level rise.
Learn More
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satellite image of Hurricane Sandy

Estuarine Processes Tidal Wetlands

Tidal wetlands are an important geomorphic and ecological feature of the coastal zone. Our projects deal with the physical forcings that affect wetland stability over event-to-annual timescales, including wave attack, sediment supply, and sea-level rise.
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Sandy
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Estuarine Processes Tidal Wetlands

Tidal wetlands are an important geomorphic and ecological feature of the coastal zone. Our projects deal with the physical forcings that affect wetland stability over event-to-annual timescales, including wave attack, sediment supply, and sea-level rise.
Learn More
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satellite image of Hurricane Sandy

Estuarine Processes Tidal Wetlands

Tidal wetlands are an important geomorphic and ecological feature of the coastal zone. Our projects deal with the physical forcings that affect wetland stability over event-to-annual timescales, including wave attack, sediment supply, and sea-level rise.
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Sandy
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Estuarine Processes Tidal Wetlands

Tidal wetlands are an important geomorphic and ecological feature of the coastal zone. Our projects deal with the physical forcings that affect wetland stability over event-to-annual timescales, including wave attack, sediment supply, and sea-level rise.
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Topographic and multispectral reflectance products, aerial imagery, spectral reflectance profiles, vegetation surveys, and associated GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations: Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland, Octob

Low-altitude (70 m above ground level) aerial images were collected over 5 areas of interest within the northern portion of Assateague Island National Seashore (ASIS) in mid-October, 2022.  These images were collected to generate photogrammetric products (e.g. digital surface model (DSM), reflectance orthomosaic) for five areas of interest along the northern portion of the island to support scienc
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Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Aerial imagery and ground control points collected during an uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) survey at Plum Island Estuary and Parker River NWR (PIEPR), November 14, 2017 and March 28, 2019

Low-altitude (80 and 100 meters above ground level) digital images were taken over an area of the Plum Island Estuary and Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Massachusetts using 3DR Solo unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) on November 14, 2017 and March 28, 2019. These images were collected as part of an effort to document marsh stability over time and quantify sediment movement using UAS t
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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program

DUNEX topographic, bathymetric, and supporting GPS data collected in Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, North Carolina 2020-2021

The data in this release characterize the beach and nearshore environment in Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, NC at the USGS DUring Nearshore Event eXperiment (DUNEX) site and Basnight Bridge. Data include GPS surveys, reference points, and ground control points; imagery and structure-from-motion products; bathymetry data, and merged topographic and bathymetric grids. To cite a specific data
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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Aerial Imagery collected during unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS) operations in Massachusetts and Maine between March 2018 - September 2018

Low-altitude (80 and 100 meters above ground level) digital images were collected at Sage Lot Pond in Waquoit, Massachusetts, two sites on the Mill River in Taunton, MA, Great Marsh in Barnstable, MA, the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve in Wells, ME, and on the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Quissett Campus in Woods Hole, MA using 3DR Solo unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS) during 2
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Topographic and bathymetric data, sediment samples, and imagery collected at Head of the Meadow Beach, Truro in March 2020, U.S Geological Survey Field Activity 2020-015-FA

The data in this release map the beach and nearshore environment at Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro, MA and provide environmental context for the camera calibration information for the 2019 CoastCam installation that looks out at the coast shared by beachgoers, shorebirds, seals, and sharks. This is related to the field activity 2020-015-FA and a collaboration with the National Park Service at C
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Geochemical data supporting investigation of solute and particle cycling and fluxes from two tidal wetlands on the south shore of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2012-19 (ver. 2.0, October 2022)

Assessment of geochemical cycling within tidal wetlands and measurement of fluxes of dissolved and particulate constituents between wetlands and coastal water bodies are critical to evaluating ecosystem function, service, and status. The U.S. Geological Survey and collaborators collected surface water and porewater geochemical data from a tidal wetland located on the eastern shore of Sage Lot Pond
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Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Aerial imagery and photogrammetric products from unmanned aerial systems (UAS) flights over the Lake Ontario shoreline at Chimney Bluffs, New York, July 14, 2017

