USI EXAM FLASHCARDS 2026/2027 | STUDY QUESTIONS, ANSWERS &
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM REVIEW
GSD Definition - ANS ✔✔Ground Sampling Distance, the size of a pixel projected onto the ground.
GSD Formula - ANS ✔✔(Sensor altitude)(Sensor width)/(Image Width)(Focal Length)
What type of GSD do you want for small objects and fine details? (Small or Large) - ANS ✔✔Small GSD
What type of GSD do you want for a large or general view? (Small or Large) - ANS ✔✔Large GSD
What is Absolute accuracy? - ANS ✔✔The accuracy of an image relative to real world coordinates.
(Measures how well features align with the real world)
What is Relative accuracy? - ANS ✔✔Measures accuracy of features in an image relative to each other.
What is Nadir? - ANS ✔✔The point directly below the camera or sensor.
What is Azimuth? - ANS ✔✔The horizontal angle of the camera from a reference point.
What is depression angle? - ANS ✔✔The angle from the camera to the ground.
What is flight time calculated in? - ANS ✔✔Decimal hours
What is 1 sec of LATITUDE? - ANS ✔✔100 feet
What is 1 minute of LATITUDE? - ANS ✔✔One nautical mile
What is 1 degree of LATITUDE? - ANS ✔✔69 miles
What is 1 sec of LONGITUDE? - ANS ✔✔80 feet
What is 1 minute of LONGITUDE? - ANS ✔✔One nautical mile
What is 1 degree of LONGITUDE? - ANS ✔✔54 miles
What is a 2d aerial survey? - ANS ✔✔Follows a set path on the ground to create a 2D map
How big should GSD be? - ANS ✔✔1/10 the size of the smallest feature that you need to identify.
What is a 3d aerial survey? - ANS ✔✔Follows a pre planned route while rotating a tower, creates a map
including heights.
What are aerial inspections? - ANS ✔✔Visual inspections, data collection, and evaluating factors for the
AV
, What is UTM? - ANS ✔✔Universal transversal mercator, a two dimension cartesian system used to
represent locations on earths surface.
How many zones does UTM divide earth into? - ANS ✔✔60 zones spanning 6 degrees of longitude
What are ground control station software (6 things)? - ANS ✔✔Map based interference, identifies
potential obstacles; Flight path design, optimizes flight path based on mission requirements; Airspace
information, compliance with regulations; Performance calculations, identifies if the AV can handle the
mission; Flight simulation, used to identify potential risks; Compliance and documentation, ensures
proper reporting.
What is the area of interest? - ANS ✔✔The objective targets for a mission.
What is an Image Acquisition plan? - ANS ✔✔Helps to clarify the parameters that will affect the air
mission.
What is area of operations? - ANS ✔✔Identifies the boundaries of the mission and considers limitations
such as geographical features, legal features, legal restrictions, operational requirements, and safety
considerations.
Class A airspace - ANS ✔✔18,000 ft MSL up to and including 60,000 ft. Within 12 NM of coast overlying
waters. Controlled
Class B airspace - ANS ✔✔Surface up to 10,000 ft MSL surrounding nation's busiest airports. Controlled
Class C airspace - ANS ✔✔Surface to 4,000 ft above airport elevation within 5 NM radius. From 5-10 NM
out, 1,200 ft to 4,000 ft above airport elevation. Surrounds airports with moderate traffic. Controlled
Class D airspace - ANS ✔✔Surface up to 2,500 ft MSL surrounding airports with operational control
tower. When tower not active, becomes Class E airspace down to 700 ft. Small airports with low traffic.
Controlled
Class E airspace - ANS ✔✔Controlled airspace that isn't A, B, C, or D.
What is class E2 airspace? - ANS ✔✔Area where the control is not in operation or does not provide full
time services.
What is class E3 airspace? - ANS ✔✔Established to transition from controlled airspace to uncontrolled
and is associated with class C airspace.
What is class E4 airspace? - ANS ✔✔Specific areas of controlled airspace established to accommodate
IFR operations or provide additional controlled airspace services, and associated with class D airspace.
Class G airspace - ANS ✔✔Uncontrolled airspace where there isn't any other airspace
Coordination with helicopter pilots should include what? - ANS ✔✔Frequency monitoring, Location of
RPAS operation, Hold points used to get the AV clear of a helicopter
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM REVIEW
GSD Definition - ANS ✔✔Ground Sampling Distance, the size of a pixel projected onto the ground.
