Analysis of Vertical Distribution of Air Pollution Based on Drones: A Case Study on the Main Road in Hefei

Considering the need for accurate vertical distribution of pollutant concentration assessment in the environment near major roads, the current ground-based air pollution monitoring systems along urban arteries are unable to accurately capture the three-dimensional monitoring situation of these areas. Therefore, the monitoring of air contaminants near major roads at different altitudes using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is meaningful and challenging. In the study, the development of an unmanned aerial vehicle-based monitoring system for urban arterial air pollution becomes necessary. Then, flight experiments were designed to measure air pollutant concentrations, including PM1, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and O3 at a height of 100 m above the ground. In the end, the vertical distribution of atmospheric pollutants under different traffic conditions and different time periods was analyzed. This research provides valuable insights into the vertical distribution of air pollutant concentrations and the prediction of air quality in close proximity to major roads.