Low-altitude (80-100 meters above ground level) digital images were obtained from a camera mounted on a 3DR Solo quadcopter, a small unmanned aerial system (UAS), in three locations along the Lake Ontario shoreline in New York during July 2017. These data were collected to document and monitor effects of high lake levels, including shoreline erosion, inundation, and property damage in the vicinity
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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Low-altitude aerial imagery from unmanned aerial systems (UAS) at select locations over the Potomac River, October 2019

These digital images were taken at select locations over the Potomac River using 3DR Solo unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in October 2019. These images were collected for the purpose of evaluating UAS assessment of river habitat data such as water depth, substrate type, and water clarity. Each UAS was equipped with a Ricoh GRII digital camera for natural color photos, used to produce digital eleva
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Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

Continuous Monitoring Data From Herring River Wetlands Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2015-Jan2020

The Herring River estuary (Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Massachusetts) has been tidally restricted for over a century by a dike constructed near the mouth of the river. Behind the dike, the tidal restriction has caused the conversion of salt marsh wetlands to various other ecosystems including impounded freshwater marshes, flooded shrub land, drained forested upland, and wetlands dominated by Phragmites a
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Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Continuous monitoring data from natural and restored salt marshes on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2016-17

Continuous monitoring data reported are a portion of data from a larger study investigating changes in soil properties, carbon accumulation, and greenhouse gas fluxes in four recently restored salt marsh sites and nearby natural salt marshes. For several decades, local towns, conservation groups, and government organizations have worked to identify, replace, repair, and enlarge culverts to restore
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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Time-series of biogeochemical and flow data from a tidal salt-marsh creek, Sage Lot Pond, Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts, 2012-2016 (ver. 2.0, July 2023)

Extended time-series sensor data were collected between 2012 and 2016 in surface water of a tidal salt-marsh creek on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The objective of this field study was to measure water chemical characteristics and flows, as part of a study to quantify lateral fluxes of dissolved carbon species between the salt marsh and estuary. Data consist of in-situ measurements including: salinity
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Aerial imagery from unmanned aerial systems (UAS) flights: Plum Island Estuary and Parker River NWR (PIEPR), February 27th, 2018

Low-altitude (80 and 100 meters above ground level) digital images were taken over an area of the Plum Island Estuary and Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Massachusetts using 3DR Solo unmanned aerial systems (UAS) on February 27, 2018. These images were collected as part of an effort to document marsh stability over time and quantify sediment movement using UAS technology. Each UAS was equ
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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Filter Total Items: 28
person kneeling on dock above water working with equipment divers in water below
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Retrieving ADCPs
Green and blue lidar map over black background
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sUAS at Darby Creek Superfund Site
Colorful lidar data map over black background
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sUAS at Darby Creek Superfund Site
Group of people outside smiling at camera with drone on the ground
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sUAS at Darby Creek Superfund Site
Large group of people outside smiling for photo with drone on the ground in front of them
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sUAS at Darby Creek Superfund Site
Colorful elevation model of ClearView Landfill
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sUAS at Darby Creek Superfund Site
Group of people standing together outside for a group photo with a drone on the ground in front of them
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sUAS at Darby Creek Superfund Site
Two people kneeling on ground next to a drone on a sunny day
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sUAS at Darby Creek Superfund Site
Four people smiling, drone flying overhead
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Collecting pre-restoration LiDAR and thermal survey data
drone and target on sandy beach, sky in background
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Assateague Island National Seashore
People smiling on sandy beach, ocean and sky in background
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Assateague Island National Seashore
Group of smiling people on sandy beach with ocean in the background link
Assateague Island National Seashore
Group of smiling people on sandy beach with ocean in the background link
Assateague Island National Seashore
Group of smiling people on sandy beach with ocean in the background link
Assateague Island National Seashore
Group of smiling people on sandy beach with ocean in the background link
Assateague Island National Seashore
Group of smiling people on sandy beach with ocean in the background link
Assateague Island National Seashore
Group of people smiling on sandy beach, ocean in the background
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Assateague Island National Seashore
Group of smiling people on sandy beach with ocean in the background
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Assateague Island National Seashore
Group of smiling people on sandy beach with ocean in the background link
Assateague Island National Seashore
Group of smiling people on sandy beach with ocean in the background link
Assateague Island National Seashore
Group of smiling people on sandy beach with ocean in the background link
Assateague Island National Seashore

