Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Geoffrey Bland

(AST, AEROSPACE FLIGHT SYSTEMS)

Geoffrey Bland's Contact Card & Information.
Email: geoffrey.l.bland@nasa.gov
Org Code: 613
Address:
NASA/GSFC
Mail Code 610.W
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Employer:
NASA

Brief Bio


Geoff Bland began development of small unmanned aircraft and instrument systems for Earth science research in 1993. Activities have included platform and systems design, fabrication and test, including several pioneering unmanned aircraft utilizing then-unique electric propulsion. Development of instrument packages has focused on miniaturization, and several remote sensing and in-situ sensor systems have been, or will be flown, on NASA and commercially provided platforms in support of several collaborative research projects.

Bland is also active in the development of alternative platforms and associated instrumentation. Tethered blimps and kites have been incorporated in research and educational activities, and Bland is actively engaged in collaborative activities in a growing community of users and system developers. Education is also a core focus of Bland's work, including the recent introduction of a series of novel aquatic surface craft for hands-on training in technology, operations, and scientific investigation.

As a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program sub-topic manager for Airborne Measurement Systems, Surface and Sub-Surface Measurement Systems, and Unmanned Aircraft and Sounding Rocket Technologies, Bland works closely with numerous NASA centers and companies. University collaborations are also a key component in the effort to bring new capabilities to in-situ and remote sensing research.




 

Current Projects


"AEROKATS and ROVER Educational Network" (AREN), Co-I.

The AREN Cooperative Agreement education project (PI: Henry, Wayne RESA) is focused on introducing NASA's science activities using novel technologies and hands-on experiences. Kite-borne instrumentation is used to simulate satellite and aircraft based measurements and provide a foundation for using NASA Earth science data products. Robotic instrumented surface craft are used to introduce engineering concepts and develop mission operations skills.


"In-Situ Validation and Calibration of Remotely Sensed Volcanic Emission Data and Models": Co-I

Volcanology

In-Situ Validation and Calibration of Remotely Sensed Volcanic Emission Data and Models (Pieri, et al) encompasses sensor system development and field experiments at Turrialba, Costa Rica, and Salton Sea, CA. This research includes instrumented flights of NASA's Dragon Eye and SIERRA unmanned aircraft, tethered balloons, and kites. This project is support by NASA's Earth Surface and Interior program: 2009 -


"An Optical Scanning Subsystem for a UAS-Enabled Hyperspectral Radiometer": Co-I

Remote Sensing

An Optical Scanning Subsystem for a UAS-Enabled Hyperspectral Radiometer (Moisan, et al) - an internal research and development (IRAD) project to further develop the Wallops MicroSpectrometer system for use of medium-class unmanned aircraft. This project incorporates an array of spectrometers to capture spatial as well as spectral information, specifically in support of ocean biology: 2013 -


NASA Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program: Sub-Topic Manger

NASA Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program: Participating Sub-Topic Manger for "Surface and Sub-surface Measurement Systems"; COR/Technical Monitor for "Airborne Measurement Systems" and "Unmanned Aircraft and Sounding Rocket Technologies" contracts.

Positions/Employment


Research Engineer

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center - Wallops Flight Facility – Wallops Field Support Office,

1997 - Present



Mission Manager/Integration Engineer

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center - Wallops Flight Facility – Aircraft Programs Branch

1996 - 1997



Payload Manager/Performance Analyst

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center - Wallops Flight Facility - Sounding Rocket Program

1982 - 1996



Cooperative Education Student

NASA/Langley Research Center - Hampton VA

1979 - 1982


Education


BS Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering, Purdue University: 1981

Professional Societies


American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

Unmanned Systems Program Committee Lighter Than Air Technical Committee (Secretary)

1995 - Present


Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)

Tethered Systems Working Group (Chair)

1996 - Present


American Geophysical Union (AGU)

2015 - Present


American Meteorological Society

2001 - Present

Professional Service


NASA Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program, sub-topic manger: Airborne Measurement Systems, Surface and Sub-surface Measurement Systems, Unmanned Aircraft and Sounding Rocket Technologies: 2005 - present

Awards


GSFC James Kerley Award 2014 for Technology

Other Professional Information


US Patent # 8,196,853, 2012 - Aerodynamically Stabilized Instrument Platform

Publications


Refereed

2016. "Constraining the sulfur dioxide degassing flux from Turrialba volcano, Costa Rica using unmanned aerial system measurements." Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 325 (10): 110-118 [10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2016.06.023] [Journal Article/Letter]

2016. "The pilatus unmanned aircraft system for lower atmospheric research." Atmospheric Measurement Techniques 9 1845-1857 [10.5194/amt-9-1845-2016] [Journal Article/Letter]

2015. "Unmanned aerial mass spectrometer systems for in-situ volcanic plume analysis." J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 26 (2): 292-304 [10.1007/s13361-014-1058-x] [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "In situ observations and sampling of volcanic emissions with NASA and UCR unmanned aircraft, including a case study at Turrialba Volcano, Costa Rica." Geological Society, London, Special Publications 380 (1): 321-352 [10.1144/SP380.13] [Article in Book]

