DAQ-2024-011370

Temporal and Spatial Measurements of Surface-to-Boundary Layer Ozone using
Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS)

Dr. Randy Martin (PI), [phone], [e-mail]
Dr. Cal Coopmans (Co-PI), (435) 797- 8340, [e-mail]
Utah Water Research Laboratory
Utah State University
1600 Canyon Road
Logan, UT 84321

USU/UWRL Sponsored Programs officer:
Ms. Norma (Nan) Buxton, Grant and Contract Officer
1415 Old Main Hill
MAIN 64
Logan, UT 84322-0001
[phone]
[e-mail]

Requested Budget: $99,586.23
(M.S. graduate student to be supported via separate UWRL funding; $34,038.58)

Project Period: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

SCOPE OF WORK
Abstract
The work proposed herein would produce surface to 700-1000 ft agl pollutant concentration,
primarily O3 and select meteorological parameters, “curtains” up to 4 km in horizontal length
using AggieAir’s arial drone platforms coupled with 2B Technologies Portable Ozone Monitors
(POMs) and other appropriate sensors. This work will dovetail into the spatial void between
USOS’s planned ground and aloft measurements. The field measurements will be conducted in
areas around and over the Great Salt Lake, at sites to be discussed and finalized with UDAQ and
NOAA personnel. As much as possible flights will be coordinated in time with NOAA’s Twin
Otter flights as part of the 2024 Utah Summer Ozone Study (USOS). We propose to fly 3-4
flights daily spaced throughout the target days, approximately once per week during the USOS
campaign. Besides key support to USOS, the drone flights will help directly address the RFP’s
Goals and Priorities of (1f.) Measurements of O3 and its Precursors, as well provide information
on (3a.) Vertical Oxidant Exchange (profiles). The PIs involved in this project have experience in
similar air-borne vertical and horizontal O3, meteorological, and PM determinations using in-
house modified sensors (e.g. 2B’s Model 205 O3 monitor and Plantower 5003 sensors)
mounted into both drone and tethered balloon systems.
Basis and Rationale
The primary focus of the work proposed herein is to compliment the planned NOAA campaign
targeting the understanding of the multifaceted urban air composition and behavior along the
Wasatch Front. Specific to the Science for Solutions FY 2025 RFP, this proposal will address
sections of Goals and Priority #1: Summertime Ozone Chemistry and Sources, subpart (f.)
Measurements of “background” ozone (O3) and ozone precursors. The vertical and horizontal
O3 data collected data from this proposed project would also give insight into Priority 3a:
Meteorology-Chemistry Coupling: Vertical oxidants exchange. As described in the draft plan for
the 2024 Utah Summertime Ozone Study (USOS), the NOAA-led Utah Summer Ozone Study
(USOS) aims to address complexities of ozone behavior along Utah’s Wasatch Front. Numerous
methodologies are planned to assess the spatial and temporal pollutant behaviors at ground-
level (stationary and mobile) and aloft; with the latter being accomplished via NOAA’s Twin
Otter platform equipped with a suite of in-situ chemical and meteorological packages.
However, a potentially critical region absent from the campaign’s characterization plan is the
region between ground-level and the allowable lower ceiling of the NOAA Twin Otter aircraft
platform (approx. 1000 ft AGL). We propose to temporally and spatially characterize this
intermediate region as close as possible to parallel in time with the larger project flights using
uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and portable ozone and meteorological monitoring systems.
Technical Approach
We propose to measure and analyze vertically stair-stepped, horizontal transects, or O3
“curtains”, essentially 2-D contour maps, at select locations near the Great Salt Lake as close to
the same time periods as the USOS campaign from the near surface up to 1000 ft (305 m) AGL
with a horizontal component out to as far as 4 km. We will use AggieAir
(uwrl.usu.edu/aggieair/), a USU-affiliated UAS service center, to provide the air-borne platform,
coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and perform the selected flights.
The recommended system is
AggieAir’s new GreatBlue hybrid
Vertical Take Off and Landing
(VTOL)/Fixed Winged UAS (Figure
1).
The system is capable of remaining
air-borne for up to one hour, has a
payload capacity of up to five (5)
kilograms, with a native velocity of
50 mph (22.4 m/s). The imaging
systems typically carried in the
payload bay will be removed and Figure 1. AggieAir’s Great Blue UAS
replaced with a pair of 2B Technologies Personal
Ozone Monitors (POMs) – each weighing
approximately 0.5 kg (see Figure 2). With the
platform flying at 50 mph and the POMs
minimum data acquisition of two seconds, the
O3 data collection will represent a concentration
integrated over approximately 45 m. Further,
although the dual POMs will each be individually
calibrated, the proposed dual system is planned
for redundancy. The Co-PIs, along with other
USU personal, have successfully used a similar
approach previously over land and water off of
the Great Salt Lake’s (GSL) north arm’s Promontory Point (see Figure 3) and in the oil and gas
fields of Utah’s Uinta Basin.

