National Uncrewed Systems Office

U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service personnel stand with drone technologies used for mapping the Abó Ruins at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument in Mountainair, New Mexico.

U.S. Geological Survey remote pilot Victoria Scholl flies a drone with camera payload to capture natural color images for photogrammetric mapping of the Abó Ruins at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument in Mountainair, New Mexico.

The U.S. Geological Survey National Uncrewed Systems Office flew uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) to map the Abó Ruins at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument in Mountainair, New Mexico.

USGS remote pilots Matt Burgess and Victoria Scholl prepare to conduct a drone mapping flight to collect thermal imagery over a dryland study site near Moab, Utah. 

Drone operations near Moab, Utah to collect spectral remote sensing imagery during a collaborative USGS field campaign in May 2025.

In 2024, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) provided technical support to the National Park Service in assessing road damage and landslide hazards along the Blue Ridge Parkway following Hurricane Helene.

In 2024, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) provided technical support for the National Park Service in assessing road damage and landslide hazards along the Blue Ridge Parkway following Hurricane Helene.

In 2024, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) provided technical support for the National Park Service to assess road damage and landslide hazards after Hurricane Helene along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

USGS geographer and remote pilot Mark Bauer sets up a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) base station, which will be used to correct uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) lidar data during post-processing. It's early during the field day and a layer of frost covers the ground.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) employs a range of drone technologies for data collection in science, mapping, and monitoring.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) remote pilots Joe Adams and Matthew Burgess prepare to conduct drone flights at the Tanbark Ridge Overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is renowned for its winding path through the rugged Appalachian Mountains. The steep terrain and dense forests make for scenic views but also create a challenging environment for drone operations. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) remote pilots seek out open areas from which to conduct flights to enable good visibility of their surroundings.

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene brought heavy rain and powerful winds, resulting in multiple landslides along the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway. The National Park Service requested technical assistance from the U.S.

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene brought heavy rain and powerful winds, resulting in multiple landslides along the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway. The National Park Service requested technical assistance from the U.S.

NUSO researchers Matt Burgess and Mark Bauer prepare for evaluation flights with the WingtraOne GEN II vertical take-off and landing mapping UAS equipped with the newly released lidar payload.

Group photo captured using a drone. Left to right: Matt Burgess (NUSO), Paco Van Sistine (GECSC), Victoria Scholl (NUSO) standing at the overlook for the Marsh-Felch quarry.

USGS personnel standing at the overlook to the quarry prior to conducting UAS operations.

Thomas Casadevall (Scientist Emeritus with the Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center), Paco Van Sistine (GECSC), Victoria Scholl (NUSO), Matt Burgess (NUSO)

Field crew standing at the upper overlook on the Marsh-Felch Quarry site. 

Victoria Scholl (NUSO) conducts a Skydio X10 UAS 3D Scan flight at the 
Marsh-Felch Quarry site. 

USGS geologists view the informational sign at the quarry upper overlook in July 2024. The sign describes the history of Professor O.C. Marsh and Marshall P. Felch, the namesakes of the quarry, who worked together to excavate and study dinosaur bones. The sign features a photograph by Israel Cook Russel, a USGS Geologist, in July 1888.