Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Geospatial Resources at EPA

EPA Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Program

The goal of the EPA UAS program is to create a framework through which EPA  regional offices, EPA headquarters offices and grant recipients can take advantage of UAS technology to protect human health and the environment.  UAS offer data collection advantages by:

UAS Quick Links

  • EPA UAS Annual Use Report
  • EPA UAS Policy
  • UAS Delegation Memo
  • UAS Handbook
  • EPA_UAS@epa.gov

*requires login

Increasing safety
  • Affording operators safe monitoring distances
  • Affording operators an opportunity to identify the location of hazards before entering into a hazardous zone
  • Accessing difficult or dangerous to access locations with minimal risk
Reducing costs
  • Providing cost-effective data
  • Deploying fewer personnel
Increasing efficiency
  • Can be quickly deployed (hours not days)
  • Monitoring multiple locations simultaneously with fewer personnel
Deploying additional technologies for data collection and research, such as:
  • High Resolution Imagery: optical photo/video, infrared/thermal, and multispectral
  • Geophysics and remote sensing: LiDAR, magnetometry, and ground-penetrating radar
  • Gas Sensors : H2S, SO2, NO, NO2, HCHO, VOCs, CO, Cl, HCl, HCN, NH3, CH3, dioxins, particulates, and more
  • ERT VIPER integration, for real-time data collection and transmission

Where We Work

EPA works across the United States to fulfill its mission of protecting human health and the environment.  View general information on what EPA is doing in your state.

EPA may use UAS for work, such as:

  • Reconnaissance, response & mapping
    • Ability to operate in hazardous situations
  • Structural integrity assessment
  • Investigating releases and chemical, biological, radiological events
  • Logistics and planning support
  • Site mapping (aerials for pre, post, or ongoing site documentation, volume/3D)
  • Terrain modeling (erosion, deforestation, forest mapping, riverbanks)

EPA's UAS Community of Practice

  • EPA has an EPA UAS Community of Practice made up of staff from across the Agency
  • The purpose of the EPA UAS Community of Practice is to:
    • Share UAS news, requirements, experiences and technical information
    • Standardize UAS use practices across EPA
    • Build a technical and practical knowledge base

More Information

Ana Greene, Deputy Geospatial Information Officer
Office of Information Management 
EPA_UAS@epa.gov

Geospatial Resources at EPA

  • About EPA's Geospatial Program
  • EPA Geospatial Data
  • EPA Geospatial Applications
  • Geospatial Policies and Standards
  • Federal Geospatial Resources
  • EPA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
Contact Us About Geospatial Resources at EPA
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on May 5, 2025
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.