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

The study outlines the key endeavors of the PRIN project titled "Integrated Environmental Monitoring Using Unmanned Aerial Systems (Drones), Environmental Management Systems, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Enhancing the Environmental Performance of Landfill Sites and Industrial Facilities," conducted jointly by the University of Bari and the University of Turin. The primary aim of this project is to develop an efficient set-up for the use of sensors on drones (for methane and other pollutants) capable of detecting emissions in both landfill sites and industrial facilities. Additionally, the project aims to integrate the data gathered through drone surveillance into Life Cycle Assessment studies and environmental management systems. This integration ensures that drone-based surveys effectively contribute to enhancing the environmental sustainability of industrial sites. This paper identifies the most appropriate sensors for environmental monitoring among existing options such as electrochemical sensors, PID (Photo Ionization Detector), laser spectrophotometers, etc., that can be effectively mounted on drones. The methodology employed for this investigation involved bibliographic research. The research identifies the requisite sensors for various applications, beginning with landfills and extending to other monitoring sites. Moreover, the bibliographic survey delves into the utilization of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for monitoring the identified pollutants. The findings of this survey pinpoint a sensor configuration suitable for deployment on UAS tailored to specific applications.