Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Research & Applied Science

U.S. Geological Survey – Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Research & Applied Science

Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey National Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office

Website: uas.usgs.gov

FY 2021

1 USGS Mission and Land Imaging Capabilities

The USGS is the Science Agency for the Department of the Interior The USGS provides reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life 2 USGS National Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office

USGS UAS Implementation Timeline

• Emerging Technology Investigations.…………..…..……………..……2004-2008

• USGS UAS National Project Office Created……………….……...….May 2008

• First Systems (Raven) Acquired………………...... …Dec. 2009

• First Operator Training………………………………………………….…....2009-2010

• Operations in the National Airspace……………...... ……….…March 2011

• Dept. of the Interior temporarily ceases UAS operations…….Oct. 2019-Present (waivers can be requested and issued for use in emergency response missions during this time period i.e. wildfire, volcanoes, flooding)

3 Department of the Interior – UAS Implementation

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Dept. of the Interior Office of Aviation Services Dept. of the Interior Bureau UAS Operations

4 DOI – Current UAS Platforms

Pulse Vapor 55

DJI Matrice BirdsEyeView M600 Pro FireFLY 6 Pro

3DR Solo DJI Mavic Pro Parrot Anafi

5 USGS – Current UAS Platforms

DJI Matrice M600 Pro BirdsEyeView FireFly 6 Pro

DJI Mavic Pro USGS UAS Inventory (Oct. 2019)

DJI Matrice M600 Pro ……...... 13 BirdsEyeView FireFly 6 Pro ..…… 8 3DR Solo …..……………….…..…... 115 DJI Mavic Pro ……………..………… 14 Parrot Anafi Parrot Anafi ……………………..….. 26 Pulse Vapor ….………………..………..1

3DR Solo with MicaSense Sensor Total UAS @ USGS …………... 177

6 USGS National Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office - UAS Strategy

Mission Statement: The USGS National Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office will lead the safe, efficient, cost-effective and leading-edge investigation of the potential uses for UAS technology in scientific research activities for the USGS and the Department of the Interior.

Goal: Implement UAS as a common tool for scientific research and operational activities

Objectives: ✓ UAS Operator Training and Qualifications for the USGS ✓ Develop Data Processing Techniques & Best Practices ✓ Sensor Integration, Testing and Approval ✓ Perform Proof-of-Concept Missions ✓ Sensor Calibration and Data Accuracy Assessments ✓ Data Archive Framework

7 USGS National Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office - UAS Strategy

✓ UAS Operator Training and Qualifications for the USGS ✓ Develop Data Processing Techniques & Best Practices ✓ Sensor Integration, Testing and Approval ✓ Perform Proof-of-Concept Missions ✓ Sensor Calibration and Data Accuracy Assessments ✓ Data Archive Framework

8 USGS (DOI) – UAS Training

• FAA - Part 107 Certification • Procure Aircraft Systems • A-450 Basic Small UAS Course • Currency (every 90 days) • Proficiency (refresher – 2yrs)

9 Dept. of the Interior – Annual UAS Flight Activity

10 Data compiled by the DOI Office of Aviation Services Dept. of the Interior – Annual UAS Flight Activity

122

11 Data compiled by the DOI Office of Aviation Services USGS – UAS Trained Operator Locations (FY 2020)

- Alaska - Hawaii

138 ……… USGS Total operators trained ……… USGS Operator Office Locations 117 ……….Active USGS UAS Operators (Feb 2021) …..Dept. of the Interior (Numbered) Regional Areas 12 Dept. of the Interior – Annual UAS Flight Activity

USGS BLM 29% 38%

BLM BLM BOR FWS 8% 9%

USGS USGS

2020 2019

13 Data compiled by the DOI Office of Aviation Services USGS – UAS Flight Locations (FY 2019)

- Alaska - Hawaii - Puerto Rico

3,072 ……… USGS Total Flight FY 2019 ……… USGS Operator Office Locations …..Dept. of the Interior (Numbered) Regional Areas 14 Data compiled by the DOI Office of Aviation Services Dept. of the Interior – Annual UAS Flight Activity

