Natural color image taken from a UAS showing the intertidal biofilm at the San Francisco Bay in California

Ricoh GR natural color image taken from a UAS showing the intertidal biofilm, a slimy green layer of fungi and bacteria growing on top of mud, in San Francisco Bay, California. 

NUSO also collected multispectral and 4cm spatial resolution hyperspectral imagery using a Resonon Pika L Visible and near-infrared (VNIR) UAS camera. This UAS data provides an intermediate perspective between a ground-based field spectrometer, HySpex VNIR/Short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging spectrometer mounted in a tripod (5 mm resolution), and the AVIRIS-NG airborne imaging spectrometer (4 m resolution). This work supports scientists at the Western Ecological Research Center who are leading a project to study the quantity and composition of biofilm to inform wetland restoration and help evaluate resulting habitat quality in this ecosystem.