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ATOMiC

ATOMiC

ATOMIC is a project with international collaboration that is intending to perform multi-faceted observations of Sea-Atmosphere Interactions in the formation of Atlantic Trade Wind Mesoscale Systems

MOSAiC

MOSAiC Project

Project Multidisciplinary-drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) is a collaborative effort with CIRES, NOAA, and CU-Boulder’s Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and Aerospace departments. This project will develop and deploy unmanned aircraft to operate at the farthest northern reaches of the planet to make critically needed measurements on the Arctic atmosphere and sea ice.

CU team deploys multiple drones in tornado study

Project TORUS

Project TORUS–or Targeted Observation by Radars and UAS of Supercells–is a two-year partnership between CU Boulder, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (which is leading the work), Texas Tech University, the University of Oklahoma and the National Severe Storms Laboratory. 

Read more: CU team deploys multiple drones in tornado study

UAE

Expanding internationally to assist UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Sciences

IRISS has traveled to Abu Dhabi, UAE to screen the territory for future project operations. The UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science is an international research initiative designed to stimulate and promote scientific advancement and development of new technology. With this collaboration, IRISS will establish a prototype Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) platform for rainfall enhancement activities. In addition, the project plans for the development of new technology that will help optimize traditional seeding operations. 

Photo captured by: Cory Dixon | IRISS Chief Technologist 

NightFox

Project NightFOX

Project Nighttime Fire Observations Experiment (NightFOX) is a collaborative effort with CIRES, CU Boulder's Aerospace Department, CU Denver, NOAA, and the University of Utah. For the wildfire season, the team will develop and evaluate in-situ and remote sensing UAS payloads for fire measurements. 

MURI Balloon Prep

HYFLITS Project

The multidisciplinary HYFLITS team is composed of experts in the fields of in-situ atmospheric measurements and analysis, atmospheric modeling and forecasting, and aerothermodynamics and aero-optical modeling. Our goal is to ask and resolve questions related to how future hypersonic vehicle designs can account for the effects of ambient atmospheric turbulence and particles in the middle stratosphere.

IRISS at CU Boulder

The Integrated Remote and In Situ Sensing initiative transforms data-collection technologies and strategies by facilitating 4D sight through a ground-to-space sensing column with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operating in the atmosphere integrated with ground-based and space-based observation systems.

This multi-disciplinary team that leads the design, development, and deployment of novel remote and in-situ sensing systems to exploit mobility enabled by aerospace systems to enhance data collection from the ground, in the atmosphere, and from space. With its partners, IRISS explores commercial opportunities and fosters discussions on the ethical, legal, and social policy implications of new technologies and big-data collection.

We utilize the capabilities of our sensing system for a myriad of purposes ranging from improved climate and weather forecasting, to better-informed government policymaking, and addressing the multitude of emerging research and education challenges to prepare the workforce of the twenty-first century.

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Achievements

  18 different types of UAVs and 39 vehicles

  UAV Operations on 6 different continents

  Trained over 140 CU Boulder personnel

  More than 400,000 sq mi of specialized COAs, on 17 active COAs

  On average, deploy with more than 200 flight hours a year

 

  The University of Colorado Boulder’s Grand Challenge vision is to create a collaborative environment where we can be greater than the sum of our parts.

"In 2013, President Obama challenged research universities, companies, and other institutions to identify and pursue the Grand Challenges of the 21st Century. In 2014, CU Boulder’s campus leadership responded with a call to action—those of us who are IRISS responded. We are developing and deploying aerospace technologies that enable controlled movement of sensing and measurement systems through space and time, ultimately addressing the challenges of our 21st Century society."

- Brian Argrow, Director of  IRISS and Department Chair