Uncrewed Aerial Systems in Water Resource Management and Monitoring: A Review of Sensors, Applications, Software, and Issues

Uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) are becoming very popular in the domain of water resource mapping and management (WRMM). Being a cheaper and quicker option capable of providing high temporal and spatial resolution data, UAS has become a much sought-after platform for remote sensing. Still, their application in the field is in its early stage. This paper encompasses basic concepts of UAS, different payloads and sensor technologies available, various methodologies for its application in WRMM, different software available, and challenges associated with them, thus presenting a comprehensive review of multiple applications of UAS in different sub-domains of water resources. From cryosphere, rivers and lakes, and coastal areas to sub-surface water, as well as from water quality to wastewater management, the authors have discussed various applications of uncrewed aerial vehicles. At the end of the paper, the authors have identified the issues posing problems in the wider implementation of UAS in WRMM. Also, the future scope of the UAS in WRMM has been discussed.