Permafrost is ground that has been frozen for at least two years. With the warming climate, permafrost across Alaska is thawing and greenhouse gases such as methane are released as a result. Ecologist Kristen Manies of the U.S.
Interactive UAS Science Exhibit on display at USGS Headquarters in Reston
Using UAS to Support Road Condition Inspections on Federal Lands
Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) leads the research activities needed to make Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) data collection an efficient, safe, and cost-effective remote sensing tool for Department of the Interior (DOI) and USGS scientists.
DOI manages over 20 percent of the Nation’s public lands and is responsible for migratory bird and wildlife conservation; historic preservation; endangered species conservation; surface-mined lands protection and restoration; and mapping, geological, hydrological, and biological science for the Nation. Access to remotely sensed data is critical to fulfilling the DOI’s commitment to providing the best available science over such diverse missions and extensive landscapes. UAS is a tool that has quickly become vital to scientists by delivering some of the best remotely sensed data available over DOI’s expansive geography. UAS can also carry sophisticated high-resolution sensors that offer impressive capabilities relative to the amount, resolution, persistence, and flexibility of remotely collected data for these challenging locations.
New and Noteworthy
- Alternative Approaches to Inspections for Federal Land Management Agency Roads:…
- Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) natural color, multispectral, lidar, and hypers…
- Incredible discoveries and devastation of paleontological resources in a changi…
- Compilation of topographic data, aerial imagery, and land cover classification,…
Permafrost is ground that has been frozen for at least two years. With the warming climate, permafrost across Alaska is thawing and greenhouse gases such as methane are released as a result. Ecologist Kristen Manies of the U.S.
USGS researcher Victoria Scholl (NUSO) checks the image quality of photos captured using the Mavic Pro UAS over a bog in Alaska. These photos will be used to generate a Structure from Motion photogrammetry orthomosaic.
USGS researcher Victoria Scholl (NUSO) checks the image quality of photos captured using the Mavic Pro UAS over a bog in Alaska. These photos will be used to generate a Structure from Motion photogrammetry orthomosaic.
UAS carrying the methane sensor (left) and a smaller UAS used to collect videos and photos (right) in Alaska
linkUAS carrying the methane sensor (left) and a smaller UAS used to collect videos and photos (right) in Alaska. Both UAS are resting on wooden pallets that the team set onto the bog for a dry and flat takeoff/landing location.
UAS carrying the methane sensor (left) and a smaller UAS used to collect videos and photos (right) in Alaska
linkUAS carrying the methane sensor (left) and a smaller UAS used to collect videos and photos (right) in Alaska. Both UAS are resting on wooden pallets that the team set onto the bog for a dry and flat takeoff/landing location.
Victoria Scholl (NUSO), Kristen Manies (GMEG Science Center), and Joe Adams (NUSO) hiked the UAS gear through the woods and across a network of boardwalks to access the bog site at the BNZ LTER.
Victoria Scholl (NUSO), Kristen Manies (GMEG Science Center), and Joe Adams (NUSO) hiked the UAS gear through the woods and across a network of boardwalks to access the bog site at the BNZ LTER.
Image from a UAS acquired natural-color video showing the UAS-mounted Kolibri sensor being flown in Alaska
linkImage from a UAS acquired natural-color video showing the UAS-mounted Kolibri sensor being flown through the smoke plume during one of the in-situ oil burns at a Poker Flat Research Range retention pond in Alaska.
Image from a UAS acquired natural-color video showing the UAS-mounted Kolibri sensor being flown in Alaska
linkImage from a UAS acquired natural-color video showing the UAS-mounted Kolibri sensor being flown through the smoke plume during one of the in-situ oil burns at a Poker Flat Research Range retention pond in Alaska.
USGS researcher tacking down a calibration tarp at the Eastern Ecological Science Center - Leetown Research Laboratory
linkUSGS researcher Joe Adams tacking down a calibration tarp at the Eastern Ecological Science Center - Leetown Research Laboratory.
USGS researcher tacking down a calibration tarp at the Eastern Ecological Science Center - Leetown Research Laboratory
linkUSGS researcher Joe Adams tacking down a calibration tarp at the Eastern Ecological Science Center - Leetown Research Laboratory.
