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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.
November 1, 2025
Drone-based radiometric surveys provide high-resolution mine waste characterization
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.
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.
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 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 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 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 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.
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 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.
USGS scientist Mark Bauer reviews the imagery being acquired from a UAS at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
USGS scientist Mark Bauer reviews the imagery being acquired from a UAS at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
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.
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 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.
USGS scientist Matt Burgess pilots a UAS during a joint USGS NUSO, USGS Western Ecological Research Center, USGS Western Geographic Science Center, USGS Spectroscopy Lab, and California State University Monterey Bay multi-scale hyperspectral remote sensing data collection mission in San Francisco Bay, California.
USGS scientist Matt Burgess pilots a UAS during a joint USGS NUSO, USGS Western Ecological Research Center, USGS Western Geographic Science Center, USGS Spectroscopy Lab, and California State University Monterey Bay multi-scale hyperspectral remote sensing data collection mission in San Francisco Bay, California.
Ricoh GR natural color image taken from a UAS showing the intertidal biofilm, a slimy green layer of fungi and bacteria growing on top of mud, in San Francisco Bay, California.
Ricoh GR natural color image taken from a UAS showing the intertidal biofilm, a slimy green layer of fungi and bacteria growing on top of mud, in San Francisco Bay, California.
Intertidal biofilm, a slimy green layer of fungi and bacteria growing on top of mud, inhabits mudflats and is an essential component of shorebirds’ diets in San Francisco Bay, California.
Intertidal biofilm, a slimy green layer of fungi and bacteria growing on top of mud, inhabits mudflats and is an essential component of shorebirds’ diets in San Francisco Bay, California.
Have you heard about biking to work? Well, how about trying snowshoeing to work?
Have you heard about biking to work? Well, how about trying snowshoeing to work?
USGS scientist Joe Adams (NUSO) setting up a GPS base station 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 scientist Joe Adams (NUSO) setting up a GPS base station 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.
Two UAS fly in formation during the joint NUSO and USGS Water Resources Mission Area snow water equivalent project in Winter Park Colorado. These two UAS are carrying identical, experimental, software-defined radar sensors for measuring snow depth and density.
Two UAS fly in formation during the joint NUSO and USGS Water Resources Mission Area snow water equivalent project in Winter Park Colorado. These two UAS are carrying identical, experimental, software-defined radar sensors for measuring snow depth and density.
USGS researcher Joe Adams (NUSO) mounts a Ricoh GRII camera to a UAS that will be flying transects to collect natural color imagery during the snow water equivalent (SWE) project in Winter Park Colorado.
USGS researcher Joe Adams (NUSO) mounts a Ricoh GRII camera to a UAS that will be flying transects to collect natural color imagery during the snow water equivalent (SWE) project in Winter Park Colorado.
This video is an introduction to the partnership between the USGS Arizona Water Science Center and the Arizona Department of Transportation, or ADOT, as it is referred to throughout the video. These two agencies are working together, using cutting edge technology and methods, to understand how flood flows interact with and impact critical infrastructure.
This video is an introduction to the partnership between the USGS Arizona Water Science Center and the Arizona Department of Transportation, or ADOT, as it is referred to throughout the video. These two agencies are working together, using cutting edge technology and methods, to understand how flood flows interact with and impact critical infrastructure.
A FireFLY6 Pro vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing UAS sits on the ground between flights at the Corral Bluffs study area to support fossil studies by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
A FireFLY6 Pro vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing UAS sits on the ground between flights at the Corral Bluffs study area to support fossil studies by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
The USGS is developing methods to improve data collection during floods to gain new insight into the rise and fall of flood waters. In the past, the only data left behind after a flood was how high the water got, or the peak of the flood.
The USGS is developing methods to improve data collection during floods to gain new insight into the rise and fall of flood waters. In the past, the only data left behind after a flood was how high the water got, or the peak of the flood.
Image of the 2018 eruption of the Kilauea volcano taken from a Sony RX1R II natural color sensor mounted on a UAS
Image of the 2018 eruption of the Kilauea volcano taken from a Sony RX1R II natural color sensor mounted on a UAS
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.
