Victoria M. Scholl Matthew A. Burgess Lance R. Brady Miguel L. Villarreal 20250701 1.0 digital data data release DOI:10.5066/P14QORRX Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Denver, CO U.S. Geological Survey This metadata describes the ground control point Child Item within the Larger Work defined below. https://doi.org/10.5066/P14QORRX Victoria M. Scholl Matthew A. Burgess Lance R. Brady Miguel L. Villarreal 2025 1.0 digital files data release DOI:10.5066/P14QORRX Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Denver, CO U.S. Geological Survey Scholl, V.M., Burgess, M.A., Brady, L.R., and Villarreal, M.L., 2025, Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) imagery and data products from a multiscale remote sensing field campaign at a biocrust monitoring site located near Castle Valley, Utah in February 2022: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P14QORRX. https://doi.org/10.5066/P14QORRX https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/6758d117d34edfeb871029ec In February 2022, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) conducted uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) remote sensing flights to support biological soil crust (biocrust) research at an experiment site located near Castle Valley, Utah. Researchers at the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center have managed this site for over 50 years to study the effects of a warming climate and precipitation changes on biocrust community behavior and composition. Natural color, multispectral, thermal infrared, and hyperspectral UAS image data were collected to capture information about the composition and temperature of biocrust plots subjected to various warming and watering treatments. This portion of the data release presents ground control point (GCP) location data collected during the UAS surveys. Survey control was established using Propeller AeroPoint temporary GCPs distributed throughout the survey area each day. GCPs were post-processed using the Propeller Corrections Network, which corrects each GCP location with satellite observations from an existing nearby base station. The post-processed GCP data are provided here in a comma separated value (.CSV) file. GCPs were used for georeferencing UAS data products. 20220212 20220214 observed ground condition, data collected on three days Complete None planned -109.4158465 -109.4146249 38.67450782 38.67431422 None U.S. Geological Survey USGS UAS Uncrewed Aircraft System drone Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center Ground control point Propeller AeroPoints USGS Thesaurus remote sensing geospatial datasets GPS measurement USGS Metadata Identifier USGS:67635f87d34ebad02167e8d2 Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) United States Utah Grand County Castle Valley Moab None. Please see 'Distribution Info' for details. Public domain (CC0-1.0) data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. U.S. Geological Survey National Uncrewed Systems Office mailing address

