• H2020
• Societal Challenges
• Climate Action

Directing evacuations, reducing damage and saving lives in the aftermath of major disasters will all be improved thanks to a new drone that provides crucial air quality data to ground-based emergency services in real-time.

Critical air quality information is needed for deploying emergency services and directing evacuations in the aftermath of a catastrophic event, such as a volcanic eruption, a wildfire or a chemical plant explosion.

Natural disasters can severely impact air quality and safety in the short term and are often outside the reach of fixed monitoring station networks.

Reaching speeds of up to 120km per hour, and covering an 80km radius, the drone is fitted with a novel photonic sensor that can simultaneously detect dozens of toxic gases in an instant.

The FLAIR (Flying ultrA-broadband single-shot Infra-Red Sensor) drone aims to provide real-time air quality data used for quick decision making during evacuations and the deployment of rapid response emergency services.

André Oliveira, project co-ordinator of TEKEVER Autonomous Systems in Portugal, said: “For the first time, a drone reaching altitudes of up to 4,000 metres will be able to detect fine traces of air molecules that are dangerous to our health with a state-of-the-art laser sensor. The drone can map out areas that are too dangerous for humans to go and can transmit data in real time to a ground processing unit.”

Expecting to have a prototype ready in 2018, the FLAIR project received a grant of €3m from Horizon 2020.

Participants from five other European countries include: Senseair AB (Sweden); NKT Photonics A/S, Danmarks Tekniske Universiteit (Denmark); New Infrared Technologies SL (Spain); Stichting Katholieke Universiteit (Netherlands); Eidgenossische Materialprufungs-Und Forschungsanstalt, CSEM Centre Suisse D’Electronique et de Microtechnique SA – Recherche et Developpement (Switzerland).