Remote sensing using small unmanned airborne systems (sUAS) is a rapidly emerging technology. sUAS-based remote sensing offers possibilities for cost-efficient data capture with desired spatial and temporal resolutions, offering completely new business opportunities in various application fields. The sUAS markets are expected to grow explosively. Examples of key applications include surveying and mapping, precision agriculture and forestry, water quality monitoring, energy and power, infrastructure, law enforcement, public safety, and science and education. Researchers and companies in Finland have made several world leading innovations and openings in sUAS remote sensing technology, especially in the fields of low-cost, light-weight hyperspectral imaging and laser scanning. Characteristics to sUAS data sets are extremely high spatial resolution, large data volumes, and radiometric and geometric uncertainties due to nonstable platforms and data capture conditions. In operational applications, fundamental user requirements include fast (nearly real time) and automated processing and analysis of massive data volumes and assessment of reliable performance estimates. The research consortium has made fundamental research in the fields of UAS precision agriculture, forestry, water quality monitoring, environmental impact monitoring and electric network surveying. Overall objective of the DroneKnowledge project is to develop knowledge based solutions for the sUAS challenges in the areas with excellent business opportunities (especially agriculture, forestry, water quality, energy networks etc.), in order to improve the competitiveness of Finnish research and commercial applications in these fields. The major results of the Phase 1 project are the definitions for solutions of the challenges in the most significant business areas, and proposal and consortium for the Phase 2.