2011. "The NASA SIERRA science demonstration programme and the role of small-medium unmanned aircraft for earth science investigations." Geocarto International 26 157 - 163 [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Deployment of a Tethered-Balloon System for Microphysics and Radiative Measurements in Mixed-Phase Clouds at Ny-Ålesund and South Pole." Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology 28 (5): 656–670 [10.1175/2010JTECHA1439.1] [Journal Article/Letter]

2010. "Utilization of In-Situ Airborne Mass Spectrometer Based Instrumentation for the Study of Gaseous Emissions at Active Volcanoes ." International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, Special Edition on Harsh Environment Mass Spectrometry 295 (3): 105-112 [10.1016/j.ijms.2010.04.013] [Journal Article/Letter]

2009. "Foreword to the Special Issue on Unmanned Airborne Vehicle (UAV) Sensing Systems for Earth Observations." IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sensing 47 (3): 687-689 [10.1109/TGRS.2009.2013059] [Journal Article/Letter]

2007. "Evaluating the sensitivity of an unmanned thermal infrared aerial system to detect water stress in a cotton canopy." Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers 50(6) 1955 -1962 [10.13031/2013.24091] [Journal Article/Letter]

2002. "UMES-AIR: A NASA-UMES Collaborative Project to Promote Experiential Learning and Research in Multidisciplinary Teams for SMET Students." Journal of SMET Education: Innovation and Research [Journal Article/Letter]

Non-Refereed

2013. "AIRSPACES: Air-propelled Instrumented Robotic Sensory Platform(s) for Assateague Coastline Environmental Studies - A Multidisciplinary Experiential Learning and Research Project at a Minority Serving Land Grant Institution." Frontiers in Education Conference, 2013 IEEE 1623-1625 [10.1109/FIE.2013.6685112] [Proceedings]

2013. "A Fast-Response Probe Capable of Atmospheric Sampling in Harsh Conditions." Proc. of AIAA Infotech@Aerospace Conference [10.2514/6.2013-4668] [Proceedings]

2013. "Advancing Earth Research Observation Kites and Tethered Systems (AEROKATS)." Proc. of AUVSI Unmanned Systems 2013 Conference/AIAA Tethered Systems Session [Proceedings]

2009. "Big Potential for Small UAS." 33rd International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, proceedings [Proceedings]

2009. "Non Military Applications for Small UAS Platforms." AIAA Infotech@Aerospace Conference, proceedings [10.2514/6.2009-2046] [Proceedings]

2009. "Adapting Radio Control (RC) Models for Research Roles." AIAA Infotech@Aerospace Conference, proceedings [10.2514/6.2009-2069] [Proceedings]

2007. "Mini UAVs for Atmospheric Measurements." AIAA Infotech@Aerospace Conference, proceedings [10.2514/6.2007-2759] [Proceedings]

2006. "Integration of Mechatronics, Geospatial Information Technology, and, Remote Sensing in Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship." ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, proceedings 933-940 [10.1115/IMECE2006-15019] [Proceedings]

2005. "Microwave Instrumentation for UAV Platforms Enabling Thin Ice Measurement." AIAA Infotech@Aerospace Technical Conference, proceedings [Proceedings]

2005. "Autonomous Aerial Observation System Concepts for Microwave Remote Sensing." AIAA Infotech@Aerospace Technical Conference, proceedings [10.2514/6.2005-7055] [Proceedings]

2005. "A New Cloud MicroSensor for the Aerosonde UAV." AIAA Infotech@Aerospace Technical Conference, proceedings [Full Text] [Proceedings]

2005. "The AEROS Project – Experiments with Small Electric Powered UAVs for Earth Science." AIAA Infotech@Aerospace Technical Conference, proceedings [Proceedings]

2004. "’Sensors with Wings’ – Small UAVs for Earth Science." AIAA 3rd Unmanned Unlimited Technical Conference, proceedings [Proceedings]

2003. "A Small Multispectral Imaging Instrument for Chlorophyll-a Measurements from a Small UAV (Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle)." Oceans 2003, proceedings [Proceedings]

Talks, Presentations and Posters


Invited

Bland, G., et al. New Tools for New Missions - UAS Offer New Capabilities, Oral Presentation AGU, San Francisco CA, December 2105

 

2015


Bland, G., et al. Key Note Presentations, Montana Space Grant Student Conference and Astronomy & Aerospace Day, Bozeman MT, April 2015
 

May 2015


Bland, G., and T. K. Miles. 2013. Advancing Earth Research Observation Kites and Tethered Systems (AEROKATS). AUVSI Unmanned Systems 2013 Conference

September 2013


Other

Bland, G., P.A.Henry, D. Bydlowski, et al. A New Dimension for Earth Science Learning, Oral Presentation AGU, New Orleans LA, December 2017
 

2017


Bland, G., P.A. Henry, B. Campbell. AEROKATS - Advancing Earth Research Observations with Kites/Terrestrial Sensors, Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute Eclipse Event, Rosman NC, August 2017
 

September 2017