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Mark A Bauer

Mark Bauer is a Geographer with U.S. Geological Survey and currently works with the National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO).

In his early career, Mark worked as a geospatial analyst focusing on geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing for natural hazards and natural resource management applications.   In 2009, Mark was responsible for the approval of the 1st certificate of authorization (COA) for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) applications in the national airspace for the Department of Interior.  He has worked on various UAS projects for a broad range of applications within the Department.  These UAS projects include volcanic monitoring, hydrologic monitoring, snow-water equivalent data collection, archeology, paleology documentation, wildlife inventories, post-wildfire data collection, forestry structure inventory, and feature extraction methods of UAS datasets.  His current research covers the strengths and limitations of Structure-from-Motion (SfM) and UAS lidar technology. 

 

Professional Experience

  • Implementing UAS lidar collection methods for the USGS

Education and Certifications

  • B.S. in Geography (emphasis in natural environmental systems), Northern Illinois University 

  • FAA Part 107 remote pilot license

Science and Products

Positional accuracy assessment of lidar point cloud from NAIP/3DEP pilot project

The Leica Geosystems CountryMapper hybrid system has the potential to collect data that satisfy the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Geospatial Program (NGP) and 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) requirements in a single collection. This research will help 3DEP determine if this sensor has the potential to me
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Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

Emergency Assessment of Debris-Flow Hazards from Basins Burned by the 2007 Santiago Fire, Orange County, Southern California

INTRODUCTION The objective of this report is to present a preliminary emergency assessment of the potential for debris-flow generation from basins burned by the Santiago Fire in Orange County, southern California in 2007. Debris flows are among the most hazardous geologic phenomena; debris flows that followed wildfires in southern California in 2003 killed 16 people and caused tens of millions
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Natural Hazards, Landslide Hazards, Geologic Hazards Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
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Joe Adams (USGS NUSO) working on the 3DR Solo

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. DOI manages over 20 percent of the Nation’s public lands and is responsible for migratory bird and wildlife...
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Core Science Systems, National Land Imaging Program, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
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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. DOI manages over 20 percent of the Nation’s public lands and is responsible for migratory bird and wildlife...
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Topobathymetric Model of Pu‘uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park, 2011 to 2019 – Field Survey Source and Validation Data

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and University of Hawaii - Mānoa (UH) scientists conducted field data collection efforts from August 19th - 27th, 2019 at Pu‘uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. The data collection efforts utilized a combination of remote sensing technologies to map the topography, critical infrastructure, and most importantly, the cultural assets o
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Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center

Topographic and Sediment Size Data from Fountain Creek between Colorado Springs and the Confluence with the Arkansas River, Colorado, 2019

In 2012, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with Colorado Springs Utilities selected 10 study areas along Fountain Creek between Colorado Springs, Colorado and the confluence of Fountain Creek with the Arkansas River for annual geomorphic monitoring. The purpose of this data release is to present topographic survey data, rasters , and sediment size data collected in 2019 as part of t
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Colorado Water Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
Mark uses a computer mouse and explores drone data on his laptop computer. Mark’s computer is set up in the back of a car. Mark’s face is reflected in the computer screen. He is wearing sunglasses and an orange USGS beanie.
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A photo shows USGS scientist Mark Bauer smiling at the camera. Mark is kneeling and holding the USGS drone with both hands. Mark wears a ballcap and an orange vest over his green USGS T-shirt. Behind Mark is a field of brown grass and a leaf-less tree sits in the background.
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A photo shows USGS scientist Mark Bauer looking up at the airborne USGS drone. Mark is holding a neon green radio is in right hand. Behind Mark is a white SUV. Mark is wearing an orange USGS beanie and a red hoodie sweatshirt. The drone is flying above tree-covered mountains. Mark stands in a snowy parking lot.
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This graphic shows a quote from Mark’s narrative. It reads: “The program continued to grow, and as a remote pilot and geospatial analyst, I grew along with it.“ Yellow quotation marks bookend her quote.
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Science and Products