Collection Overview 

Scientific Reports has launched a Guest-Edited Collection on Unmanned aerial system mapping.

UAS mapping is vital to geographic information mapping, environmental monitoring, and engineering surveying, yet faces challenges in precision control and adaptability to different scenarios. Complex terrain can compromise data accuracy, and integrating multi‑source data requires advanced algorithms. UAS mapping software & algorithms have emerged as a critical approach to address these issues, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of mapping services. Advancing our understanding of these challenges and developing practical application solutions is essential to promote the innovation and widespread adoption of UAS mapping technology.

This will be a Collection of original research papers  and will be open for submissions from all authors – on the condition that the manuscripts fall within the scope of the Collection and of Scientific Reports more generally. Narrative review articles are also welcomed, to our sister journal Scientific Reviews. We are welcoming submissions until 6th February 2027.

Why is this Collection important?

"UAS mapping is moving beyond visually compelling models; its real value lies in delivering spatial information that is accurate, repeatable and fit for purpose. This matters increasingly as UAS data inform decisions in environmental monitoring, infrastructure management and rapidly changing landscapes. I am excited by this Collection because it connects methodological advances with demanding real-world applications. It offers researchers a focused forum for sharing rigorous, transferable evidence across sensors, environments and workflows. Collectively, these contributions can strengthen good practice, build confidence in UAS-derived information and help shape the next generation of reliable mapping solutions."

- Dr. Marcos Arza-García, Guest Editor

Why submit to a collection?  

Collections like this one help promote high-quality science. They are led by Guest Editors, who are experts in their fields, and In-House Editors and are supported by a dedicated team of Commissioning Editors and Managing Editors at Springer Nature. Collection manuscripts typically see higher citations, downloads, and Altmetric scores and provide a one-stop-shop on a cutting-edge topic of interest.  

Who is involved?

Guest Editors:

• Marcos Arza-García, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Spain
• Maya Kumari, Amity University, India
• Khairul Nizam Tahar, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
• Yaning Yi, National Institute of Natural Hazards, China

Internal Team:

• In-House Editor: Bin Qu, Scientific Reports, China
• Commissioning Editor: Levon Abelian, Fully OA Brands, Springer Nature, UK
• Managing Editor: Sarah Jane Hunt, Fully OA Brands, Springer Nature, UK

How can I submit my paper?

Visit the Collection page for more information on the Collection, and how to submit your article.