12201 Sunrise Valley Drive

Reston VA 20192 US 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747) uas@usgs.gov https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/67635f87d34ebad02167e8d2?name=2022_UT_CastleValley_Biocrust_GCPs_Browse.png&allowOpen=true Ground control point at biocrust monitoring site. PNG USGS National Uncrewed Systems Office GCP positions and elevations were collected using Propeller AeroPoint smart targets subsequently post-processed using the Propeller Corrections Network (PCN), which corrects each GCP location with satellite observations from an existing nearby base station (distance is reported). When using the PCN method, Propeller reports an expected global accuracy of 20 mm horizontal and 50 mm vertical (best available). Propeller reports internal horizontal accuracy as generally 10 mm or better, and internal vertical accuracy as 20 mm or better. The minimum global accuracy the AeroPoint corrected data was calculated using the following equation provided by the Propeller: Global Accuracy (m) = (reported horizontal or vertical Internal Accuracy (mm) + (distance from base station (km)*2))/1000. GCP positions are in correct geolocations relative to one another. GCP elevations are generally within expected ranges when compared to USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) as an independent check. Position and elevation values are provided for all ten AeroPoint targets used to survey the site for three days for a total of thirty GCP entries. Minimum global horizontal accuracy calculated for the AeroPoint surveys presented in this data release was 0.04 m. Minimum global vertical accuracy calculated for the AeroPoint surveys presented in this data release was 0.05 m. Corrected AeroPoint GCP orthometric height values were compared to 3DEP elevation data orthometric heights at each GCP location as an independent check using Global Mapper software (version 25.0). Note that the 3DEP raster data set used for comparison here has a spatial resolution of 1m. GCP elevations ranged between 1321.322 m to 1331.123 m. 3DEP elevations at GCP locations ranged between 1321.4482 m to 1331.117 m. The differences between each pair of GCP-3DEP elevation values ranged between -0.156 m and 0.102 m. 3DEP elevation values were 0.084 m greater on average than the GCP elevation values. Survey control was established each day at the experiment site with the following steps. Ten AeroPoint smart targets (Propeller Aerobotics, Sydney, Australia) were distributed throughout the study area. AeroPoints are black and grey checkered foam targets, each containing an embedded Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) unit that starts and stops logging position information with the click of a button. Care was taken to place the AeroPoint targets on relatively flat terrain when available, and away from tall obstacles such as trees to provide a clear view of the sky. Each AeroPoint was turned on and collected positional data for a duration of over 5 hours while UAS flights were conducted overhead. When UAS data collection was complete, the AeroPoints were retrieved. The AeroPoint locations were post-processed using the Propeller Corrections Network, which corrects each GCP with satellite observations from an existing nearby base station. The corrected GCP values were downloaded in comma-separated value (CSV) format in both geographic and projected coordinate systems: latitude, longitude, and ellipsoid height relative to NAD83 (2011) along with eastings, northings, and orthometric heights in UTM Zone 12N and NAVD88 using GEOID 18. 20220217 Point Point 30 Universal Transverse Mercator 12 0.9996 -111.0 0.0 500000.0 0.0 coordinate pair 0.042 0.042 meters NAD83_NATIONAL_SPATIAL_REFERENCE_SYSTEM_2011 GRS_1980 6378137.0 298.257222101 North American Vertical Datum of 1988, using GEOID 18 0.001 meters Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates 2022_UT_CastleValley_Biocrust_GCPs.csv GCP positions, elevations, and attributes USGS ID Unique identifier for each GCP. The prefix includes the date collected (Feb 12, 13, or 14) and "GCP". The trailing number refers to the AeroPoint target number deployed during each day, numbered 01 through 10. producer defined Character string. Date Data collection date in format MM/DD/YYYY where YYYY is the year, MM is the month, and DD is the day. USGS Character string. Northing_UTM12N GCP location Y-Coordinate (NAD83(2011)/UTM Zone 12N) USGS 4281827.062 4281849.089 meters Easting_UTM12N GCP location X-Coordinate (NAD83(2011)/UTM Zone 12N) USGS 637804.903 637911.179 meters Orthometric_height_NAVD88 GCP orthometric Z-Coordinate relative to NAVD88 using GEOID 18 producer defined 1321.322 1331.123 meters Latitude_NAD83[2011] GCP location latitude (NAD83[2011]) coordinate USGS 38.67431422 38.67450782 decimal degrees Longitude_NAD83[2011] GCP location longitude (NAD83[2011]) coordinate USGS -109.4158465 -109.4146249 decimal degrees Ellipsoid_height_NAD83[2011] GCP height above the (NAD83[2011] GRS80) ellipsoid. producer defined 1301.310 1311.117 meters X_variance[mm] Variance in the x plane calculated by the AeroPoint in mm. producer defined 0.2 12.8 millimeters Y_variance[mm] Variance in the y plane calculated by the AeroPoint in mm. producer defined 0.3 12.2 millimeters Z_variance[mm] Variance in the z plane calculated by the AeroPoint in mm. producer defined 0.8 21.6 millimeters Baseline_distance[km] Distance of the AeroPoint from the Propeller Network reference base station. producer defined 0.02 16.14 kilometers These GCPs can be used to georeference UAS data products. 2022_UT_CastleValley_Biocrust_DataDictionary.csv U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase mailing address

Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302

Denver CO 80225 United States 1-888-275-8747 sciencebase@usgs.gov Neither the U.S. Government, the Department of the Interior, nor the USGS, nor any of their employees, contractors, or subcontractors, make any warranty, express or implied, nor assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, nor represent that its use would not infringe on privately owned rights. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the U.S. Geological Survey in the use of these data or related materials. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. CSV Exported from Excel Office 365 version 2402 The csv file contains ground control point data. 0.00332 https://doi.org/10.5066/P14QORRX Download data from the ground control point Child Item page on ScienceBase. None 20250701 Victoria M. Scholl mailing

Mail Stop 516, W 6th Ave Kipling St

Lakewood CO 80225 US 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747) uas@usgs.gov The metadata contact email address is a team address in the event the person is no longer with USGS. FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001-1998