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
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.
Topographic and multispectral reflectance products, aerial imagery, ground spectra, vegetation, and associated GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system operations - Dog Head Marsh at South Cape Beach, Mashpee, MA, October 7-8, 2021 Topographic and multispectral reflectance products, aerial imagery, ground spectra, vegetation, and associated GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system operations - Dog Head Marsh at South Cape Beach, Mashpee, MA, October 7-8, 2021
Video acquired from an Uncrewed Aerial System, UAS, and hydroacoustic measurements of flow velocity obtained along the North Santiam River, Oregon, in July 2022 Video acquired from an Uncrewed Aerial System, UAS, and hydroacoustic measurements of flow velocity obtained along the North Santiam River, Oregon, in July 2022
UAV imagery and digital elevation data for the debris slide in Chaos Canyon, 28 June 2022, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. UAV imagery and digital elevation data for the debris slide in Chaos Canyon, 28 June 2022, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Compilation of topographic data, aerial imagery, and land cover classification, collected between 1984 to 2021 for an aeolian dune field near Lees Ferry, AZ Compilation of topographic data, aerial imagery, and land cover classification, collected between 1984 to 2021 for an aeolian dune field near Lees Ferry, AZ
Remotely sensed data from a reach of the Sacramento River near Glenn, California, used to perform Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) within the Robot Operating System (ROS) Remotely sensed data from a reach of the Sacramento River near Glenn, California, used to perform Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) within the Robot Operating System (ROS)
Multispectral images and field measurements of water depth from the Sacramento River near Glenn, California, acquired September 14-16, 2021 Multispectral images and field measurements of water depth from the Sacramento River near Glenn, California, acquired September 14-16, 2021
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
Developing bare-earth digital elevation models from structure-from-motion data on barrier islands Developing bare-earth digital elevation models from structure-from-motion data on barrier islands
Workflow for using unmanned aircraft systems and traditional geospatial data to delineate agricultural drainage tiles at edge-of-field sites Workflow for using unmanned aircraft systems and traditional geospatial data to delineate agricultural drainage tiles at edge-of-field sites
Lava effusion rate evolution and erupted volume during the 2018 Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone eruption Lava effusion rate evolution and erupted volume during the 2018 Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone eruption
Quantifying plant-soil-nutrient dynamics in rangelands: Fusion of UAV hyperspectral-LiDAR, UAV multispectral-photogrammetry, and ground-based LiDAR-digital photography in a shrub-encroached desert grassland Quantifying plant-soil-nutrient dynamics in rangelands: Fusion of UAV hyperspectral-LiDAR, UAV multispectral-photogrammetry, and ground-based LiDAR-digital photography in a shrub-encroached desert grassland
Small atoll fresh groundwater lenses respond to a combination of natural climatic cycles and human modified geology Small atoll fresh groundwater lenses respond to a combination of natural climatic cycles and human modified geology
QCam: sUAS-based doppler radar for measuring river discharge QCam: sUAS-based doppler radar for measuring river discharge
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
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.
Topographic and multispectral reflectance products, aerial imagery, ground spectra, vegetation, and associated GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system operations - Dog Head Marsh at South Cape Beach, Mashpee, MA, October 7-8, 2021 Topographic and multispectral reflectance products, aerial imagery, ground spectra, vegetation, and associated GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system operations - Dog Head Marsh at South Cape Beach, Mashpee, MA, October 7-8, 2021
Video acquired from an Uncrewed Aerial System, UAS, and hydroacoustic measurements of flow velocity obtained along the North Santiam River, Oregon, in July 2022 Video acquired from an Uncrewed Aerial System, UAS, and hydroacoustic measurements of flow velocity obtained along the North Santiam River, Oregon, in July 2022
UAV imagery and digital elevation data for the debris slide in Chaos Canyon, 28 June 2022, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. UAV imagery and digital elevation data for the debris slide in Chaos Canyon, 28 June 2022, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Compilation of topographic data, aerial imagery, and land cover classification, collected between 1984 to 2021 for an aeolian dune field near Lees Ferry, AZ Compilation of topographic data, aerial imagery, and land cover classification, collected between 1984 to 2021 for an aeolian dune field near Lees Ferry, AZ
Remotely sensed data from a reach of the Sacramento River near Glenn, California, used to perform Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) within the Robot Operating System (ROS) Remotely sensed data from a reach of the Sacramento River near Glenn, California, used to perform Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) within the Robot Operating System (ROS)
Multispectral images and field measurements of water depth from the Sacramento River near Glenn, California, acquired September 14-16, 2021 Multispectral images and field measurements of water depth from the Sacramento River near Glenn, California, acquired September 14-16, 2021
Products listed below were supported through the use of UAS technologies and resources at USGS.