This project teaches students  how to use drones and specialized light sensors to study the solar shielding capacity of urban green spaces. Participants configure and deploy a custom drone carrying a GUVA-S12SD UVA sensor payload to map ultraviolet radiation levels across different ground environments. The mission directly compares the high UV exposure found on open, unshaded asphalt roads with the natural protection provided by nearby tree canopies.

Sunlight contains Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays which are invisible to the human eye but penetrate the atmosphere completely. In heavily built environments, open asphalt surfaces receive unshielded solar radiation, increasing the UV exposure risks for pedestrians. Conversely, urban tree canopies act as biological umbrellas, absorbing and scattering these wavelengths to create protected microclimates beneath the leaves. Measuring these spatial variations from the ground can be difficult due to physical barriers, property lines, and changing sun angles.

By executing a manual drone survey, operators can fly directly above and around the canopy boundary to gather real-time data on UV light attenuation. This case study demonstrates how light-sensing technology and aerial platforms can be used to evaluate urban forestry designs, assess public health safety zones, and gather actionable field data for climate-resilient city