English: Back to the Future Day — In #BackToTheFuture, Marty McFly saw an unmanned drone walk a dog (clearly, we're not there yet). However, did you know that the USGS uses Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for remote sensing?

At USGS, our National Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office is leading the implementation of UAS technology in anticipation of transforming the Department of the Interior (DOI) approach for collecting remote sensing data. UAS technology is being made available to monitor environmental conditions, respond to natural hazards, understand landscape change rates, recognize the consequences and benefits of land and climate change, conduct wildlife inventories and support related land management missions. The USGS is teaming with all of the DOI bureaus, academia, industry, state and local agencies under guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the DOI Office of Aviation Services (OAS) to lead the safe, efficient, cost-effective and leading-edge adoption of UAS technology into the scientific research and operational activities of the Department.

More information on completed missions may be found here: on.doi.gov/UAS.