Due to the large amount of water in the Netherlands, monitoring water quality is a labour-intensive process. TU Delft has therefore developed a 'pelican drone' that can take water samples and measure water quality while flying.
Good water quality is important for people and nature, but in a water-rich country like the Netherlands, it is quite a challenge to ensure water quality. Researchers at TU Delft have therefore developed a so-called 'pelican drone': a drone that can quickly take fresh water samples, combined with a measuring instrument for direct analysis of water quality. This week, the drone was tested in the 'living lab' at the new Marker Wadden nature reserve.
Water samples are currently taken manually from the shore or a vessel and sent to the laboratory for microscopic examination. However, transporting a sample to the laboratory can have a negative impact on the quality of the sample. Moreover, this method is relatively costly and labour-intensive, and water quality often changes so quickly that it would be better to measure more frequently. With the 'pelican drone', this should be possible.
Pelican drone
A (hyperspectral) camera is mounted on the 'Pelican drone' for aerial recording, which determines current sampling points for the drone, we read in a press release. The drone then lands on the water at these locations and takes a number of samples.
Once the drone returns, these samples are automatically and directly analysed in a CytoSense, a flow cytometer that scans and photographs algae and other micro-organisms. Within minutes, tens of thousands of organisms are scanned and thousands are photographed. The data is automatically processed and uploaded to an online portal. This prevents deterioration of the sample as much as possible. Upon return, the drone recharges itself at a charging station.
Kevin van Hecke of TU Delft's Micro Air Vehicle Lab (MAVLab): "The Pelican drone can greatly improve water quality monitoring and reduce costs. Monitoring for blue-green algae, for example, can be done much faster and more efficiently. The combination of drone and flow cytometry allows autonomous and real-time monitoring of water quality. Our plan is to eventually also take underwater test samples with the drone. That is why we have called this the Pelican drone."
Living lab
In the summer of 2019, several flights were conducted in a small recreational lake near Leiden, after which the Pelican drone was tested some time later on the Markermeer, near the newly constructed Marker Wadden. The data from these tests are being validated by scientists with other sources.
Marker Wadden is a 'Living Lab' in which researchers from the Knowledge and Innovation Programme Marker Wadden (KIMA) are conducting practical tests. Water quality management around this newly created nature reserve is still under research, so this provides a unique environment to develop the Pelican drone's new technology.
The Pelican drone project is an initiative of Rijkswaterstaat, TU Delft's MAVLab and CytoBuoy, with the aim of extensively automating water monitoring. Mapture.AI is providing the charging station for this project. Currently, it is only possible to take a sample from the surface, but the plan is to eventually allow the drone to dive as well. "Specifically, this project focuses on blue-green algae issues, but the technology is broadly applicable."
Click here for a video of the drone.
Source: TU Delft.