USGS researcher Matt Burgess remotely pilots a UAS collecting lidar data during the April 2022 USGS UASnow project at Berthoud Pass, Colorado.
USGS researcher Matt Burgess remotely pilots a UAS collecting lidar data during the April 2022 USGS UASnow project at Berthoud Pass, Colorado.
A UAS collecting natural color video over one of the study sites during a joint NUSO and USGS Water Resources Mission Area snow mapping project in Winter Park, Colorado.
A UAS collecting natural color video over one of the study sites during a joint NUSO and USGS Water Resources Mission Area snow mapping project in Winter Park, Colorado.
USGS researcher Joe Adams (NUSO) setting up a GPS base station at one of the study sites for a snow mapping project in Winter Park, Colorado. GPS base station data is used in post-processing to improve the geospatial accuracy of UAS collected data.
USGS researcher Joe Adams (NUSO) setting up a GPS base station at one of the study sites for a snow mapping project in Winter Park, Colorado. GPS base station data is used in post-processing to improve the geospatial accuracy of UAS collected data.
USGS NUSO researchers Victoria Scholl and Mark Bauer take a moment to enjoy the scenery during a UAS data collection for the snow water equivalent (SWE) project at the Berthoud Pass Colorado study site.
USGS NUSO researchers Victoria Scholl and Mark Bauer take a moment to enjoy the scenery during a UAS data collection for the snow water equivalent (SWE) project at the Berthoud Pass Colorado study site.
Please don’t walk on the biocrust!
Drone's eye view of a USGS remote pilot during a biocrust mission near Moab, UT
NUSO UAS pilot Matt Burgess captures an image of himself while landing a UAS after a flight over a biocrust site near Moab, Utah.
Drone's eye view of a USGS remote pilot during a biocrust mission near Moab, UT
NUSO UAS pilot Matt Burgess captures an image of himself while landing a UAS after a flight over a biocrust site near Moab, Utah.
USGS researcher returns after collecting previously deployed UAS ground targets in the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
linkUSGS researcher Victoria Scholl (NUSO) returns after collecting previously deployed scale bar and ground control point survey targets along the Paleocene Poison Canyon Formation in the Cimarron Canyon, New Mexico.
USGS researcher returns after collecting previously deployed UAS ground targets in the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
linkUSGS researcher Victoria Scholl (NUSO) returns after collecting previously deployed scale bar and ground control point survey targets along the Paleocene Poison Canyon Formation in the Cimarron Canyon, New Mexico.
UAS ground control point survey targets deployed along the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
One of the ground control point survey targets deployed along the Paleocene Poison Canyon Formation in the Cimarron Canyon and used to provide accurate GPS data during the UAS data collection flights.
UAS ground control point survey targets deployed along the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
One of the ground control point survey targets deployed along the Paleocene Poison Canyon Formation in the Cimarron Canyon and used to provide accurate GPS data during the UAS data collection flights.
USGS scientist places a scale bar and ground control point survey target at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
linkUSGS scientist Victoria Scholl (NUSO) places a scale bar and ground control point survey target along the Paleocene Poison Canyon Formation in the Cimarron Canyon. GPS data from these targets and derived from the UAS collected imagery helps ensure high positional and geometric accuracy of georeferenced data products including 3D models.
USGS scientist places a scale bar and ground control point survey target at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
linkUSGS scientist Victoria Scholl (NUSO) places a scale bar and ground control point survey target along the Paleocene Poison Canyon Formation in the Cimarron Canyon. GPS data from these targets and derived from the UAS collected imagery helps ensure high positional and geometric accuracy of georeferenced data products including 3D models.
USGS scientist reviews the imagery being acquired from a UAS at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
linkUSGS scientist Mark Bauer reviews the imagery being acquired from a UAS at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
USGS scientist reviews the imagery being acquired from a UAS at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
linkUSGS scientist Mark Bauer reviews the imagery being acquired from a UAS at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
USGS remote pilot Todd Burton replaces UAS batteries during a mission at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico. Batteries last for only around 15 minutes, therefore a minimum of six sets are typically taken into the field which allows each used set to be cooled down, recharged, and then reused in the field.
