The U.S. Geological Survey will send unmanned flights to monitor erosion on the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation in South Dakota.

The flights will take place August 21-23. The goal is to look at erosion of the Missouri River.

“Results from this effort will be analyzed to investigate the location and severity of erosion, and the lasting impacts of cultural and environmental losses,” USGS scientist Kathy Neitzert said in a press release. “Results from the 2012 flights can be directly compared to the 2011 flight results to monitor erosion. The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe will use the results to gather highly accurate baseline data on the shoreline.”

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Press Release: Unmanned flights watch river erosion (US Geological Survey 8/6)