MONITORING GREENHOUSE GASES WITH LONG-RANGE UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES AND NOVEL SPECTROSCOPIC SENSORS

The project envisions using novel long-range, large payload unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to carry innovative spectroscopic sensors to monitor multiple greenhouse gases, and to create a portal that will make these data widely available for low cost in a format that is useful to industry and government. The sensors and the UAVs are both breakthrough technologies in terms of capabilities and cost metrics. This powerful combination of these innovations will make it possible to carry out accurate, low-cost monitoring of sources of greenhouse gases over very large geographic areas and to sell the resulting data to many interested parties for industry and governmental environmental accountability.
Experts in the field of GG monitoring have noted that atmospheric data points taken from 3-dimensional space, not just from sensors at fixed locations or from satellites in orbit, could greatly improve modelling of emissions and improve our ability to pin-point problem areas. The project will bring together new UAV technology from Romaeris Corporation, gas sensor technology from the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), and the data management capabilities of Spacebel, an established project partner in the field of satellite technology. The project will culminate with sample data collection, analysis, calibration and comparison with existing methods to set the stage for worldwide roll out after project completion. The project will demonstrate the potential to significantly improve the emissions reporting for up to 165 countries that are signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and of other treaties and programs.