Drone IR spectrometry for environmental surveys

How does it work?
Many organic and inorganic materials absorb incoming (sun)light at very specific wavelengths. These absorption wavelengths are often diagnostic for compositional properties of those materials, such as (soil) minerals and vegetation,and therefore can be used to quickly identify subtle changes in chemical/structural properties of these materials. These changes can, in return, reflect changing environmental processes and therefore be used to detect and monitor the environmental impact of activities such as mining, industry and agriculture. 

T&A Survey Drone Services has used IR spectrometry to assess the environmental impact of two former mining sites in Eastern Europe. The Vihovici coal mine in Bosnia Herzegovina and the Rosia Montana Goldmine in Western Romania are both inactive, but previous mining activities have left deep environmental scars. As part of a study subsidized by the European Commission, both areas were surveyed using a combination of remote sensing data and a variety of field data, including a detailed spectral study of soil, rocks and vegetation. The goal of both studies was to determine the grade and extent of soil and surface water pollution, degradation of soil quality, and  detection and delineation of  landfills in the surroundings of the mines. By mapping the reflectance spectra of soils at different locations, concentrations of for example polluting substances or ore bodies can be easily located for further investigation.  

Crop monitoring
In the agricultural sector there is a great potential for application of drone technology and IR spectrometry in particular. In Groningen (the Netherlands) T&A Drone Services used IR spectrometry in a pilot project for early spectral detection of fungi in wheat fields. Early detection of such infections can significantly reduce the use of fungicides and pesticides. Using a portable IR spectrometer, spectral measurements of wheat leaves with different levels of fungus infestation were taken, ranging from healthy to strongly affected. The spectra indicate systematic spectral changes with increasing deterioration of the plants’ health. With this knowledge, drone-borne imaging spectroscopy may be used very efficiently to cover large agricultural plots with a continuous and consistent map of potential risk-areas.