New Article: Drone-based radiometric surveys provide high-resolution mine waste characterization
New research article: evaluating radiometric calibration and data quality of spectral UAS sensors
Using uncrewed aircraft systems to assess landslide damage after Hurricane Helene
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.
Technology Research
Research Missions
New and Noteworthy
November 1, 2025
Drone-based radiometric surveys provide high-resolution mine waste characterization
What We Do
We focus on the evaluation of new platforms, integration of new UAS-compatible sensors, development of data specifications and processing techniques, recommendations of UAS data acquisition best-practices, and operational support for new and existing DOI remote pilots.
Who We Are
We are a team of platform and UAS-compatible sensor subject matter experts that, in addition to research, provide operational support to DOI remote pilots and outreach to federal, public, and international audiences. Our office, established on May 8th, 2008, operates as part of the National Land Imaging Program, and contributes to its goal to provide the Federal Government and the public with the remotely sensed data and applications needed to support our Nation’s economic security and environmental vitality.
Products listed below were supported through the use of UAS technologies and resources at USGS.
Hybrid Lidar/Imagery Sensor Validation Survey Data Hybrid Lidar/Imagery Sensor Validation Survey Data
Photogrammetric data collected by small unoccupied aircraft system for vegetation analysis at three study reaches along the Verde River, Arizona, December 2017 Photogrammetric data collected by small unoccupied aircraft system for vegetation analysis at three study reaches along the Verde River, Arizona, December 2017
Topographic and Sediment Size Data from Fountain Creek between Colorado Springs and the Confluence with the Arkansas River, Colorado, 2019 Topographic and Sediment Size Data from Fountain Creek between Colorado Springs and the Confluence with the Arkansas River, Colorado, 2019
Orthoimagery and elevation data derived from UAS imagery for Palmyra Atoll, USA 2016 (ver. 1.1, November 2020) Orthoimagery and elevation data derived from UAS imagery for Palmyra Atoll, USA 2016 (ver. 1.1, November 2020)
Orthoimagery and elevation data for Bluffton Native Habitat Waterway, Indiana, 2016 Orthoimagery and elevation data for Bluffton Native Habitat Waterway, Indiana, 2016
Digital Surface Models for the northern 16 km of the 1983 Borah Peak earthquake rupture, northern Lost River fault zone (Idaho, USA) Digital Surface Models for the northern 16 km of the 1983 Borah Peak earthquake rupture, northern Lost River fault zone (Idaho, USA)
Products listed below were supported through the use of UAS technologies and resources at USGS.
U.S. Geological Survey Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Roadmap 2014 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.
Technology Research
Research Missions
New and Noteworthy
November 1, 2025
Drone-based radiometric surveys provide high-resolution mine waste characterization
What We Do
We focus on the evaluation of new platforms, integration of new UAS-compatible sensors, development of data specifications and processing techniques, recommendations of UAS data acquisition best-practices, and operational support for new and existing DOI remote pilots.
Who We Are
We are a team of platform and UAS-compatible sensor subject matter experts that, in addition to research, provide operational support to DOI remote pilots and outreach to federal, public, and international audiences. Our office, established on May 8th, 2008, operates as part of the National Land Imaging Program, and contributes to its goal to provide the Federal Government and the public with the remotely sensed data and applications needed to support our Nation’s economic security and environmental vitality.
Products listed below were supported through the use of UAS technologies and resources at USGS.
Hybrid Lidar/Imagery Sensor Validation Survey Data Hybrid Lidar/Imagery Sensor Validation Survey Data
Photogrammetric data collected by small unoccupied aircraft system for vegetation analysis at three study reaches along the Verde River, Arizona, December 2017 Photogrammetric data collected by small unoccupied aircraft system for vegetation analysis at three study reaches along the Verde River, Arizona, December 2017
Topographic and Sediment Size Data from Fountain Creek between Colorado Springs and the Confluence with the Arkansas River, Colorado, 2019 Topographic and Sediment Size Data from Fountain Creek between Colorado Springs and the Confluence with the Arkansas River, Colorado, 2019
Orthoimagery and elevation data derived from UAS imagery for Palmyra Atoll, USA 2016 (ver. 1.1, November 2020) Orthoimagery and elevation data derived from UAS imagery for Palmyra Atoll, USA 2016 (ver. 1.1, November 2020)
Orthoimagery and elevation data for Bluffton Native Habitat Waterway, Indiana, 2016 Orthoimagery and elevation data for Bluffton Native Habitat Waterway, Indiana, 2016
Digital Surface Models for the northern 16 km of the 1983 Borah Peak earthquake rupture, northern Lost River fault zone (Idaho, USA) Digital Surface Models for the northern 16 km of the 1983 Borah Peak earthquake rupture, northern Lost River fault zone (Idaho, USA)
Products listed below were supported through the use of UAS technologies and resources at USGS.