Collaborative session notes:

Open session notes

Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and autonomous platforms are transforming environmental data collection by enabling more precise and efficient observations. However, the growing use of these technologies brings new challenges for managing the data they produce. In this session, we introduce the Small Uncrewed Aircraft and Autonomous Platforms Data Working Group and present our recommendations for best practices in drone-derived data management. The guide spans the full data lifecycle—from mission planning and acquisition to processing, preservation, and publication—offering practical examples, links to external resources, and general principles. Beyond technical workflows, the recommendations address ethical considerations, including adherence to CARE principles, responsible handling of personal data, and safeguarding sensitive ecological information.

Session objectives include:

• Introducing the Working Group and its scope
• Presenting the recommendations and their rationale
• Discussing mission planning and acquisition strategies
• Reviewing data processing pipelines and interoperability standards
• Exploring approaches for storage, sharing, and reuse
• Identifying priorities for the community and future work

1. Introducing the Small Uncrewed Aircraft and Autonomous Platforms Data WG
2. Presentation of our recommendations
   1. Mission planning
   2. Data acquisition
   3. Data Processing pipelines
   4. Data storage and interoperability
   5.  Data sharing and reuse
3.  Discuss priorities of the Interest group and future work

Operators of sUAS missions

Scientists who collect and analyse UAS data

Research cloud infrastructure providers

Metadata practitioners

Ethic and sensitive data experts

Data stewards or RDM specialists