Overhead Environmental Monitoring with Light Utility Aircraft:Demonstration and Evaluation of the System,

摘要

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking to provide its 10Regional Offices with a low-cost remote-sensing capability through development of a self-contained sensor module called the Enviro-Pod (Pod). The design,development and manufacture of the protype was accomplished by the U.S. Air Force Avionics Laboratory through an interagency agreement with the EPA. As presently configured,the Pod module contains two identical KA-85A panoramic cameras. One is mounted in the conventional vertical position and the second in an oblique position looking 45degrees forward of the aircraft. The Pod has been successfully demonstrated in Washington, D.C.,Boston,Atlanta,Philadelphia,and New York for EPA staff officials and personnel from eight other Federal agencies. Use of the Pod is foreseen in enforcement,compliance,episodic,and emergency monitoring activities. This document summarizes results of feasibility demonstrations and recommends a program for the production and suitability testing of the Pod module. Possible future sensor configurations for the Pod are also presented. (Color illustrations reproduced in black and white)