Figure 3. O3 “curtains” (ppb) extending WSW from GSL’s Promontory Point in Aug. 2015. As can be seen, morning
O3 concentrations were 40-50 ppb and indistinct. As the day progressed, the overall O3 increased and seemed to
push in from the east (Wasatch Front). This was also supported by predominant easterly wind patterns
throughout the day and throughout the air column. Further, the late afternoon flight showed increased O3 at
lower elevations over the GSL’s open water.
This light, dual POMs payload leaves room for possible inclusion of other instrumentation if
geometric size and weight requirements can be met. Additionally, as we will likely still have
available payload capacity in the AggieAir Great Blue, we plan to research integrating available
light-weight, low-cost NOx and total VOC sensors such as those indicated with moderate
reliability via California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Air Quality Sensor
Performance Evaluation Center (AQ-SPEC; https://www.aqmd.gov/aq-spec/home). The PIs
realize, that unlike the 2B POM units, these secondary sensors are not of EPA-Equivalent status;
however, with proper calibration and understanding they can at least give relative
concentration information. A portable meteorological sensor/datalogger, such as Kestrel’s
DROP D3 system will also be included as part of the payload package. The investigators have
found the D3’s to give acceptably fast and accurate temperature, relative humidity, and
barometric pressure data to adequately map the vertical and horizontal profiles of these
parameters. This would give added insight into the thermal stratification and mixing
parameters of the observed air masses.
As indicated above, we propose to characterize O3 curtains and supporting parameters ideally
once per week, as close as possible in time with the NOAA flights, across the five-week study,
with three-to-four flights each test day to capture diurnal behaviors. At present, we plan to
characterize the atmospheric concentrations shortly after sunrise to capture the profiles before
significant photochemistry and transport, followed by roughly flights equi-spaced in time, until
the final flight shortly before sunset. It is anticipated that more than one location could be
examined; the final locations will be determined after wider discussions with Division of Air
Quality personnel and other USOS investigators. Of course, due to possible areas of flight
restrictions, perfect geographical overlap may not be possible. Potential flight locations,
include the GSL south shore, Badger Island, Stansbury Island, Antelope Island, Farmington Bay,
SLC Foothills, and/or Jordan Narrows. Although obtaining FAA Certificate of Authorizations
(COAs) in such areas can be problematic, AggieAir has historically obtained such COAs and
conducted flights in similar areas, including multiple locations in California’s air-traffic heavy
San Joaquin Valley, and owing to another project, currently holds an open COA for the entire
33-mile (53.1 km) length, ±2.5 mile (4.0 km) width, along the railroad causeway separating the
north and south arms of the GSL.
Given consideration to short-timing funding windows (discussed below under “Schedule”), in
early December 2023, the PIs and the AggieAir team preemptively sought FAA approval for a
COA encompassing assumed UAS flight paths. FAA COA #2023-WSA-13496-COA was granted,
valid through Dec. 7. 2025 to fly AggieAir’s unmanned aircraft system within the operational
areas shown in Figure 3. Following the approved COA, Ops Area A has an approved flight ceiling
of 700 feet above ground level (AGL), with the exception of the Ogden Class E area where the
ceiling is 400 ft AGL, and Ops Area B has an approved flight ceiling of 1000 ft AGL. These
potential flight areas, along with the previously mention railroad causeway window, would give
the researchers ample opportunity for unique atmospheric vertical and horizontal ozone
characterizations.

