Cooperative Agreement for Remote Sensing Research with Skydio Dock

This funding opportunity is for a CESU partner to research the utility of the Skydio Dock for X10 platform. The research will focus on its capabilities for flying remotely beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), collecting image velocimetry (IV) data, uploading this data via Skydio Cloud and satellite communications, and developing a workflow for processing the imagery to compute IV-derived discharge. The project aims to establish a reliable workflow for transmitting camera imagery and computing discrete discharge equivalent to USGS standard methods, particularly in hard-to-access basins. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Green Mountain Reservoir will serve as a test bed, with co-located USGS streamgages for verification data. The project will also explore integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) for water masks and vegetation identification to enhance accuracy. This cooperative agreement is expected to result in one award with a total estimated funding of $120,000, covering a base year and a one-year period of operation and maintenance. The research aligns with Executive Order 14179, encouraging AI-enabled sensing systems to improve safety and performance.