Investigating Efficient Flight Pathways with Continuous and Discrete Sampling for UAV-based Greenhouse Gas Monitoring at Environmental Infrastructures

HORIM KIM, Keun Taek Kim, Hyeri Jo, Minyong Yang, Young Su Lee, Sangjae Jeong, Jae Young Kim, Seoul National University

     Abstract Number: 326
     Working Group: Instrumentation and Methods

Abstract
Greenhouse gas emissions from environmental infrastructures represent a significant source of anthropogenic air pollution, demanding efficient monitoring strategies. Conventional monitoring methods often struggle to capture the spatial variability and real-time changes in emissions. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer a promising solution to this challenge. Well-designed flight pathways and sampling strategies are essential for UAV-based greenhouse gas monitoring, as they improve data accuracy and efficiency within the constraints of limited flight time and resources. The present study investigates suitable flight pathways and sampling strategies for UAVs, examining two UAV flight methodologies: (1) continuous sampling without hovering flight, and (2) discrete sampling with hovering flight, analyzing potential benefits and drawbacks of each approach concerning the quality of data collection and time efficiency. Initial findings suggest that the continuous sampling method can extend the length of flight pathways; however, the sensor accuracy can be hindered by propeller-induced wind. Implementing flight operation criteria in the continuous sampling can help to alleviate the adverse impact on the sensor system. In comparison, hovering flight is widely recognized for enabling consistent data collection at specific locations, facilitating precise measurements in areas with complex emission sources. Furthermore, we explore flight pathways for two emission source types, point and area sources, incorporating various measurement approaches such as downwind plume measurement and plume transect measurement assuming the Gaussian plume model. Two targeted environmental infrastructures are solid waste incinerator (point source) and a landfilling site (area source). Preliminary experiments demonstrate that customizing flight pathways based on the specific source type can lead to more efficient greenhouse gas monitoring. Identifying effective flight pathways for each source type can contribute to more efficient utilization of UAVs for understanding the emission characteristics of environmental infrastructures.