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UAS flights in the LERZ assist with remote data collection and mapp...

Detailed Description

This footage is from a UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) hovering near Fissure 22 during the overnight hours of May 22, 2018. The footage looks down on the fountaining fissure complex. The view rotates upward (view to the south) to track channelized lava as it flows toward the Pacific Ocean, about 3 mi (5 km) away. The ocean entry is in the distance, recognizable by a small plume. The USGS National Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office is assisting with remote data collection and mapping of lava flows and hazards. UAS flights into these hazardous areas allow USGS scientists to safely view, document, and better understand what is happening in this rapidly changing environment and pass information to Hawaii County Civil Defense and emergency officials. Video courtesy of the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Aviation Services.