USGS remote pilot Todd Burton replaces UAS batteries during a mission at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico. Batteries last for only around 15 minutes, therefore a minimum of six sets are typically taken into the field which allows each used set to be cooled down, recharged, and then reused in the field.
Prior to the UAS flights USGS researchers Amy Gilmer, Theresa Schwartz, and Victoria Scholl hike up Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico to place ground control targets and scale bars.
Prior to the UAS flights USGS researchers Amy Gilmer, Theresa Schwartz, and Victoria Scholl hike up Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico to place ground control targets and scale bars.
USGS researchers Amy Gilmer, Theresa Schwartz, and Victoria Scholl hike up Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
linkPrior to the UAS flights USGS researchers Amy Gilmer, Theresa Schwartz, and Victoria Scholl hike up Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico to place ground control targets and scale bars.
USGS researchers Amy Gilmer, Theresa Schwartz, and Victoria Scholl hike up Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
linkPrior to the UAS flights USGS researchers Amy Gilmer, Theresa Schwartz, and Victoria Scholl hike up Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico to place ground control targets and scale bars.
USGS remote pilot Mark Bauer flies a UAS with a stabilized gimbal with vibration dampening mounted with a Sony A7r camera with a locked focus using a 14mm wide angle lens at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico.
USGS remote pilot Mark Bauer flies a UAS with a stabilized gimbal with vibration dampening mounted with a Sony A7r camera with a locked focus using a 14mm wide angle lens at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico.
In June 2021, eight months after the East Troublesome Fire burned over 193,000 acres in Colorado, NUSO performed UAS data collection over several of the burn scars representing different fire intensity levels and fuel types.
In June 2021, eight months after the East Troublesome Fire burned over 193,000 acres in Colorado, NUSO performed UAS data collection over several of the burn scars representing different fire intensity levels and fuel types.
Check out -
Quick Link "UAS Supports Science" to see UAS data releases and related scientific journal articles
U.S. Geological Survey Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Roadmap 2014
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) leads the research activities needed to make Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) data collection an efficient, safe, and cost-effective remote sensing tool for Department of the Interior (DOI) and USGS scientists.
DOI manages over 20 percent of the Nation’s public lands and is responsible for migratory bird and wildlife conservation; historic preservation; endangered species conservation; surface-mined lands protection and restoration; and mapping, geological, hydrological, and biological science for the Nation. Access to remotely sensed data is critical to fulfilling the DOI’s commitment to providing the best available science over such diverse missions and extensive landscapes. UAS is a tool that has quickly become vital to scientists by delivering some of the best remotely sensed data available over DOI’s expansive geography. UAS can also carry sophisticated high-resolution sensors that offer impressive capabilities relative to the amount, resolution, persistence, and flexibility of remotely collected data for these challenging locations.
New and Noteworthy
- Alternative Approaches to Inspections for Federal Land Management Agency Roads:…
- Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) natural color, multispectral, lidar, and hypers…
- Incredible discoveries and devastation of paleontological resources in a changi…
- Compilation of topographic data, aerial imagery, and land cover classification,…
Permafrost is ground that has been frozen for at least two years. With the warming climate, permafrost across Alaska is thawing and greenhouse gases such as methane are released as a result. Ecologist Kristen Manies of the U.S.
Permafrost is ground that has been frozen for at least two years. With the warming climate, permafrost across Alaska is thawing and greenhouse gases such as methane are released as a result. Ecologist Kristen Manies of the U.S.
USGS researcher Victoria Scholl (NUSO) checks the image quality of photos captured using the Mavic Pro UAS over a bog in Alaska. These photos will be used to generate a Structure from Motion photogrammetry orthomosaic.
USGS researcher Victoria Scholl (NUSO) checks the image quality of photos captured using the Mavic Pro UAS over a bog in Alaska. These photos will be used to generate a Structure from Motion photogrammetry orthomosaic.