GSD Formula - ANS ✔✔(Sensor altitude)(Sensor width)/(Image Width)(Focal Length)
What type of GSD do you want for small objects and fine details? (Small or Large) - ANS ✔✔Small GSD
What type of GSD do you want for a large or general view? (Small or Large) - ANS ✔✔Large GSD
What is Absolute accuracy? - ANS ✔✔The accuracy of an image relative to real world coordinates.
(Measures how well features align with the real world)
What is Relative accuracy? - ANS ✔✔Measures accuracy of features in an image relative to each other.
What is Nadir? - ANS ✔✔The point directly below the camera or sensor.
What is Azimuth? - ANS ✔✔The horizontal angle of the camera from a reference point.
What is depression angle? - ANS ✔✔The angle from the camera to the ground.
What is flight time calculated in? - ANS ✔✔Decimal hours
What is 1 sec of LATITUDE? - ANS ✔✔100 feet
What is 1 minute of LATITUDE? - ANS ✔✔One nautical mile
What is 1 degree of LATITUDE? - ANS ✔✔69 miles
What is 1 sec of LONGITUDE? - ANS ✔✔80 feet
What is 1 minute of LONGITUDE? - ANS ✔✔One nautical mile
What is 1 degree of LONGITUDE? - ANS ✔✔54 miles
What is a 2d aerial survey? - ANS ✔✔Follows a set path on the ground to create a 2D map
How big should GSD be? - ANS ✔✔1/10 the size of the smallest feature that you need to identify.
What is a 3d aerial survey? - ANS ✔✔Follows a pre planned route while rotating a tower, creates a map
including heights.
What are aerial inspections? - ANS ✔✔Visual inspections, data collection, and evaluating factors for the
AV
, What is UTM? - ANS ✔✔Universal transversal mercator, a two dimension cartesian system used to
represent locations on earths surface.
How many zones does UTM divide earth into? - ANS ✔✔60 zones spanning 6 degrees of longitude
What are ground control station software (6 things)? - ANS ✔✔Map based interference, identifies
potential obstacles; Flight path design, optimizes flight path based on mission requirements; Airspace
information, compliance with regulations; Performance calculations, identifies if the AV can handle the
mission; Flight simulation, used to identify potential risks; Compliance and documentation, ensures
proper reporting.
What is the area of interest? - ANS ✔✔The objective targets for a mission.
What is an Image Acquisition plan? - ANS ✔✔Helps to clarify the parameters that will affect the air
mission.
What is area of operations? - ANS ✔✔Identifies the boundaries of the mission and considers limitations
such as geographical features, legal features, legal restrictions, operational requirements, and safety
considerations.
Class A airspace - ANS ✔✔18,000 ft MSL up to and including 60,000 ft. Within 12 NM of coast overlying
waters. Controlled
Class B airspace - ANS ✔✔Surface up to 10,000 ft MSL surrounding nation's busiest airports. Controlled
Class C airspace - ANS ✔✔Surface to 4,000 ft above airport elevation within 5 NM radius. From 5-10 NM
out, 1,200 ft to 4,000 ft above airport elevation. Surrounds airports with moderate traffic. Controlled
Class D airspace - ANS ✔✔Surface up to 2,500 ft MSL surrounding airports with operational control
tower. When tower not active, becomes Class E airspace down to 700 ft. Small airports with low traffic.
Controlled
Class E airspace - ANS ✔✔Controlled airspace that isn't A, B, C, or D.
What is class E2 airspace? - ANS ✔✔Area where the control is not in operation or does not provide full
time services.
What is class E3 airspace? - ANS ✔✔Established to transition from controlled airspace to uncontrolled
and is associated with class C airspace.
What is class E4 airspace? - ANS ✔✔Specific areas of controlled airspace established to accommodate
IFR operations or provide additional controlled airspace services, and associated with class D airspace.
Class G airspace - ANS ✔✔Uncontrolled airspace where there isn't any other airspace
Coordination with helicopter pilots should include what? - ANS ✔✔Frequency monitoring, Location of
RPAS operation, Hold points used to get the AV clear of a helicopter
