Researcher teams at IIHR – Hydroscience & Engineering propose to develop new drone-based technology for water quality measurements, in collaboration with Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, to provide rapid and high-resolution detection of potentially harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Iowa lakes and reservoirs. We will develop a tool that combines remote sensing cameras and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to conduct on-demand and rapid sampling of water quality without the need for chemical water testing. This pilot study will utilize infrared and multispectral camera instruments mounted on a heavy payload octocopter UAS or drone, which was developed and operated by Markfort's Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Renewable Energy lab to characterize atmospheric boundary layer winds and terrestrial surface properties including vegetation, to detect HABs.