UAS carrying the methane sensor (left) and a smaller UAS used to collect videos and photos (right) in Alaska
linkUAS carrying the methane sensor (left) and a smaller UAS used to collect videos and photos (right) in Alaska. Both UAS are resting on wooden pallets that the team set onto the bog for a dry and flat takeoff/landing location.
UAS carrying the methane sensor (left) and a smaller UAS used to collect videos and photos (right) in Alaska
linkUAS carrying the methane sensor (left) and a smaller UAS used to collect videos and photos (right) in Alaska. Both UAS are resting on wooden pallets that the team set onto the bog for a dry and flat takeoff/landing location.
Victoria Scholl (NUSO), Kristen Manies (GMEG Science Center), and Joe Adams (NUSO) hiked the UAS gear through the woods and across a network of boardwalks to access the bog site at the BNZ LTER.
Victoria Scholl (NUSO), Kristen Manies (GMEG Science Center), and Joe Adams (NUSO) hiked the UAS gear through the woods and across a network of boardwalks to access the bog site at the BNZ LTER.
Image from a UAS acquired natural-color video showing the UAS-mounted Kolibri sensor being flown in Alaska
linkImage from a UAS acquired natural-color video showing the UAS-mounted Kolibri sensor being flown through the smoke plume during one of the in-situ oil burns at a Poker Flat Research Range retention pond in Alaska.
Image from a UAS acquired natural-color video showing the UAS-mounted Kolibri sensor being flown in Alaska
linkImage from a UAS acquired natural-color video showing the UAS-mounted Kolibri sensor being flown through the smoke plume during one of the in-situ oil burns at a Poker Flat Research Range retention pond in Alaska.
USGS researcher tacking down a calibration tarp at the Eastern Ecological Science Center - Leetown Research Laboratory
linkUSGS researcher Joe Adams tacking down a calibration tarp at the Eastern Ecological Science Center - Leetown Research Laboratory.
USGS researcher tacking down a calibration tarp at the Eastern Ecological Science Center - Leetown Research Laboratory
linkUSGS researcher Joe Adams tacking down a calibration tarp at the Eastern Ecological Science Center - Leetown Research Laboratory.
USGS researcher Matt Burgess remotely pilots a UAS collecting lidar data during the April 2022 USGS UASnow project at Berthoud Pass, Colorado.
USGS researcher Matt Burgess remotely pilots a UAS collecting lidar data during the April 2022 USGS UASnow project at Berthoud Pass, Colorado.
A UAS collecting natural color video over one of the study sites during a joint NUSO and USGS Water Resources Mission Area snow mapping project in Winter Park, Colorado.
A UAS collecting natural color video over one of the study sites during a joint NUSO and USGS Water Resources Mission Area snow mapping project in Winter Park, Colorado.
USGS researcher Joe Adams (NUSO) setting up a GPS base station at one of the study sites for a snow mapping project in Winter Park, Colorado. GPS base station data is used in post-processing to improve the geospatial accuracy of UAS collected data.
USGS researcher Joe Adams (NUSO) setting up a GPS base station at one of the study sites for a snow mapping project in Winter Park, Colorado. GPS base station data is used in post-processing to improve the geospatial accuracy of UAS collected data.
USGS NUSO researchers Victoria Scholl and Mark Bauer take a moment to enjoy the scenery during a UAS data collection for the snow water equivalent (SWE) project at the Berthoud Pass Colorado study site.
USGS NUSO researchers Victoria Scholl and Mark Bauer take a moment to enjoy the scenery during a UAS data collection for the snow water equivalent (SWE) project at the Berthoud Pass Colorado study site.
Please don’t walk on the biocrust!
Drone's eye view of a USGS remote pilot during a biocrust mission near Moab, UT
NUSO UAS pilot Matt Burgess captures an image of himself while landing a UAS after a flight over a biocrust site near Moab, Utah.
Drone's eye view of a USGS remote pilot during a biocrust mission near Moab, UT
NUSO UAS pilot Matt Burgess captures an image of himself while landing a UAS after a flight over a biocrust site near Moab, Utah.
