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The Role of Unmanned Aerial Systems-Sensors in Air Quality Research
Citation:
Gullett, B., X. Zhou, Bill Mitchell, J. Aurell, Chris Geron, C. Secrest, AND S. Moore. The Role of Unmanned Aerial Systems-Sensors in Air Quality Research. 14th International Congress on Combustion By-Products and Their Health Effects, Umea, SWEDEN, June 14 - 17, 2015.
Impact/Purpose:
To describe the application of new miniature sensors and aerial sampling technology to better quantify emissions from hard-to-sample, open area sources. To explain the status of the technology To highlight recent applications
Description:
The use of unmanned aerial systems (UASs) and miniaturized sensors for a variety of scientific and security purposes has rapidly increased. UASs include aerostats (tethered balloons) and remotely controlled, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) including lighter-than-air vessels, fixed wing airplanes, and heli/multi-rotor copters. This expansion of use is due to advances in global positioning satellite (GPS) technology, battery technical improvements, data transmittal and storage capability, aeronautical design, materials, and ground-based flight control systems. With the advent of innovative, miniaturized environmental sensors, sensor-equipped aerial systems can rapidly and efficiently characterize air pollutant levels, determine source pollutant strength, identify water pollution issues, characterize land use patterns/change, and provide real-time data on environmental hazards at minimal cost. Aerial systems have the potential to significantly improve the way we take environmental measurements while operating within operational regulations proposed by aviation authorities. This presentation proposes to highlight the potential uses for sensors in aerial systems for open area emission sampling through case studies of prescribed and wildland fires, military ordnance disposal, flares, and industrial plants. Selection of an aerial system for emission sampling is dependent upon the source characteristics (e.g., plume loft, duration/intermittency), site characteristics (e.g., accessibility and launch/lift off area, safety considerations), the payload requirements (i.e., number and type of samplers), and the geographical breadth of the measurements (i.e., vertical or horizontal data needs). Sensor selection for payloads must consider the pollutant type (what sampler is needed?), the pollutant concentration (how much volume needs to be sampled to exceed the detection limit?), the concentration range and gradient (how fast does the sensor have to respond and recover?), and potential signal interferences from other pollutants.