November 1, 2025
Drone-based radiometric surveys provide high-resolution mine waste characterization
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.
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.
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 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 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 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 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.
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 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.
USGS scientist Mark Bauer reviews the imagery being acquired from a UAS at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
USGS scientist Mark Bauer reviews the imagery being acquired from a UAS at the Cimarron Canyon in New Mexico
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.
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 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.
USGS scientist Matt Burgess pilots a UAS during a joint USGS NUSO, USGS Western Ecological Research Center, USGS Western Geographic Science Center, USGS Spectroscopy Lab, and California State University Monterey Bay multi-scale hyperspectral remote sensing data collection mission in San Francisco Bay, California.
USGS scientist Matt Burgess pilots a UAS during a joint USGS NUSO, USGS Western Ecological Research Center, USGS Western Geographic Science Center, USGS Spectroscopy Lab, and California State University Monterey Bay multi-scale hyperspectral remote sensing data collection mission in San Francisco Bay, California.
Ricoh GR natural color image taken from a UAS showing the intertidal biofilm, a slimy green layer of fungi and bacteria growing on top of mud, in San Francisco Bay, California.
Ricoh GR natural color image taken from a UAS showing the intertidal biofilm, a slimy green layer of fungi and bacteria growing on top of mud, in San Francisco Bay, California.
Intertidal biofilm, a slimy green layer of fungi and bacteria growing on top of mud, inhabits mudflats and is an essential component of shorebirds’ diets in San Francisco Bay, California.
Intertidal biofilm, a slimy green layer of fungi and bacteria growing on top of mud, inhabits mudflats and is an essential component of shorebirds’ diets in San Francisco Bay, California.
Have you heard about biking to work? Well, how about trying snowshoeing to work?
Have you heard about biking to work? Well, how about trying snowshoeing to work?
USGS scientist Joe Adams (NUSO) setting up a GPS base station 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 scientist Joe Adams (NUSO) setting up a GPS base station 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.
Two UAS fly in formation during the joint NUSO and USGS Water Resources Mission Area snow water equivalent project in Winter Park Colorado. These two UAS are carrying identical, experimental, software-defined radar sensors for measuring snow depth and density.
Two UAS fly in formation during the joint NUSO and USGS Water Resources Mission Area snow water equivalent project in Winter Park Colorado. These two UAS are carrying identical, experimental, software-defined radar sensors for measuring snow depth and density.
USGS researcher Joe Adams (NUSO) mounts a Ricoh GRII camera to a UAS that will be flying transects to collect natural color imagery during the snow water equivalent (SWE) project in Winter Park Colorado.
USGS researcher Joe Adams (NUSO) mounts a Ricoh GRII camera to a UAS that will be flying transects to collect natural color imagery during the snow water equivalent (SWE) project in Winter Park Colorado.
This video is an introduction to the partnership between the USGS Arizona Water Science Center and the Arizona Department of Transportation, or ADOT, as it is referred to throughout the video. These two agencies are working together, using cutting edge technology and methods, to understand how flood flows interact with and impact critical infrastructure.
This video is an introduction to the partnership between the USGS Arizona Water Science Center and the Arizona Department of Transportation, or ADOT, as it is referred to throughout the video. These two agencies are working together, using cutting edge technology and methods, to understand how flood flows interact with and impact critical infrastructure.
A FireFLY6 Pro vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing UAS sits on the ground between flights at the Corral Bluffs study area to support fossil studies by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
A FireFLY6 Pro vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing UAS sits on the ground between flights at the Corral Bluffs study area to support fossil studies by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
The USGS is developing methods to improve data collection during floods to gain new insight into the rise and fall of flood waters. In the past, the only data left behind after a flood was how high the water got, or the peak of the flood.
The USGS is developing methods to improve data collection during floods to gain new insight into the rise and fall of flood waters. In the past, the only data left behind after a flood was how high the water got, or the peak of the flood.
Image of the 2018 eruption of the Kilauea volcano taken from a Sony RX1R II natural color sensor mounted on a UAS
Image of the 2018 eruption of the Kilauea volcano taken from a Sony RX1R II natural color sensor mounted on a UAS