Using Remote Control Aerial Vehicles to Study Variability of Airborne Particulates

Abstract

Airborne particulates play a significant role in the atmospheric radiative balance and impact human health. To characterize this impact, global-scale observations and data products are needed. Satellite products allow for this global coverage but require in situ validations. This study used a remote-controlled aerial vehicle to look at the horizontal, vertical, and temporal variability of airborne particulates within the first 150 m of the atmosphere. Four flights were conducted on December 4, 2014, between 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm local time. The first three flights flew a pattern of increasing altitude up to 140 m. The fourth flight was conducted at a near-constant altitude of 60 m. The mean PM 2.5 concentration for the three flights with varying altitude was 36.3 μg/m 3 , with the highest concentration occurring below 10 m altitude. The overall vertical variation was very small with a standard deviation of only 3.6 μg/m 3 . PM 2.5 concentration also did not change much throughout the day with mean concentrations for the altitude-varying flights of 35.

An Overview of Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Air Quality Measurements: Present Applications and Future Prospectives

“…Harrison et al [ 111 ] proposed the use of a remote-controlled aircraft to investigate the horizontal, vertical and temporal variability of PM within the first 150 m of the atmosphere. They aimed to prove that UAV-based systems could be the next generation validation methodology for satellites.…”

“…They aimed to prove that UAV-based systems could be the next generation validation methodology for satellites. Harrison et al [ 111 ] used a modified 3 m fixed wing model aircraft (already successful in another study [ 112 ]) to perform four different flights: the first three followed an oval pattern with the altitude increasing after each loop, starting at 30 m and finally reaching up to 140 m. The UAV sensor package system was an aerosol spectrometer with the intake probe mounted in a cowl to allow clean, undisturbed air sample collection (payload specification not given). The mean PM 2.5 concentration for three flights with varying altitude was 36.3 μg/m 3 , and the highest concentration was recorded below a 10 m altitude.…”

Natural Gas Fugitive Leak Detection Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle: Measurement System Description and Mass Balance Approach

“…Thus, the small UAV systems introduce new approaches to fill gaps of traditional platforms and offer research opportunities in studying ambient air quality compositions. Several previous studies have applied UAVs in various aspects such as atmospheric aerosols sensing [31][32][33], greenhouse gases measuring [34][35][36][37] and in situ air quality and atmosphere state analyzing [38][39][40]. One of the demonstrated applications of UAVs is to patrol around industrial areas to investigate fugitive gas leakage in open-pit mines [41], interrogation of oil and gas transmission pipelines [42] and around the compressor stations [43] and to monitor local gas emissions [44,45].…”

Development of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) System for In-Situ Characterization of Combustion Source Emissions

“…The research focused and provided details on integration of the sensors rather than validation of the data collected with the UAV system. Harrison et al (2015) proposed the use of a remote-controlled aircraft to investigate the horizontal, vertical and temporal variability of PM within the first 150 m of the atmosphere.…”

“…Harrison et al (2015) used a modified 3 m fixed wing model aircraft (already successful in another study ) to perform four different flights: the first three followed an oval pattern with the altitude increasing after each loop, starting at 30 m and finally reaching up to 140 m. The UAV sensor package system was an aerosol spectrometer with the intake probe mounted in a cowl to allow clean, undisturbed air sample collection (payload specification not given). The mean PM2.…”