RAVEN: UAS Surveys of Holuhraun Lava Field with DEMs and Orthomosaics

12 UAS surveys conducted at Holuhraun, Iceland, primarily in 2022 and 2023, as part of NASA's RAVEN project. The dataset includes Digital Elevation Models, orthomosaics, and metadata for each survey, collected using five different UAS sensor types. Data was processed by researchers at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory.

Use Cases

• Generate high-resolution terrain models based on the provided Digital Elevation Models (DEMs).
• Analyze lava flow morphology and changes over time based on multi-sensor surveys from 2015 to 2023.
• Train machine learning models for feature detection using the orthomosaic imagery.
• Compare data quality and characteristics from different UAS sensors (e.g., photogrammetric camera vs. lidar).
• Study georeferencing techniques using the described ground control point (GCP) methodology.

Strengths

• Contains 12 distinct UAS surveys with consistent data products (DEM, orthomosaic, metadata) for each.
• UAS positional accuracy is specified as <5 cm due to the use of a high-precision GNSS station.
• Data volume is 93.4 GB, indicating a substantial collection of high-resolution geospatial products.
• Processing methods are documented with references to specific software (Agisoft Metashape, DJI Terra) and published workflows.

Limitations

• Row count and specific column-level documentation are unknown, requiring inspection after download.
• The dataset's 93.4 GB size may present storage and computational challenges for some users.
• Data collection is focused on a single geographic site (Holuhraun, Iceland), which may limit generalizability.

Provenance

Source

Christopher W. Hamilton, likely affiliated with the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, for NASA's RAVEN PSTAR project.

Collection Method

Data collected via Unoccupied Aircraft System (UAS) surveys using five different sensor packages, with photogrammetric and lidar processing.

Time Range

Surveys span from 2015 to 2023, with the DJI Matrice 300 flights occurring in 2022 and 2023.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-27.

Geography

Holuhraun, Iceland.