The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) supported the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program’s Geoheritage Sites of the Nation Project in July of 2024 with the collection of UAS-based high-resolution imagery of the Marsh-Felch Quarry site at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Garden Park Fossil Area. One of the most complete dinosaur skeletons ever unearthed was found here. These discoveries around present-day Garden Park Fossil Area sparked the “Bone Wars” of the late 1800s and inspired the selection of Colorado's state fossil, the Stegosaurus. Three-dimensional (3D) scan flights were conducted at the fossil site using a Skydio X10 UAS, in which the aircraft autonomously determined where to capture photos to achieve coverage across a volume of interest. The natural color UAS images were processed in photogrammetry software to generate a 3D model of this fossil site for inclusion in the Geoheritage web application. A two-dimensional (2D) mapping scan with the Skydio X10 UAS flown at 300 feet above ground level was also conducted to capture the topography of the surrounding area. This portion of the data release presents raw natural color images collected during the 2D mapping flights over the fossil site. Over the course of one 21-minute flight, a Skydio X10 UAS with an integrated VT300-Z Narrow sensor mapped a 36,483 square meter area and captured 456 natural color red, green, blue (RGB) photos to achieve 75% overlap and 75% sidelap. The images are provided here in a zip file to facilitate bulk download. Structure-from-motion (SfM) Digital Surface Model (DSM) and Orthomosaic data products were generated by processing these 2D Mapping images in photogrammetry software. These data products are provided here in .tif format zipped with supporting files. These DSM and orthomosaic data products were generated for visualization of the environment surrounding the quarry site.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) supported the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program’s Geoheritage Sites of the Nation Project in July of 2024 with the collection of UAS-based high-resolution imagery of the Marsh-Felch Quarry site at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Garden Park Fossil Area. One of the most complete dinosaur skeletons ever unearthed was found here. These discoveries around present-day Garden Park Fossil Area sparked the “Bone Wars” of the late 1800s and inspired the selection of Colorado's state fossil, the Stegosaurus. Three-dimensional (3D) scan flights were conducted at the fossil site using a Skydio X10 UAS, in which the aircraft autonomously determined where to capture photos to achieve coverage across a volume of interest. The natural color UAS images were processed in photogrammetry software to generate a 3D model of this fossil site for inclusion in the Geoheritage web application. A two-dimensional (2D) mapping flight with the Skydio X10 UAS flown at 300 feet above ground level was also conducted to capture the topography of the surrounding area. This portion of the data release presents raw natural color images collected during the 3D scan flights over the fossil site. Over the course of three 25-minute flights, a Skydio X10 UAS with an integrated VT300-L Wide angle sensor scanned a 2,863 square meter area and captured 2,753 natural color red, green, blue (RGB) photos to achieve 80% overlap and 70% sidelap. The images in .JPG format are provided here in zip files to facilitate bulk download. Structure-from-motion 3D models were generated by processing these 3D scan images in photogrammetry software. These 3D models are provided here as binary glTF files (.GLB), an open format for online viewing. A low resolution model is provided for fast rendering in a web browser. A high resolution model is also provided to discern finer details in the site.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) supported the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program’s Geoheritage Sites of the Nation Project in July of 2024 with the collection of UAS-based high-resolution imagery of the Marsh-Felch Quarry site at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Garden Park Fossil Area. One of the most complete dinosaur skeletons ever unearthed was found here. These discoveries around present-day Garden Park Fossil Area sparked the “Bone Wars” of the late 1800s and inspired the selection of Colorado's state fossil, the Stegosaurus. Three-dimensional (3D) scan flights were conducted at the fossil site using a Skydio X10 UAS, in which the aircraft autonomously determined where to capture photos to achieve coverage across a volume of interest. The natural color UAS images were processed in photogrammetry software to generate a 3D model of this fossil site for inclusion in the Geoheritage web application. A two-dimensional (2D) mapping flight with the Skydio X10 UAS flown at 300 feet above ground level was also conducted to capture the topography of the surrounding area. This portion of the data release presents raw natural color images collected during the 3D scan flights over the fossil site. Over the course of three 25-minute flights, a Skydio X10 UAS with an integrated VT300-L Wide angle sensor scanned a 2,863 square meter area and captured 2,753 natural color red, green, blue (RGB) photos to achieve 80% overlap and 70% sidelap. The images in .JPG format are provided here in zip files to facilitate bulk download. Structure-from-motion 3D models were generated by processing these 3D scan images in photogrammetry software. These 3D models are provided here as binary glTF files (.GLB), an open format for online viewing. A low resolution model is provided for fast rendering in a web browser. A high resolution model is also provided to discern finer details in the site.

In support of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Southwest Biological Science Center researchers, and in coordination with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), the USGS National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) conducted uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) remote sensing flights over two BLM Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) plots at the NEON Moab site in Utah for multi-scale carbon sequestration research on public lands. The UAS data collected include natural color, multispectral, and hyperspectral imagery, and lidar to capture diverse information about vegetation and soils on drylands. The first site (“site 1”) features intact sagebrush and was mapped on May 3, 2023. The second site (“site 7”) is located on a grazed rangeland environment and was mapped on May 5, 2023. These UAS surveys were conducted in early May 2023 to coincide spatially and temporally with ground-based BLM AIM sampling and airplane-based remote sensing surveys by NEON. This portion of the data release presents raw natural color and multispectral images collected during low-altitude UAS surveys at two dryland sites approximately 40 km south of Moab, Utah. A Skydio X2D UAS was flown at an altitude of 15 meters above ground level to capture natural color red, green, blue (RGB) imagery. A DJI Matrice 600 Pro UAS with approved government edition firmware carrying an AgEagle MicaSense Altum-PT sensor was flown at an altitude of 31 meters above ground level to capture multispectral imagery. The images are provided here in zip files to facilitate bulk download.

