Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)
USGS is funding a CESU partner to pilot AI-enabled, remotely operated drones for river discharge monitoring using image velocimetry and satellite data transmission at the Green Mountain Reservoir.
Funder: Geological Survey
Due Dates: May 30, 2026 (Full application submission deadline)
Funding Amounts: $120,000 total; one award; up to 2 years (base year plus up to one year operation/maintenance)
Summary: Supports research by Gulf Coast CESU partners to pilot remote sensing and AI-enabled workflows for river discharge measurement using the Skydio Dock for X10 platform.
Key Information: Eligibility limited to Gulf Coast CESU partner institutions; no cost-sharing required.
Description
This opportunity, issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), supports a cooperative agreement with a participating partner of the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) for research on remote sensing of river discharge. The project will pilot the Skydio Dock for X10 drone platform for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, image velocimetry (IV) data collection, and the development of AI-assisted workflows to process camera imagery for IV-derived discharge estimation. The research aims to improve the safety, reliability, and technical readiness of remote river discharge measurements in challenging field conditions, aligning with federal priorities on artificial intelligence and water resource monitoring.
