Environmental Drones (E-drones)
In 2020, researchers from Nigeria and Canada-based tech company RACETT developed environmental drones (E-drones) that can autonomously monitor and abate air pollution in real-time. This E-drones were tested mainly in a region of New Brunswick, where every hour, the drones autonomously fly to a specified altitude to measure the concentration of specific air pollutants (NO2, O3, C O, CO2, SO2, NH3, and PM) and their combined data generates an Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) map for the area. If the measurements are higher than the threshold recommended by Health Canada, the E-drones automatically release chemical mixtures (such as scrubber solutions) that react with particles to create gasses and liquids. Once the solution is implemented, the drone lands and transmits the collected data to the monitoring station. The E-drone approach to air pollution may be limited because it focuses on a reactive solution to air quality, and may therefore shift focus away from preventative measures and solutions. There may also be some unintended risks or consequences of releasing chemical mixtures into the atmosphere. However, with further experimentation and as part of a larger air pollution mitigation process, E-drones may offer a fast, localized and targeted approach to reducing the health impacts of air pollution.
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Climate Change, Data, Ecological Modelling, Ecological Monitoring, Lifestyle, Monitoring, Pollution, Regulation, Visual Technologies
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