USGS researcher returns after collecting previously deployed UAS ground targets in the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
linkUSGS researcher Victoria Scholl (NUSO) returns after collecting previously deployed scale bar and ground control point survey targets along the Paleocene Poison Canyon Formation in the Cimarron Canyon, New Mexico.
USGS researcher returns after collecting previously deployed UAS ground targets in the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
linkUSGS researcher Victoria Scholl (NUSO) returns after collecting previously deployed scale bar and ground control point survey targets along the Paleocene Poison Canyon Formation in the Cimarron Canyon, New Mexico.
UAS ground control point survey targets deployed along the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
One of the ground control point survey targets deployed along the Paleocene Poison Canyon Formation in the Cimarron Canyon and used to provide accurate GPS data during the UAS data collection flights.
UAS ground control point survey targets deployed along the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
One of the ground control point survey targets deployed along the Paleocene Poison Canyon Formation in the Cimarron Canyon and used to provide accurate GPS data during the UAS data collection flights.
USGS scientist places a scale bar and ground control point survey target at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
linkUSGS scientist Victoria Scholl (NUSO) places a scale bar and ground control point survey target along the Paleocene Poison Canyon Formation in the Cimarron Canyon. GPS data from these targets and derived from the UAS collected imagery helps ensure high positional and geometric accuracy of georeferenced data products including 3D models.
USGS scientist places a scale bar and ground control point survey target at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
linkUSGS scientist Victoria Scholl (NUSO) places a scale bar and ground control point survey target along the Paleocene Poison Canyon Formation in the Cimarron Canyon. GPS data from these targets and derived from the UAS collected imagery helps ensure high positional and geometric accuracy of georeferenced data products including 3D models.
USGS scientist reviews the imagery being acquired from a UAS at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
linkUSGS scientist Mark Bauer reviews the imagery being acquired from a UAS at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
USGS scientist reviews the imagery being acquired from a UAS at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
linkUSGS scientist Mark Bauer reviews the imagery being acquired from a UAS at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
USGS remote pilot Todd Burton replaces UAS batteries during a mission at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico. Batteries last for only around 15 minutes, therefore a minimum of six sets are typically taken into the field which allows each used set to be cooled down, recharged, and then reused in the field.
USGS remote pilot Todd Burton replaces UAS batteries during a mission at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico. Batteries last for only around 15 minutes, therefore a minimum of six sets are typically taken into the field which allows each used set to be cooled down, recharged, and then reused in the field.
Prior to the UAS flights USGS researchers Amy Gilmer, Theresa Schwartz, and Victoria Scholl hike up Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico to place ground control targets and scale bars.
Prior to the UAS flights USGS researchers Amy Gilmer, Theresa Schwartz, and Victoria Scholl hike up Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico to place ground control targets and scale bars.
USGS researchers Amy Gilmer, Theresa Schwartz, and Victoria Scholl hike up Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
linkPrior to the UAS flights USGS researchers Amy Gilmer, Theresa Schwartz, and Victoria Scholl hike up Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico to place ground control targets and scale bars.
USGS researchers Amy Gilmer, Theresa Schwartz, and Victoria Scholl hike up Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
linkPrior to the UAS flights USGS researchers Amy Gilmer, Theresa Schwartz, and Victoria Scholl hike up Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico to place ground control targets and scale bars.
USGS remote pilot Mark Bauer flies a UAS with a stabilized gimbal with vibration dampening mounted with a Sony A7r camera with a locked focus using a 14mm wide angle lens at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico.
USGS remote pilot Mark Bauer flies a UAS with a stabilized gimbal with vibration dampening mounted with a Sony A7r camera with a locked focus using a 14mm wide angle lens at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico.
In June 2021, eight months after the East Troublesome Fire burned over 193,000 acres in Colorado, NUSO performed UAS data collection over several of the burn scars representing different fire intensity levels and fuel types.
In June 2021, eight months after the East Troublesome Fire burned over 193,000 acres in Colorado, NUSO performed UAS data collection over several of the burn scars representing different fire intensity levels and fuel types.
Check out -
Quick Link "UAS Supports Science" to see UAS data releases and related scientific journal articles