Challenges for remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) in oil and chemicals detection in Arctic conditions: Finnish experiences

The objective of the two-phase field trials was to increase hands-on experience of the selected sensors and platforms in oil and chemical detection under arctic conditions. The oil detection tests included several sensors, a drone and a helicopter as platforms and HFO180 as the test oil. Two basins with different ice/water ratios and oil and one reference basin without oil were used as the target areas. The results indicated that the Blue-Hawk™ fluorosensor was too heavy for the drone and it was tested as a handhold option. Hyperspectral camera results showed differences in spectral data collected in the basins. Some uncertainties in the data analysis were encountered, thus more comprehensive reference data would help to make more reliable conclusions. The analyses requires expertise and time but it is anticipated that in forthcoming years the data processing improves and speeds up. OWL™ LiDAR detected the oil in both basins and confirmed that the technology is suitable for a helicopter platform. The Optris IR thermometer identified the thickest oil layer; an average time of one minute above the target area might not be sufficient for the image collection. The detection of different chemicals with selected sensors were accomplished with a drone as the platform. Aeromon BH-8 module detected and quantified previously known compounds. Dräger indicator tubes showed the increased ammonia (NH₃) concentration near the target area and ChemPro 100i detector clearly sensed ammonia. Both the SKC-226-01 sorbent tube and 3M Organic Vapor Diffusion Monitor detected that xylenes, toluene, benzene, chloroform, tetrachloroethane and acetone were vaporised in the air from the bottles.