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November 2019

Schematic of a proposed HORUS routine flight with balloon-based launch and ascent to 30km

First Test Flights of the High-altitude Operational Return Unmanned System (HORUS) for AirCore

UAS News /

AirCores are routinely launched near Boulder, Colorado using a 6.6-pound balloon with a parachute-based recovery. However, similar to routine weather balloon launches, the recovery of the AirCore and accompanying scientific instrumentation is not always easy.  AirCore recovery sites can be nearly 80 kilometers (50 miles) away from the launch site. Recovery sites depend on local winds and are limited to vehicle-accessible locations with few trees, lakes, and housing or commercial development. To increase options for AirCore sampling locations, NOAA/GMD is teaming up with UAS designers at Arizona State University and developers at Delta Zee Solutions, LLC to construct the “High-altitude Operational Return Unmanned System” (HORUS).

First Test Flights of the High-altitude Operational Return Unmanned System (HORUS) for AirCore Read More »

Example of mapped salmon spawning locations on the American River Study Site.

UAS-based Mapping of Riverine Habitats to Inform Management of Endangered Chinook Salmon

UAS News /

River systems provide the physical template for aquatic organisms, including endangered salmonids, and characterizing riverine habitat structure is crucial for species management and conservation. Traditionally, salmon habitat data has been collected over short river segments using ground survey methods, but there is a need to characterize habitat in high resolution at larger spatial scales. Advances in remote sensing from manned aircraft have greatly improved the ability for habitat mapping at larger scales but these approaches may not capture fine-scale habitat features. Now scientists at NOAA and the USGS are working to determine if imagery collected from unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) can be used to help provide quantitative habitat data at ecologically-relevant scales.

UAS-based Mapping of Riverine Habitats to Inform Management of Endangered Chinook Salmon Read More »