Moderator: Dan Juhlin

Session 1: Drone-borne hyperspectral remote sensing of water-surface microplastic pollution – Domnique Chabot

Microplastic (MP) pollution (environmentally degraded plastic particles 1–5 mm in size) has become pervasive throughout the world’s oceans and freshwater systems. Due to their small size, MP particles can be ingested by aquatic biota, and numerous negative effects have been documented. Determining the risks arising from MP pollution is reliant on characterizing and monitoring its environmental concentrations, and conventional methods for aquatic systems involve laborious in-situ water sampling and subsequent laboratory analyses. Over the past decade, there has been increasing interest in the feasibility of detecting and quantifying concentrations of aquatic MPs by way of more efficient aerial remote sensing techniques (i.e., satellite-, crewed aircraft- or drone-based); but efforts to date have focused on the use of coarse spatial- and spectral-resolution Earth observation satellites, which is a particularly challenging starting point given the very small size and limited water-surface concentrations of the particles. In an effort to help move the science forward, we conducted the first ever trial of a drone-borne (very high spatial resolution) hyperspectral imager (very high spectral resolution) for detecting varying controlled concentrations of MPs introduced into artificial outdoor pools under natural light conditions. This presentation will detail the experiment conducted in October 2024 and share preliminary analysis results on the detectability of MPs in the hyperspectral imagery. This research has the potential to pave the way for precise drone-based monitoring of aquatic MPs over small areas, as well as facilitate upscaling to satellite-based monitoring in order to eventually achieve global coverage.

Session 2: Advanced Methan Monitoring with RPAS: Navigating an Evolving Regulatory Landscape – Mike Morellato

As Canada intensifies its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the regulatory landscape for methane monitoring is undergoing significant transformations. This presentation explores the evolving methane monitoring regulations in Canada and the practical implications for organizations reliant on accurate detection technologies.  We have explored the role of drone-based Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS), Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) sensors and satellite-based tools to align with the regulatory demands.  Here we will share our findings from RPAS flights and related research to share our learnings and provide an overview of innovative remote sensing tools available for methane monitoring.