15 Data compiled by the DOI Office of Aviation Services USGS National Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office - UAS Strategy

16 Department of the Interior – Advanced Training

• Advanced Operating Courses • Data Processing Courses 17 Structure-from-Motion (Photogrammetry)

Point Cloud

Stereo Overlapping Images Elevation Model

Ortho-Mosaic 18 Derived Geospatial Products

Primary Goal: GIS Data Layers

Color Infrared - NDVI Point Cloud Generation

Elevation Models Feature Extraction Point Cloud Classification Contour Generation

KML – 3D Modeling Orthophotography Volumetric Measurements 19 USGS Past UAS Projects

Hawaii – Kilauea Volcano Eruption Wyoming – Devil’s Tower NM 3D Modeling Colorado Hydro Basin – Photogrammetry

Palmyra Atoll – Multispectral Data Collection Ft. Laramie NHS - Lidar Kansas – Algal Blooms – Multispectral Data

20 USGS National Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office - UAS Strategy

21 UAS Existing Sensors Approved for DOI Use High Definition Video • GoPro Hero Point & Shoot Cameras • Kodak Pixpro SP360 • Ricoh GR II • Sony RXIRII DSLR Cameras • Sony A6000, A7R • FLIR Vue Pro/Pro R/Dual Pro Thermal Sensors • MicaSense RedEdge 3, M, Altum, Dual • Slantrange 3P, 4P • Parrot Sequoia Multispectral Sensors • MAPIR Survey3 • Doppler Radar • YellowScan VeloDyne Surveyor Lidar • Riegl MiniVUX-1UAV Doppler Radar • HydraSleeve Water Sampler

Lidar … and others Sensors are developed in-house, through leasing and contracting agreements, or acquired on a competitive bidding process in accordance with U.S. Government purchasing thresholds. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. 22 https://www.doi.gov/aviation/uas/fleet USGS UAS Sensors Currently Being Integrated and Tested

Gas Sensors Hyperspectral

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Geomagnetic

Lidar

Telemetry PhaseOne (medium format metric camera)

Sensors are developed in-house, through leasing and contracting agreements, or acquired on a competitive bidding process in accordance with U.S. Government purchasing thresholds. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. 23 USGS UAS Sensors – Volcanic GasGas Sensors Sensors (2018)

Sensors developed and integrated by the USGS 24 USGS UAS Sensors – Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Contracted Test Flight of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Sensor

Detection of Stream Bottom

Guideline Geo Mala GPR Integrated by the USGS, MSU and Juniper Unmanned on the DJI Matrice 600

25 USGS UAS Sensors – Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

John Fulton & Cian Dawson, NUPO, - USGS Juniper Unmanned & Mala Guideline Geo

Photo & Video Courtesy of Cian Dawson26 27 USGS GPR UAS– Test Flights Androscoggin River, May 2019

~12.5 feet

~23.6 feet

Detection of Stream Bottom

Note: Experimental test data for information purposes only • Profile is out and back. Frequency 160 MHz bow-tie • Red line indicates approximate turn-around point. • X-axis distance is actually trace time in nanoseconds 28 USGS UAS Sensors – Lidar

USGS UAS Lidar Sensor Integration and Test Flights and Derived Data from YellowScan (VeloDyne Puck VLP-16) Lidar Ft. Laramie National Historic Site, WY

Lidar data is experimental test data for information purposes only 29 Imagery data is archived and publicly available 30 USGS National UAS Project Office – Sensor Integration (2020)

YellowScan Reigl MiniVux Lidar Cameron Pass, Colorado

Experimental test data for information purposes only

31 USGS National UAS Project Office – Sensor Integration AstraLite Green Lidar

Unique feature of the sensor is a swath path collection (penetrating the water)

