This project engages students to understand how drones can be an important key for data collection. In this specific case, a commercial drone drone was used to capture data with a goal to investigate and compare urban air quality near a cattle farm.

Air quality affects the environment and human health in many ways. Air pollutants can spread over large areas and reduce the quality of the air. Measuring air quality using ground sensors often requires many site visits and long periods of work. These methods can take a lot of time and may only cover small areas. Remote sensing tools offer another way to study air quality, reducing the need to be on site while giving a wider view of pollution across an area.

Students set up an air quality logger as a payload  attach it to the drone, plan a simple flight path and operate a drone. They document the process with pictures and short videos that later will become learning materials. Safety considerations should be frequently mentioned. This project will allow students to question themselves about how the world will be in 10/15 years and concerns about current environmental care of the world in general.