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 ✓ 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 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 ✓ 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 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