National Uncrewed Systems Office

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

December 3, 2025
Absolute radiometric calibration evaluation of Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) Headwall and MicaSense sensors and improving data quality using the Empirical Line Method

November 1, 2025
Drone-based radiometric surveys provide high-resolution mine waste characterization

June 3, 2025
Pre-Restoration Woody Species Crown and Vegetation Community Mapping Using High-Resolution Uncrewed Aerial System Imagery, Palmyra Atoll

What We Do

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

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

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

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.

Filter Total Items: 81

Data Type

Release Date (field_release_date)

Items per page

September 12, 2023

Lidar Point Clouds (LPCs), Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), and Snow Depth Raster Maps Derived from Lidar Data Collected on Small, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems in the Upper Colorado River Basin, Colorado, 2020-22 Lidar Point Clouds (LPCs), Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), and Snow Depth Raster Maps Derived from Lidar Data Collected on Small, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems in the Upper Colorado River Basin, Colorado, 2020-22

This data release consists of three child items distinguishing the following types of data: light detection and ranging (lidar) point clouds (LPCs), digital elevation models (DEMs), and snow depth raster maps. These three data types are all derived from lidar data collected on small, uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) at study areas in the Upper Colorado River Basin, Colorado, from 2020 to...

August 25, 2023

Topographic and multispectral reflectance products, aerial imagery, spectral reflectance profiles, vegetation surveys, and associated GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations: Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland, Octob Topographic and multispectral reflectance products, aerial imagery, spectral reflectance profiles, vegetation surveys, and associated GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations: Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland, Octob

Low-altitude (70 m above ground level) aerial images were collected over 5 areas of interest within the northern portion of Assateague Island National Seashore (ASIS) in mid-October, 2022. These images were collected to generate photogrammetric products (e.g. digital surface model (DSM), reflectance orthomosaic) for five areas of interest along the northern portion of the island to...

By

Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

August 7, 2023

Erosion rates and salinity and selenium yields in a basin near Rangely, Colorado following the 2017 Dead Dog wildfire as modeled by WEPP and measured from UAV Erosion rates and salinity and selenium yields in a basin near Rangely, Colorado following the 2017 Dead Dog wildfire as modeled by WEPP and measured from UAV

This data release accompanies a U.S Geological Survey study that assessed sediment, salinity, and selenium yields following the Dead Dog wildfire in northwestern Colorado. The Dead Dog fire ignited on June 11, 2017, near Rangely, Colorado, and burned over 17,000 acres, including the B2 study area. Two methodologies were used to quantify erosion and associated salinity and sediment yields...

By

Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

June 27, 2023

Aerial imagery and structure-from-motion data products from UAS surveys of the beaches at Fort Stevens State Park, OR, and Cape Disappointment State Park, WA Aerial imagery and structure-from-motion data products from UAS surveys of the beaches at Fort Stevens State Park, OR, and Cape Disappointment State Park, WA

This data release presents aerial imagery and structure-from-motion (SfM) data products from uncrewed aerial system (UAS) surveys conducted on the ocean beaches adjacent to the Columbia River Mouth at the Oregon-Washington border. The surveys cover approximately 3 kilometers of Benson Beach at Cape Disappointment State Park north of the Columbia River mouth, in Washington, and 3...

By

Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

May 23, 2023

UAS imagery and related products collected for structure-from-motion work obtained by using uncrewed aerial systems from an erosion prone area north of Medina River Natural Area near San Antonio, Texas, August 14, 2019, and July 8, 2022 UAS imagery and related products collected for structure-from-motion work obtained by using uncrewed aerial systems from an erosion prone area north of Medina River Natural Area near San Antonio, Texas, August 14, 2019, and July 8, 2022

Uncrewed aerial system (UAS) flights were conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey at an edge-of-field site located north of Medina River Natural Area near San Antonio, Texas on August 14, 2019, and July 8, 2022, to support efforts aimed at estimating edge-of-field erosion and potential sediment loading into the Medina River near San Antonio. Data provided here include imagery obtained...

By

Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

March 31, 2023

Rapid-response digital elevation models of the 2020–present summit eruptions at Kīlauea Volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi (updated 2025-09-16) Rapid-response digital elevation models of the 2020–present summit eruptions at Kīlauea Volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi (updated 2025-09-16)

We depict changing eruptive features within the summit caldera of Kilauea volcano, Island of Hawai'i with rapid-response digital elevation models (DEMs) acquired since a series of caldera-filling effusive eruptions began on December 20, 2020. These eruptions follow the caldera collapse of 2018, with new lava progressively filling the approximately 1-cubic-kilometer pit that formed...

By

Volcano Science Center, Kīlauea

Products listed below were supported through the use of UAS technologies and resources at USGS.

National Uncrewed Systems Office

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

UAS 3D Model of Marsh-Felch Quarry in Colorado

UAS Hyperspectral Imaging during the Missouri River Dye-Trace Study

UAS 3D Scan of the Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial

Technology Research

Research Missions

New and Noteworthy

What We Do

Who We Are

NUSO Team

General Contact

Technology Research

Research Missions

New and Noteworthy

What We Do

Who We Are

NUSO Team

General Contact