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
National Uncrewed Systems Office
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
Topobathymetric Model of Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, 2011 to 2019 - Field Survey Source and Validation Data
Topographic and Sediment Size Data from Fountain Creek between Colorado Springs and the Confluence with the Arkansas River, Colorado, 2019
Positional accuracy assessment of lidar point cloud from NAIP/3DEP pilot project
Emergency Assessment of Debris-Flow Hazards from Basins Burned by the 2007 Santiago Fire, Orange County, Southern California
Science and Products
- Science
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... - Data
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 2022. TheTopobathymetric Model of Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, 2011 to 2019 - Field Survey Source and Validation Data
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and University of Hawaii - Manoa (UH) scientists conducted field data collection efforts from August 19th - 27th, 2019 at Pu'uhonua O Honaunau 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 oTopographic 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 - Multimedia
- Publications
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 meAuthorsMinsu Kim, Seonkyung Park, Jeffrey Irwin, Collin McCormick, Jeffrey J. Danielson, Gregory L. Stensaas, Aparajithan Sampath, Mark A. Bauer, Matthew Alexander BurgessEmergency 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 millionsAuthorsSusan H. Cannon, Joseph E. Gartner, John A. Michael, Mark A. Bauer, Susan C. Stitt, Donna L. Knifong, Bernard J. McNamara, Yvonne M. Roque