Taking research to new heights: how aerial drones are supporting UK science
Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML)
Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) is a charity, undertaking pioneering marine research for the benefit of us all
PML contributes to national review of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS)
UK environmental science centres, including PML, have contributed to a major review into the use of Uncrewed Aerial Systems in environmental research.
Drone technologies are enabling research that is currently beyond the reach of traditional aircraft and other methods – playing a crucial role in supporting cutting-edge science, while contributing to reduced carbon emissions.
To support UKRI’s strategy to achieve Net Zero by 2040, NERC commissioned the UK’s environmental science centres to review the UAS landscape. Recommendations on how best to invest in and support environmental science research using these technologies are published in the report: Net Zero Aerial Capability (NZArC) Scoping Report: A Review of the Role of Uncrewed Aerial Systems in the Decarbonisation Strategy of NERC Aerial Activities.
The report evaluates the current landscape of UAS deployment in environmental research, pinpoints critical gaps in existing capabilities and infrastructure, and charts an ambitious strategic vision for advancing these technologies in future scientific endeavors.
Its key recommendations include:
Linked to this scoping study, the NERC: Natural Environment Research Council has recently funded two projects that will begin delivering on some of the key recommendations of the report.
This includes PML’s Green LiDAR project led by Aser Mata :
A remotely piloted aerial Green LiDAR for mapping bathymetry of shallow waters and elevation of boundary land (Green LiDAR)?
This project is delivered in collaboration with BGS, NOC, SAMS and UKCEH and aims to revolutionise how underwater environments, particularly shallow waters like river sections and coastal areas, are mapped.?
Mapping of shallow waters is vital for studying blue carbon habitats such as mangroves, seagrasses, and tidal marshes as these are some of the most efficient natural carbon sinks on Earth.
?These habitats store and sequester carbon at rates far exceeding tropical forests but mapping their underwater terrain (bathymetry) and estimating carbon storage has been a major challenge.?
The project will use a novel sensor, designed for both topographic and bathymetric surveys, for mapping underwater environments that are hard to reach, and this will be mounted on a low carbon UAS platform.
?This research will have reduced carbon footprint compared to if delivered via a traditional aircraft so will enable faster, more accurate data collection with less environmental impact.?
Commenting on the project, Aser said:
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“This sensor will allow us to rapidly collect very high resolution bathymetry data in shallow waters including rivers, lakes and coastal waters – environments that are often not accessible using other bathymetric sensors deployed on boats and therefore can present knowledge gaps.?
It will provide the data needed to advance a myriad of scientific challenges that we are currently facing in marine ecosystems. It will help improve models for river flow and river discharge in support of flood prevention. It will also allow more precise quantification of coastal erosion and the mapping of blue carbon ecosystems such as kelp and seagrass to better understand their lifecycle, improve their modelling and estimate how much carbon they store, in turn paving the way to promote the restoration of these habitats for carbon sequestration.”
PML has been using drones in its research since 2018 and has grown its capability substantially in recent years.
UAS data is used as a high resolution stand-alone dataset (such as for project LOCATE) or is combined with other sensors or satellite observations for validation.
PML is using, or has used, drones for different studies including:
PML has also been promoting the use of UASs in workshops and outreach events. For example, PhD students were able to learn about how UASs and ML can be exploited for ocean monitoring (PORTWIMS workshop) and children at key stage 4 in schools were introduced to the use of new technologies including UASs and satellites for ocean colour and water quality monitoring (EO-PI) as well as UAS displays for projects that involved citizen science (MONOCLE).
Related information
The recommendations in the new report were developed collaboratively through several NERC-funded workshops and an analysis of case studies provided by the research community.
In addition to PML, the report was co-authored by experts from:
Dr Iain Williams, NERC Director of Strategic Partnerships, said of the report,
“It offers a valuable and comprehensive roadmap for advancing the use and capabilities of UAS to support new insights across the environmental sciences and doing so in a way to reduce the carbon emissions in field research.
The report contains some important recommendations and fascinating case studies on the use of UAS in a wide range of environmental science applications. I’m looking forward to seeing the outputs from the two projects linked to this programme and how they may develop new approaches to environmental mapping.”?
The published report is hosted at https://www.bas.ac.uk/data/our-data/publication/scoping-report-net-zero-aerial-capability/ and includes wider recommendations to the research community, as well as NERC, its research centres and collaborating institutes.
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