Scientists from the Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology have been working together to explore water quality monitoring by using drone around Windermere.
Technologies that allow remote observation of water have been advancing rapidly in recent years thanks to innovations in satellite technology, lower-cost sensors and access to satellite data in cloud environments allowing scientists to study water conditions in higher detail than ever before.
Observing water conditions by satellite in small water bodies remains a challenge because of atmospheric interference and reflections from the water surface, lake beds and shores.
Experts from Plymouth joined colleagues from Cumbria-based UKCEH to use drones to collect data locally which was then used to validate the accuracy of satellite observations as a way of complementing direct water sampling.
The drone cameras record the full spectrum of sunlight reflected in the water. These measurements can then be compared to the water colour observed from satellite and, with analysed samples back in the laboratory, help determine the qualities of the water.
Scientists say the ultimate aim is for drone water monitoring to become a standard capability within their water monitoring toolkit alongside existing direct water monitoring efforts.
Equipped with a test drone carrying a full payload of high-specification camera sensors, the multi-disciplinary team flew over sections of Windermere that are already regularly sampled by the UKCEH water monitoring team. Having a good existing dataset with which to compare the drone data helps corroborate accuracy and highlights matters that require attention.
“We are excited to be undertaking innovative research that we hope will result in an exciting and useful product for anyone managing water quality around the world,” Professor Stefan Simis, Earth Observation Scientist for Inland & Coastal Waters at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, said.
“For these pilot flights at sites around Windermere and Esthwaite we were lucky with the weather, with fairly clear skies and little rain. It’s great to see that the work that went into designing and balancing the payload paid off – the drone was very stable even during some gusty winds.”
The test flight proved successful and the prototype drone payload is showing promise for wider introduction to field campaigns.
“We have been sampling Windermere for many years and have developed an excellent understanding of its dynamics,” Dr Stephen Thackeray, Lake Ecologist at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, said.
“Conventional sampling methods using boats will continue to bring a wealth of information, helping us understand how these lakes respond to gradually changing pressures, such as climate change.
“But we are also aware of the need of water management authorities to respond rapidly to concerns of pollution. Our focus on lake functioning, combined with PML’s expertise in remote optical water quality detection from lakes to the ocean, brings a lot of overlapping interest and these collaborations are needed to address pressures on water quality from pollution and climate change.”
The work has been supported as a small component of the UK EOCIS (Earth Observation Climate Information Service) and internal funds from PML and UKCEH.
“Now scientists hope to develop the drones capability by reducing the size and weight of the equipment, to lower costs and make the system more ‘plug and play’.
