Air pollution collection and XAFS analysis by drone

The Matsumi Group of the Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya University uses the small PM2.5 sensor jointly developed with Panasonic to operate not only fixed stations but also personal exposure meters and UAV-equipped measuring devices. Recently, in addition to that, the electrochemical sensor of Alphasence of the United Kingdom has been incorporated into the atmospheric observation device. We are developing not only observation technology on the ground and on observation vessels, but also three-dimensional observation technology for observing the atmosphere in the sky using drones. The on-board equipment is wide-ranging, such as laser scanners and infrared cameras, and we are also developing new drone flight technology (flying methods in non-GPS environments such as between forest trees and in caves). Many PM2.5 distributions up to an altitude of 500 m were observed. Current atmospheric observations measure aerosols and gas in real time. Regarding PM2.5, there is only a definition that the diameter of the particles is 2.5 μm, and the constituent components are not considered. The author is working with AeroFlex, the advanced UAV research project, to develop the aerosol collection device that can be mounted on the UAV, and collected samples at the open burning of the Kokai River and Sugo-numa in Japan. Here, the solenoid valve is opened and closed at each constant altitude, and the aerosol is sucked by the fan. Currently, gauze is used as the filter to adsorb aerosols. The collected samples were analyzed at the Aichi Synchrotron Optical Facility BL6N1 (https://www.chinokyoten.pref.aichi.jp/english/outline/index.html). We have obtained interesting findings that have never been obtained. AeroFlex has begun offering various aircraft with the aim of developing Japanese-made UAVs. Here, we will introduce those activities.