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Traditional methods vs. modern technologies

Traditional methods of measuring air quality, such as fixed measuring stations or sensors, are accurate and reliable. However, they have their limits – they are immobile, their deployment is costly and they cannot capture dynamic changes in different locations or altitudes. This is where drones come into play.

Drones equipped with special sensors can measure pollution in real time at different locations, not only horizontally but also vertically. This innovative approach allows for air quality profiling – measuring at different heights, collecting data on pollutant concentrations, temperature, humidity and wind speed. Drones thus provide a much more comprehensive view of air quality than stationary stations that monitor pollution only at their location.

How are drones used in the world?

In some countries, drones are already successfully used to monitor air quality. For example, in China, they are used to monitor pollution in cities or industrial areas. In India, drones are used to combat dust particles. When dust concentrations are high, these devices spray water along roads, reducing the amount of particles in the air. Each drone can carry up to 15 liters of water, which allows for effective interventions over large areas. Our neighbors in Poland, based on suggestions from local governments, have been using drones to monitor air pollution for a long time and identify “hot spots” in selected locations.

Results from Blahová

The experiment in Blahová has yielded valuable insights into how heating can affect air quality. Drones captured data on concentrations of harmful substances that are released into the atmosphere by burning wood, coal, or other fuels. Such measurements may help municipalities in the future to take measures to improve air quality, for example by supporting eco-friendly heating or better planning green planting to mitigate pollution.

Air pollution is a problem that cannot always be eliminated, but modern technologies can help us better understand and address it. The use of drones can give us a more accurate picture of where and how air quality fluctuates, which is crucial for protecting human health and nature.

The future belongs to drones

The experiment in Blahová showed the potential of drones in monitoring air quality, but the path to their regular use in Slovakia is not without obstacles. Although it is a technology with great promise, its implementation requires overcoming several challenges. One of the main barriers is funding - the deployment of specialized drones and their sensors is not cheap, and municipalities often struggle with limited budgets. In addition, legislation in the field of using drones for environmental monitoring is still under development in Slovakia and the European Union, which may slow down their wider deployment.

It is also necessary to provide professional training and technical support for those who will work with drones. Without specialized experts, the deployment of this technology could be less effective.

Despite these obstacles, it is clear that drones can complement traditional air monitoring methods and contribute to a better understanding of the pollution problem. Their use in practice will require not only technological innovations, but also systematic support and cooperation between experts, local governments and the state.

Although we are not yet ready to talk about their mass use, experiments like the one in Blahová are an important step towards Slovakia making significant progress in the field of air quality monitoring. Even small steps can lead to big changes over time.

We will inform you about the measurement results after processing and comparing the data measured by the mobile monitoring station and the drone.