Data acquired via contract with AstraLite and Juniper Unmanned Experimental test data for information purposes only

32 USGS National UAS Project Office – Sensor Integration

Headwall Nano Hyperspec Resonon Pika XC2

Sensor integrations are presently still in development 33 USGS – UAS HyperSpectral Sensor Testing

HySpex Demonstration Demo: June 4, 2019 - Denver • Visible ShortWave InfraRed • Integrated UAV System • Note: USGS Does Not have this UAS System or Sensor

Courtesy: HySpex

34 USGS National UAS Project Office – Sensor Integration (2018)

Test Flights AeroMagnetics

GeoMetrics - MagArrow

35 Data acquired via contract with Juniper Unmanned USGS National UAS Project Office – Sensor Integration (2018) Test Flights AeroMagnetics

Data acquired via contract with Juniper Unmanned Experimental test data for information purposes only 36 USGS National UAS Project Office – Sensor Integration Telemetry of Tagged Fish (Asian Carp)

Sensor developed by the USGS with integration and flights conducted by NASA-Ames Experimental test data for information purposes only 37 USGS National UAS Project Office – Sensor Integration QCam

Sensor developed by Sommer Messtechnik (Austria) and integration by USGS

38 LSPIV

QCAM

Courtesy of Frank Engel, USGS [email protected] USGS Innovation Center Proposals – UAS Radar Snow Water Equivalent

Assess avalanche risk and measure in situ (Oct 2020) Near Eisenhower Tunnel, CO Dr. John Fulton, USGS snow water equivalent in high-altitude basins CO Dept. of Transportation USGS NUPO

Credit: Jonah Bartrand (Graduate Research Assistant) and Dr. John Bradford (Professor and Department Head, Geophysics), Colorado School of Mines 40 USGS Innovation Center Proposals – Software Defined Radar (Sept 2020) Dr. John Fulton, USGS Winter Park, CO Mr. Sam Prager, USC USGS NUPO

UAV-based software-defined radar sensors for environmental monitoring 41 USGS Innovation Center Proposals – Software Defined Radar (April 2021) Dr. John Fulton, USGS Winter Park, CO UAV-based software-defined radar sensors Mr. Sam Prager, USC for environmental monitoring USGS NUPO

Simultaneous Lidar Data Collection Four separate systems to collect imagery, radar and lidar 42 USGS Innovation Center Proposals – Wildfire Smoke Plume Sampling (EPA) (April 2018) • Gas Sensors Florida

USGS Innovation Center Proposal - Environment Protection Agency

43 USGS Innovation Center Proposals – Wildfire Smoke Plume Sampling (EPA) (April 2021) Konza Prairie, KS

USGS Innovation Center Proposal - Environment Protection Agency

44 Kolibri Sensor USGS National Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office - UAS Strategy

“Data presented herein are preliminary or experimental, and are for informative purposes only. They have not been peer reviewed or approved for further dissemination, unless otherwise referenced.” 45 3D Modeling – Devil’s Tower National Monument (2016)

Data is archived and publicly available 46 Project Study – Stinking Gulch, Rangely, Colorado (2016)

47 Experimental test data for information purposes only Contracting – Fall Creek Lake, Oregon (2016)

Data acquired via contract with Frontier Precision and processed by the USGS 48 Data is archived and publicly available Experimental test data for information purposes only 49 Biology Applications White Pelicans Census

Elk Surveys Mallard Ducks Surveys

50 Experimental test data for information purposes only Biology Applications – Pelican Survey (Chase Lake NWR, ND)

Data is archived and publicly available 51 Wildlife & Vegetation Surveys - Palmyra Atoll (2016)

52 Wildlife & Vegetation Surveys -Palmyra Atoll (2016)

Experimental test data for information purposes only 53 Wildlife & Vegetation Surveys -Palmyra Atoll (2016)

