Integration of drones in environmental management systems: determining an appropriate sensors configuration based on the specific application under analysis

The paper presents the main activities carried out within the PRIN project entitled "Integrated environmental monitoring via the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (drones), environmental management systems and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): set-up for improving the environmental profile of landfill sites and industrial plants" carried out in collaboration by the University of Bari and that of Turin. The main objective of this project is to develop an adequate set up for the use of sensors (methane and other pollutants) on drones in the context of environmental monitoring of landfill sites and industrial plants. A further objective is to integrate the data collected with drones in the context of LCA studies and environmental management systems so that the surveys made with drones can effectively contribute to improving the environmental profile of industrial sites and companies. In the present paper the most suitable sensors, among the existing ones (electrochemical, FID, laser spectrophotometers, etc.) are identified, to be used in environmental monitoring and which can actually be equipped on drones. The methodology adopted for this activity was that of bibliographic research. The research indicates the necessary sensors for the various applications envisaged, starting from landfill sites and then extended to other kinds of industrial sites. Finally, the bibliographic survey focuses on the use of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) and UAS for monitoring the pollutants identified. The results of this survey show the identification of a sensor set-up to be equipped on UAS according to the specific application.