USGS pilot Sandy Brosnahan and Senate Pro Tempore Marc Pacheco discuss the use of Umanned Aerial Systems (UASs, also known as drones) to collect data in coastal environments.
Images
Images
![A woman in a purple shirt holds a controller and explains the UAS sitting on the ground to a man in a suit](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/meet-DSC_2434e.jpg?itok=wAHIvQtX)
USGS pilot Sandy Brosnahan and Senate Pro Tempore Marc Pacheco discuss the use of Umanned Aerial Systems (UASs, also known as drones) to collect data in coastal environments.
![Map of the NE US coast showing several types of data collected by NOAA and the USGS, with explanatory insets](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Delmarva-AI-LB.jpg?itok=n12FjtFV)
Hill-shaded bathymetric, backscatter, and photographic data collected by NOAA and the USGS. Backscatter data give indications of seafloor character. In general, low-backscatter intensity (blue) corresponds to finer-grained material, whereas high-backscatter intensity (orange) corresponds to coarser substrate.
Hill-shaded bathymetric, backscatter, and photographic data collected by NOAA and the USGS. Backscatter data give indications of seafloor character. In general, low-backscatter intensity (blue) corresponds to finer-grained material, whereas high-backscatter intensity (orange) corresponds to coarser substrate.
![Map shows survey lines of the inner continental shelf of the Delmarva Peninsula in green, and data from partners in blue](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Delmarva-geophysicalsurveys.jpg?itok=rQlvDztz)
The USGS conducted surveys on the inner continental shelf of the Delmarva Peninsula (shown in green) to complement related datasets previously collected in the area by partners NOAA and BOEM. The inset map shows location of the study area.
The USGS conducted surveys on the inner continental shelf of the Delmarva Peninsula (shown in green) to complement related datasets previously collected in the area by partners NOAA and BOEM. The inset map shows location of the study area.
Orthomosaic images of Matanzas, Florida, from (a) before and (b) after Hurricane Matthew, and (c) a digital elevation model (DEM) showing the associated topographic change. Note, these results were produced by applying Structure-from-Motion (SfM) to NOAA oblique photographs, but similar results can be obtained using UAS aerial imagery.
Orthomosaic images of Matanzas, Florida, from (a) before and (b) after Hurricane Matthew, and (c) a digital elevation model (DEM) showing the associated topographic change. Note, these results were produced by applying Structure-from-Motion (SfM) to NOAA oblique photographs, but similar results can be obtained using UAS aerial imagery.
The 3DR Solo with GoPro Hero4 camera and gimbal. Coming to a beach near you soon.
The 3DR Solo with GoPro Hero4 camera and gimbal. Coming to a beach near you soon.
![A chunk of grey and white material is shown next to a ballpoint pen and a yellow tape measure](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/r-Mallik_Gas_Hydrate_Sample.jpg?itok=s2jZuYbt)
Gas hydrate (white material) binding together coarse-grained sediments made up of pebble-sized rocks. This sample was recovered during a project to explore permafrost-associated gas hydrates in Canada’s Mackenzie Delta.
Gas hydrate (white material) binding together coarse-grained sediments made up of pebble-sized rocks. This sample was recovered during a project to explore permafrost-associated gas hydrates in Canada’s Mackenzie Delta.
![A man and woman kneel behind a drone in a field with black plastic planting rows prepped, and domes in the distance](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Jon_Sandy_drone_camp.jpg?itok=W0GQM0MB)
Sandy Brosnahan (left) and Jon Borden at Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) training in Santa Cruz, California.
Sandy Brosnahan (left) and Jon Borden at Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) training in Santa Cruz, California.
![A man stands near the beach in front of a shrub, holding a controller, with a drone flying over the beach behind him](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/IMG_1127.jpg?itok=MoiqSb1r)
Shawn Harrison uses his new skills to check out the surf at Santa Cruz, California.
Shawn Harrison uses his new skills to check out the surf at Santa Cruz, California.
The 3DR Solo with GoPro Hero4 camera and gimbal. Coming to a survey area near you soon.
