Case Study: Air Quality Monitoring at the Port of Dover Using Sniffer4D UAV Payload

Case Study: Air Quality Monitoring at the Port of Dover Using Sniffer4D UAV Payload

Overview

  • Project Lead: Ben Crake
  • Location: Port of Dover, UK
  • Technology: Sniffer4D Multi-Gas Analyzer Payload + UAV Platform
  • Supplied by: AlphaGeo

The Port of Dover, one of Europe’s busiest ferry ports, is committed to managing its environmental impact. To enhance its air quality monitoring efforts beyond static stations, the Port enlisted our expertise. We provided a pioneering solution: the Sniffer4D multi-gas analyser payload on a UAV platform, to be used for a project led by Ben Crake. The goal was to pinpoint pollution hotspots, understand air quality trends, and support data-driven environmental decisions.

Objectives

The project was designed to meet several key objectives:

  • Deploy an agile, drone-based air sensing platform to complement existing static monitoring stations.
  • Identify localized pollution hotspots with high spatial accuracy.
  • Monitor levels of NO₂, SO₂, CO, CO₂, O₃, PM2.5, and PM10 across operational zones.
  • Support ongoing environmental compliance and planning strategies.

The Sniffer4D Solution

The Sniffer4D V2 payload, supplied by AlphaGeo, was mounted on a multirotor UAV. This system was chosen for its ability to provide real-time, high-resolution gas and particulate monitoring. Its seamless integration with UAVs allows for mobile data collection, and the Sniffer4D Mapper software enables the visualization of data through 3D mapping and heatmaps.

Operational Method

The UAV followed pre-programmed flight paths, typically flying at 60–80 meters AGL (Above Ground Level) to account for high vertical assets within the port. Flights were conducted monthly, covering the entire estate with a survey grid spacing of 10–20 meters. After each 15-25 minute mission, the GPS-synced data was uploaded for immediate analysis, allowing for the creation of 3D models of pollutant concentrations.

Key Findings & Impact

The project successfully identified hotspots of higher-than-average air emissions across the Port's estate, leading to the implementation of mitigation action plans. This deployment not only improved environmental awareness among stakeholders, including the university students participating in the project, but also demonstrated the viability of UAV-mounted sensors as a flexible tool for continuous air monitoring in dynamic industrial environments. The Port now has a better understanding of its air quality through easy-to-understand visualizations of emissions.

Conclusion

Ben Crake’s successful deployment of the Sniffer4D UAV payload at the Port of Dover proves the value of drone-based mobile sensing platforms for complex industrial environments. The project revealed critical air quality insights and laid the foundation for smarter, cleaner port operations.

Interested in Drone-Based Air Quality Monitoring?

Contact AlphaGeo for expert advice, live demos, and equipment supply.

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