Experimental test data for information purposes only 54 USGS – Natural Hazards Response (2019) LSPIV – Large-Scale Particle Image Velocimetry

Courtesy: USGS, F. Engel - 2019 Computer vision used to: - Stabilize video - Remove lens distortion - Execute image velocimetry

Experimental test data for information purposes only Hawaii – Kilauea Volcano Eruption - 2018

56 Hawaii – Kilauea Volcano Eruption - 2018

57 Experimental test data for information purposes only Hawaii Kilauea Volcano Crater Model in MetaShape Viewer Using the Sony RX1RII – FireFly6 Pro

58 Preliminary information-Subject to revision. Not for citation.

59 USGS National UAS Project Office – Sensor Integration (2019) Water Sampling - HydraSleeve

60 USGS National UAS Project Office – Sensor Integration (2019) Water Sampling - HydraSleeve

61 USGS National UAS Project Office – Sensor Integration (2019) Water Sampling - HydraSleeve

62 Experimental test data for information purposes only USGS National Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office - UAS Strategy

63 USGS National UAS Project Office – Geometric Accuracy Assessments

64 USGS National UAS Project Office – Sensor Calibration & Best Practices

65 USGS National Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office - UAS Strategy

66 Metadata, Archiving, and Distribution USGS – UAS Data Management and Data Delivery Specification

67 Metadata, Archiving, and Distribution

USGS – EROS Data Center EarthExplorer earthexplorer.usgs.gov

68 USGS National UAS Project Office – Earth as Art

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/eros/science/earth-art-6

69 Physical 3D Displays from UAS Acquired Data

Physical Model from USGS UAS acquired data. 3-D CNC modeling by Clinton Systems (Morrison, CO). Hand-painted, given to NPS Visitor Center. 70 71 2021 - USGS National UAS Project Office

uas.usgs.gov 72 Following Slides Pertaining to DOI Grounding of UAS

Temporary Cessation of Non-Emergency UAS Fleet Operations

Information for Briefing Current Situation

signed-so-3379-uas-1.29.2020-508.pdf (doi.gov)

73 Dept. of the Interior – Grounding (Oct. 2019)

Two Official Memos/Email from the DOI Secretary’s Office

Oct. 10, 2019 Oct. 30, 2019

74 Dept. of the Interior – Grounding (Oct. 2019)

75 Dept. of the Interior – UAS Grounding

Policy Timeline: • Oct. 10, 2019 - Memorandum suspending all UAS acquisitions and service contracts (October 10, 2019) • Oct. 30, 2019 - Email grounding all UAS missions, except for emergency response (October 30, 2019) • Jan. 29, 2020 - Secretarial Order #3379 • Jan. 31, 2020 - Memorandum on Implementation Guidance on Secretarial Order #3379 • Feb. 7, 2020 - USGS Guidance on DOI Unmanned Aircraft Systems - Secretarial Order #3379 • May 8, 2020 - Memorandum on Designated UAS under SO #3379 • Oct. 6, 2020 - Memorandum exempting Blue UAS from the PMB approval and reporting procedures • Jan. 12, 2021 - GSA removing all UAS that are not approved through the Defense Innovation Unit’s Blue sUAS project • Jan. 18, 2021 - Presidential Executive Order on Protecting The United States From Certain Unmanned Aircraft Systems From USGS: • Call for the Impacts Project (as of Oct. 2019) • Total Funding ……. $5.8 Million • No of affected projects……… 83 • No of affected offices ……….. 29 • No of affected cooperators…111 • Sent a summary of the impacts, number of UAS, statements from the users, number of flight • Created an emergency exemption form • Request for exemptions to fly for operator currency and proficiency

76 Breaking News!!!! Secretary Bernhardt Approval of five Blue sUAS

77 Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Blue sUAS, Section 848 NDAA FY20

Don’t get too excited!

Skydio X2-D Teal Golden Eagle

Parrot Anafi USA

Vantage Vesper Altavian M440 Ion