Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Andrés Munevar, Senior Leah Smith, Junior Erik Liebergall, Senior David Benning, Senior Ciara Sandell, Junior Kaleb Nails, Junior
Lead Presenter's Name
Andrés Munevar
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Engineering
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Marwa M.H. El-Sayed
Abstract
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designates six aerial pollutants as ‘criteria pollutants’. These criteria pollutants have been identified for being particularly harmful to human health while having high concentrations in the United States and having the ability to remain suspended in the air. Particulate Matter (PM), existing in three sizes ranging between 1 and 10 microns, is of particular concern due to its many forms of composition. PM, by definition, can be a solid or liquid particle; given this, PM can exist in a variety of forms from volcanic ash to soot, to pollen and sea salt, to name a few. The EPA monitors PM and other criteria pollutants through a network of stationary air monitoring sites across the US. In many places, the EPA monitors are outside of city centers or not proportional to the size and population of a city. In the end, though the EPA network is vast, it is not large enough to broadly cover every location in the country. Beyond this, the EPA monitors are expensive to operate, and produce relatively low spatial and temporal distribution of the data at the ground level. In order to improve upon the EPA network, this project conducts data acquisition of PM concentration at flight levels above ground. Using Embry-Riddle’s existing fleet of Unmanned Aircrafts (UAs), Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors (LCPMS) are being attached to UAs and flown up to altitudes of 400 feet (ft) above ground level (AGL). Employing custom 3D-printed parts, proprietary strings of code for data processing, and advanced avionics and LCPMS, the combined result is a system which allows this team of researchers to aggregate data never before explored at altitudes above the ground level. The final data figures are held at a high interval of confidence since the LCPMS used in the study are collocated and calibrated against the EPA devices. This research leads the way in quantitative air quality analysis due to its interdisciplinary nature. Wildfires, pandemics, and poor air quality episodes are future sectors wherein this research can be deployed, while empowering civilians to monitor their own air quality, and bringing air quality problems to the forefront of the national human health and welfare conversation.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
Yes, Ignite Grant
First Generation Particulate Monitoring Technology Using Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors and Unmanned Aircrafts
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designates six aerial pollutants as ‘criteria pollutants’. These criteria pollutants have been identified for being particularly harmful to human health while having high concentrations in the United States and having the ability to remain suspended in the air. Particulate Matter (PM), existing in three sizes ranging between 1 and 10 microns, is of particular concern due to its many forms of composition. PM, by definition, can be a solid or liquid particle; given this, PM can exist in a variety of forms from volcanic ash to soot, to pollen and sea salt, to name a few. The EPA monitors PM and other criteria pollutants through a network of stationary air monitoring sites across the US. In many places, the EPA monitors are outside of city centers or not proportional to the size and population of a city. In the end, though the EPA network is vast, it is not large enough to broadly cover every location in the country. Beyond this, the EPA monitors are expensive to operate, and produce relatively low spatial and temporal distribution of the data at the ground level. In order to improve upon the EPA network, this project conducts data acquisition of PM concentration at flight levels above ground. Using Embry-Riddle’s existing fleet of Unmanned Aircrafts (UAs), Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors (LCPMS) are being attached to UAs and flown up to altitudes of 400 feet (ft) above ground level (AGL). Employing custom 3D-printed parts, proprietary strings of code for data processing, and advanced avionics and LCPMS, the combined result is a system which allows this team of researchers to aggregate data never before explored at altitudes above the ground level. The final data figures are held at a high interval of confidence since the LCPMS used in the study are collocated and calibrated against the EPA devices. This research leads the way in quantitative air quality analysis due to its interdisciplinary nature. Wildfires, pandemics, and poor air quality episodes are future sectors wherein this research can be deployed, while empowering civilians to monitor their own air quality, and bringing air quality problems to the forefront of the national human health and welfare conversation.