Unmanned aerial systems capabilities of the U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Unmanned aerial system (UAS) technology provides a rapid and low-cost solution for mapping coastal environments and assessing short- and long-term changes. The interdisciplinary nature of the data collected and the breadth of applications make UAS technology applicable to multiple scientific investigations. The Aerial Imaging and Mapping (AIM) group at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Woods Hole
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Sandra Brosnahan, Christopher R. Sherwood
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Summary of oceanographic and water-quality measurements in Chincoteague Bay, Maryland and Virginia, 2014–15

U.S. Geological Survey scientists and technical support staff measured oceanographic, waterquality, seabed-elevation-change, and meteorological parameters in Chincoteague Bay, Maryland and Virginia, during the period of August 13, 2014, to July 14, 2015, as part of the Estuarine Physical Response to Storms project (GS2–2D) supported by the Department of the Interior Hurricane Sandy recovery progra
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Steven E. Suttles, Neil K. Ganju, Sandra M. Brosnahan, Ellyn T. Montgomery, Patrick J. Dickhudt, Alexis Beudin, Daniel J. Nowacki, Marinna A. Martini
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Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Summary of oceanographic and water-quality measurements in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, 2014–15

Scientists and technical support staff from the U.S. Geological Survey measured suspended-sediment concentrations, currents, pressure, and water temperature in two tidal creeks, Reedy Creek and Dinner Creek, in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, from August 11, 2014, to July 10, 2015 as part of the Estuarine Physical Response to Storms project (GS2–2D). The oceanographic and water-quality data quantify sus
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Steven E. Suttles, Neil K. Ganju, Ellyn T. Montgomery, Patrick J. Dickhudt, Jonathan Borden, Sandra M. Brosnahan, Marinna A. Martini
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Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Summary of oceanographic and water-quality measurements in Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, Wells, Maine, in 2013

Suspended-sediment transport is a critical element controlling the geomorphology of tidal wetland complexes. Wetlands rely on organic material and inorganic sediment deposition to maintain their elevation relative to sea level. The U.S. Geological Survey performed observational deployments to measure suspended-sediment concentration and water flow rates in the tidal channels of the wetlands in the
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Ellyn T. Montgomery, Neil K. Ganju, Patrick J. Dickhudt, Jonathan Borden, Marinna A. Martini, Sandra M. Brosnahan
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Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
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Monitoring the Storm: USGS Coastal Response to Hurricane Lee

In preparation for Hurricane Lee, scientists at the USGS deployed sensors and surveyed the U.S. Northeast coast to monitor the impacts of the storm...

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Strengthening Our Skills: sUAS Lidar Training

The USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center hosted a small uncrewed aircraft system lidar training workshop from October 31 through November...

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The Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group Aids in Monitoring and Mapping the Kīlauea Volcanic Eruption

Interagency drone pilots from the USGS, Bureau of Land Management, and Office of Aviation Services, and four data managers, join the USGS Hawaiian...

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USGS and Army Corps of Engineers conduct simultaneous measurements at Sandy Neck beach, Cape Cod, MA

Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Aerial Imaging and Mapping (AIM) group conducted drone flights from atop a dune at Sandy Neck (Cape Cod)...

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