In support of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Southwest Biological Science Center researchers, and in coordination with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), the USGS National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) conducted uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) remote sensing flights over two BLM Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) plots at the NEON Moab site in Utah for multi-scale carbon sequestration research on public lands. The UAS data collected include natural color, multispectral, and hyperspectral imagery, and lidar to capture diverse information about vegetation and soils on drylands. The first site (“site 1”) features intact sagebrush and was mapped on May 3, 2023. The second site (“site 7”) is located on a grazed rangeland environment and was mapped on May 5, 2023. These UAS surveys were conducted in early May 2023 to coincide spatially and temporally with ground-based BLM AIM sampling and airplane-based remote sensing surveys by NEON. This portion of the data release presents raw natural color and multispectral images collected during low-altitude UAS surveys at two dryland sites approximately 40 km south of Moab, Utah. A Skydio X2D UAS was flown at an altitude of 15 meters above ground level to capture natural color red, green, blue (RGB) imagery. A DJI Matrice 600 Pro UAS with approved government edition firmware carrying an AgEagle MicaSense Altum-PT sensor was flown at an altitude of 31 meters above ground level to capture multispectral imagery. The images are provided here in zip files to facilitate bulk download.

In February 2022, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) conducted uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) remote sensing flights to support biological soil crust (biocrust) research at an experiment site located near Castle Valley, Utah. Researchers at the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center have managed this site for over 50 years to study the effects of a warming climate and precipitation changes on biocrust community behavior and composition. Natural color, multispectral, thermal infrared, and hyperspectral UAS image data were collected to capture information about the composition and temperature of biocrust plots subjected to various warming and watering treatments. This portion of the data release presents raw natural color, multispectral, and thermal images collected during the UAS surveys, all conducted at a flight altitude of 31 meters above ground level. A DJI Matrice 600 Pro UAS with approved government edition firmware carrying a Ricoh GR II sensor captured natural color red, green, blue (RGB) imagery on February 12, 2022. A MicaSense RedEdge-MX Dual was flown on February 13, 2022 over the same area to collect aerial 10-band multispectral imagery across the visible and near infrared wavelengths. Thermal data collection flights were conducted using a DJI Zenmuse XT2 camera at various local times of day across February 12 to 14 to capture diurnal changes in surface temperature. The images are provided here in zip files to facilitate bulk download.

The U.S. Geological Survey collected low-altitude airborne natural color imagery via a fixed-wing uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) for mapping channel and vegetation change along a 2-mile reach of the Middle Green River at Grays Canyon near Green River, UT. Visual imagery was collected in jpg format and Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry techniques were applied (Over et. al. 2021) using Agisoft Metashape Professional (v. 2.1.2 build 18358) to derive time-specific high-resolution 5 centimeter natural color orthomosaics of the study reach annually from 2021 to 2023. Ground control points (2ft x 2ft ground targets) were also surveyed in the field using Trimble RTK GPS survey units and were used in georectification in the SfM process.

The U.S. Geological Survey collected low-altitude airborne natural color imagery via a fixed-wing uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) for mapping channel and vegetation change along a 2-mile reach of the Middle Green River at Grays Canyon near Green River, UT. Visual imagery was collected in jpg format and Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry techniques were applied (Over et. al. 2021) using Agisoft Metashape Professional (v. 2.1.2 build 18358) to derive time-specific high-resolution 5 centimeter natural color orthomosaics of the study reach annually from 2021 to 2023. Ground control points (2ft x 2ft ground targets) were also surveyed in the field using Trimble RTK GPS survey units and were used in georectification in the SfM process.

These digital images were taken over an area of the Potomac River in Point of Rocks, Maryland using 3DR Solo unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) on October 24, 2019. These images were collected for the purpose of evaluating UAS assessment of river habitat data such as water depth, substrate type, and water clarity. Each UAS was equipped with a Ricoh GRII digital camera for natural color photos, used to produce digital elevation models and ortho images. Some photographs contain black and white targets used as ground control points (GCPs), which were surveyed by a field crew with a high-precision (GNSS) Global Navigation Satellite System and/or containing internal post processing kinematic (PPK) GPS system. This data release includes the original true color images from the Ricoh GRII digital camera of the Potomac River in Point of Rocks, Maryland.

These digital images were taken over an area of the Potomac River in Point of Rocks, Maryland using 3DR Solo unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) on October 24, 2019. These images were collected for the purpose of evaluating UAS assessment of river habitat data such as water depth, substrate type, and water clarity. Each UAS was equipped with a Ricoh GRII digital camera for natural color photos, used to produce digital elevation models and ortho images. Some photographs contain black and white targets used as ground control points (GCPs), which were surveyed by a field crew with a high-precision (GNSS) Global Navigation Satellite System and/or containing internal post processing kinematic (PPK) GPS system. This data release includes the original true color images from the Ricoh GRII digital camera of the Potomac River in Point of Rocks, Maryland.