OPTOELECTRONIC HARDWARE-SOFTWARE MONOMODULAR SENSOR OF METEOROLOGICAL RANGE OF VISIBILITY AND ATMOSPHERE TRANSPARENCY WITH AUTOMATIC CORRECTION OF EXTERNAL POLLUTION EFFECT OF OPTICAL SYSTEMS

A model sample of a monomodular hardware-software optoelectronic sensor of k-factor, meteorological range of visibility and atmosphere transparency with high technical and operational characteristics of small -sized execution is developed and created. The combination in the algorithm of functioning of the developed hardware-software methods of sensor creation provided increase of accuracy and invariance of results of measurement concerning external background illumination and self-testing with automatic correction of pollution effect of optical windows of the sensor. Continuous monitoring of the degree of contamination of optical windows provides an opportunity in case of detection of exceeding the permissible level of pollution to provide the operator with information about the need for preventive work. The proposed method of automatic correction of contamination of optical windows either completely eliminates or significantly increases the time interval of their mechanical cleaning operations, which reduces labour costs for maintenance of the sensor. The analysis of technical capabilities of the nodes of the model sample of the sensor allowed to estimate its basic meteorological parameters: the k-factor – (0.17÷1.11∙10-4) m-1, the meteorological visibility – (18÷27∙103 ) m and the atmosphere transparency per 1 km of the layer – (0÷0.895). The developed meteorological sensor can be used as a basic remote-controlled instrument for measuring meteorological parameters of the state of the atmosphere at the hydrometeorological stations of the country, mobile meteorological stations, stationary meteorological stations of road and air services to ensure guaranteed safety of workers.

Climate Change and Air Pollution Effect on Forest Ecosystems

Climate change, air pollution, urbanization, globalization, demographic changes and changing consumption patterns affect forests and their social, cultural, ecological and economic functions, resulting in consequences for the social value of forests and for people’s livelihoods, health and quality of life [...]

Pilot Measurement of Illuminance in the Context of Light Pollution Performed with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

This article presents the methodology and results of pilot field illuminance measurements using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The main goal of the study was to quantify the luminous flux emitted in the upper hemisphere (toward the sky) based on obtained measurement data. The luminous flux emitted toward the sky is the source of undesirable light pollution. For test purposes, a height-adjustable mobile park lantern was constructed, at the top of which any type of luminaire can be installed. In the pilot measurements, two real opal sphere-type luminaires were considered. The lantern was situated in an open area located away from a large city agglomeration. To determine the unusable luminous flux, illuminance was measured, placing the necessary measuring equipment on board a UAV. The measurements were supplemented with the registration of illuminance on the ground upon which the lantern was installed. Based on these data, the useful luminous flux was calculated. The findings show that UAVs may be successfully used for the assessment of the influence of lighting on the light pollution effect.