UAS Footage of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Remote Sensing Field Campaign in Leetown, West Virginia

In July 2022, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists and collaborators conducted an interdisciplinary field campaign at the Eastern USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center - Leetown Research Laboratory (EESC-LRL) located in Leetown, West Virginia, to support harmful algal blooms (HABs) research. This B-Roll video presents footage collected by uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) flown by USGS National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) remote pilots.  

00:05 Orbiting around a tall, green water tower featuring the USGS logo. 

00:13 Aerial views of the experimental research ponds on the west side of the study area. Each pond has varying water levels and presence of vegetation and/or algae types.  

01:18 Flying over the large reservoirs on the east side of the study area. 

02:19 Remote pilot Paul Diaz (USGS Oregon Water Science Center) initiates a UAS mapping flight.  

02:57 Following the path of a UAS hyperspectral mapping mission over the reservoirs. 

03:57 USGS personnel swapping batteries between UAS flights.  

04:09 UAS landing slowly and carefully onto an orange pad.  

 04:38 Field crew managing data on laptops and staying cool in the shade between data collection activities. 

05:13 Remote pilot Matt Burgess (USGS NUSO) lands a UAS on an orange pad, which helps to reduce dirt and debris during aircraft takeoff and landing.