The 3DR Solo with GoPro Hero4 camera and gimbal. Coming to a survey area near you soon.
![From a distance, a man stands behind a table set up on the edge of a marsh operating a small orange craft in the water by cable](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/barnegat_flux-Brosnahan-USGS.jpg_0_0.jpg?itok=oGZqhtSc)
USGS scientist Zafer Defne measures water and sediment movement at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey. Defne is co-author with Neil Ganju of a 2017 study on how to estimate coastal salt marshes’ potential longevity, based on their sediment budgets and the ratio of open water to vegetation.
USGS scientist Zafer Defne measures water and sediment movement at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey. Defne is co-author with Neil Ganju of a 2017 study on how to estimate coastal salt marshes’ potential longevity, based on their sediment budgets and the ratio of open water to vegetation.
Michael Casso, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center physical scientist, seeks volunteers from Children’s School of Science students to have their breath measured for carbon dioxide and methane, greenhouse gases USGS scientists measure in the oceans
Michael Casso, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center physical scientist, seeks volunteers from Children’s School of Science students to have their breath measured for carbon dioxide and methane, greenhouse gases USGS scientists measure in the oceans
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Oceanographer, Neil Ganju, sharing science at the 2017 Woods Hole Science Stroll outreach event
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Oceanographer, Neil Ganju, sharing science at the 2017 Woods Hole Science Stroll outreach event
Photograph of USGS Kentucky WSC unmanned aircraft system.
Photograph of USGS Kentucky WSC unmanned aircraft system.
The USGS Utah Water Science Center and the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center conducted a collaborative geophysical research effort within Lake Powell, UT-AZ to map the bathymetry of the lake and characterize shallow sediment deposition near the mouths of the San Juan and Colorado Rivers.
The USGS Utah Water Science Center and the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center conducted a collaborative geophysical research effort within Lake Powell, UT-AZ to map the bathymetry of the lake and characterize shallow sediment deposition near the mouths of the San Juan and Colorado Rivers.
![Image shows a river winding through a green landscape](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/NPRA_FishCreek_2001.jpg?itok=hmIWKwpF)
Fish Creek wanders through the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, a 22.8 million acre region managed by the Bureau of Land Management on Alaska's North Slope. USGS has periodically assessed oil and gas resource potential there. These assessments can be found here.
Fish Creek wanders through the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, a 22.8 million acre region managed by the Bureau of Land Management on Alaska's North Slope. USGS has periodically assessed oil and gas resource potential there. These assessments can be found here.
![Image shows squares of permafrost](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/NPRA_Permafrost_polygons.jpg?itok=2nRB7jkm)
Permafrost forms a grid-like pattern in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, a 22.8 million acre region managed by the Bureau of Land Management on Alaska's North Slope. USGS has periodically assessed oil and gas resource potential there. These assessments can be found here.
Permafrost forms a grid-like pattern in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, a 22.8 million acre region managed by the Bureau of Land Management on Alaska's North Slope. USGS has periodically assessed oil and gas resource potential there. These assessments can be found here.
Buoy at Put-in-Bay.
![Flood measurement at White River near Edwardsport, IN](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Andy%20driving%20the%20boat%20for%20a%20flood%20measurement%20at%2003360730%20-%20White%20River%20near%20Edwardsport%20Indiana%20on%2001-18-2013.jpg?itok=yauTO2c0)
Flood measurement at White River near Edwardsport, IN
Flood measurement at White River near Edwardsport, IN
![Staff processing a sample in the Microbiology laboratory](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/microbilogy_lab2.jpg?itok=_QCR9Qpb)
Staff processing a sample in the Microbiology laboratory
Staff processing a sample in the Microbiology laboratory
![Steven Fuller making an ADCP streamflow measurement via a cable car](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/steve_fuller_measurement.jpg?itok=C37bnfe-)
Steven Fuller making an ADCP streamflow measurement via a cable car
Steven Fuller making an ADCP streamflow measurement via a cable car