Joseph Affinati
Joe Affinati is a Geographer and UAS Pilot with the USGS Arizona Water Science Center, Flagstaff office.
Professional Experience
2023-present, Geographer, USGS AZ Water Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ
2016-2023, Hydrologic Technician, USGS AZ Water Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ
Education and Certifications
M.S. in Community and Regional Planning, University of New Mexico, 2015
M.S. in Water Resources Management, University of New Mexico, 2015
B.A. in Environmental Policy, Lawrence University, 2011
Science and Products
Assessing the vulnerability of cultural resources to rainfall-driven erosion in the Deadman Wash and Wupatki Wash drainages of Wupatki National Monument, Arizona
Project Overview Increased precipitation events and environmental damage from wildfires have resulted in more severe flooding events in the southwest. While these events have impacts across the landscape, it has had a significant impact on cultural resources within the region’s National Parks and Monuments. Wupakti National Monument in particular has experienced adverse resource impacts...
Bathymetric Survey of Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff, Arizona in 2024 - Digital Elevation Model Bathymetric Survey of Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff, Arizona in 2024 - Digital Elevation Model
The City of Flagstaff in northern Arizona utilizes Upper Lake Mary reservoir for approximately 25 to 30 percent of its water supply and understanding the detailed topography of the storage basin is essential for effective water management. The U.S. Geological Survey incorporated modern bathymetric and ground survey techniques to construct a 1-meter (1m) resolution digital elevation model...
High resolution natural color and thermal imagery collected by uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) for mapping vegetation change and natural spring identification at Tavasci Marsh in the Tuzigoot National Monument, AZ during 2023-2024 High resolution natural color and thermal imagery collected by uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) for mapping vegetation change and natural spring identification at Tavasci Marsh in the Tuzigoot National Monument, AZ during 2023-2024
The U.S. Geological Survey collected low-altitude airborne natural color imagery, thermal imagery, and 10-band multispectral imagery (2023 only) via a hexacopter uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) in 2023 and 2024 for mapping effects of fire at Tavasci Marsh in the Tuzigoot National Monument in Arizona. Visual imagery was collected to derive high-resolution natural color, thermal (surface...
Colorado River at Windy Gap near Granby, CO - 2022/06/13 Water Surface Velocity Map Using Particle Image Velocimetry Colorado River at Windy Gap near Granby, CO - 2022/06/13 Water Surface Velocity Map Using Particle Image Velocimetry
The dataset consists of a .csv and shapefile of measurements of surface velocity magnitude and direction at the Colorado River at Windy Gap near Granby, CO, on June 13, 2022. The dataset contains approximately 2 km of river length. The surface velocity measurements were made by applying Large-Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV) techniques, using overlapping videos collected by small...
Science and Products
Assessing the vulnerability of cultural resources to rainfall-driven erosion in the Deadman Wash and Wupatki Wash drainages of Wupatki National Monument, Arizona
Project Overview Increased precipitation events and environmental damage from wildfires have resulted in more severe flooding events in the southwest. While these events have impacts across the landscape, it has had a significant impact on cultural resources within the region’s National Parks and Monuments. Wupakti National Monument in particular has experienced adverse resource impacts...
Bathymetric Survey of Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff, Arizona in 2024 - Digital Elevation Model Bathymetric Survey of Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff, Arizona in 2024 - Digital Elevation Model
The City of Flagstaff in northern Arizona utilizes Upper Lake Mary reservoir for approximately 25 to 30 percent of its water supply and understanding the detailed topography of the storage basin is essential for effective water management. The U.S. Geological Survey incorporated modern bathymetric and ground survey techniques to construct a 1-meter (1m) resolution digital elevation model...
High resolution natural color and thermal imagery collected by uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) for mapping vegetation change and natural spring identification at Tavasci Marsh in the Tuzigoot National Monument, AZ during 2023-2024 High resolution natural color and thermal imagery collected by uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) for mapping vegetation change and natural spring identification at Tavasci Marsh in the Tuzigoot National Monument, AZ during 2023-2024
The U.S. Geological Survey collected low-altitude airborne natural color imagery, thermal imagery, and 10-band multispectral imagery (2023 only) via a hexacopter uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) in 2023 and 2024 for mapping effects of fire at Tavasci Marsh in the Tuzigoot National Monument in Arizona. Visual imagery was collected to derive high-resolution natural color, thermal (surface...
Colorado River at Windy Gap near Granby, CO - 2022/06/13 Water Surface Velocity Map Using Particle Image Velocimetry Colorado River at Windy Gap near Granby, CO - 2022/06/13 Water Surface Velocity Map Using Particle Image Velocimetry
The dataset consists of a .csv and shapefile of measurements of surface velocity magnitude and direction at the Colorado River at Windy Gap near Granby, CO, on June 13, 2022. The dataset contains approximately 2 km of river length. The surface velocity measurements were made by applying Large-Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV) techniques, using overlapping videos collected by small...