As an added benefit to this proposed work, USU/UWRL colleagues of the proposal PI’s, Drs.
Sierra Young and Alfonso Torres-Rua, have been award a UWRL-internal grant “Drone
Figure 3. AggieAir’s approved COA for the GSL area.
meteorology: Developing accurate, mobile environmental sensors to accelerate information
gain from remote sensing”. In short, the project will integrate a hex-prop drone platform with
fast response (< 1s) meteorological technology including temperature, relative humidity,
barometric pressure, 3-D wind speed and direction. The goal of this secondary project is to
develop a system not only to characterize the thermal/moisture structure of the atmosphere,
but also microclimate movement within the local air masses. Successful develop of such a
system could lead to new techniques for local measurement of important environmental
parameters such as surface/vegetation evapotranspiration, pollutant surface fluxes and/or
deposition. The system is currently in development and is scheduled to be ready for flights in
summer 2024. Although not guaranteed, recent personal conversations with these additional
PIs, suggest it will likely be possible to test this new drone-based system in parallel with the
AggieAir Great Blue flights proposed herein, thereby providing point validation data for both
projects.
Expected Outputs and Outcomes
Successful completion of the proposed work will result in numerical and graphical maps of the
distribution of ozone and select meteorological parameters from the ground surface up to 1000
feet agl (above ground level). The specific geographical locations will be finalized after
discussions with UDAQ and NOAA personnel, and will fill in the spatial niche between mobile
and stationary surface measurements and NOAA Twin Otter aircraft measurement. Aside from
the required UDAQ quarterly and final reports and Science for Solution conference
presentation, the data from the project will be used as an Environmental Engineering Master’s
thesis project and is anticipated to be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal (e.g. JAWMA, ES&T,
Environment, etc.) and likely presentation at broader conferences.
Deliverables
As per Section D, Awardee Requirements, the specific products deliverable to UDAQ will include
the following:
• Quarterly Reports. Quarterly reports will be delivered on the schedule and the
formatted template to be specified by UDAQ upon awarding of the grant or as included
in the RFP packet.
• Final Report. As required, a draft final report will be submitted to UDAQ no later than
Sept. 28, 2025 or 90 days after the end of the grant period. After draft submission,
UDAQ will have up to one month to submit reviewed comments to the investigators,
who will, in turn, address those comments within one additional month, followed by a
final submission.
• Conference Presentation. As an original and continuing member of the S4S steering
committee, I can assure UDAQ a poster or platform presentation will be delivered at the
appropriate annual meeting, most likely the Spring 2025 meeting. Additionally, owing
to the proposals cooperative nature with NOAA’s USOS program, it is anticipated that
the results would be shared at a broader meeting such as those of the American
Geophysical Union (AGU) or the Association of Air and Waste Management (AWMA).
• Data Sharing. During the study, tabulated data in the form of Excel spreadsheets,
including all flight profile information (date/time, longitude, latitude, elevation) and
collocated pollutant concentrations (O3 in ppb, other resultant compounds) and
meteorological parameters (temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure) will
be supported as part of Utah State University Box cloud storage system. Generated
figures and graphs, along with project photographs will also be include in the cloud
storage. The PIs, USU/UWRL AggieAir technicians, USU graduate and undergraduate
students, and appropriate UDAQ personnel will be given access to the Box project
folders. Additionally, as the proposed work is to be conduct in support of the NOAA
USOS, the PIs will work with NOAA personnel to make the data available to the NOAA
database in the appropriate format (e.g., https://www-
air.larc.nasa.gov/missions/etc/IcarttDataFormat.html). Finally, as suggested in the
UDAQ RFP, within eight months of the project completion, if not before, the complete
dataset will also be made available to UDAQ for publication on its website.
• Additional Deliverables. None applicable.
Schedule
The specified timing of the awarding of the funds (July 1, 2024) and the planned
implementation of the NOAA study (July 15 - August 18, 2024) makes timely implementation of
the field activities somewhat problematic. However, we propose to focus our flight activities
on the final 2-3 weeks of the NOAA test period, depending on the actual NOAA flight plans.
Instrument preparation and calibration is expected to only require a few weeks advanced
notice, with the most time-sensitive concern really being advanced notice for scheduling of the
AggieAir UAS platform and personnel. Although the actual funding availability date seemingly
provides a tight window, historically USU PIs have been able to initiate pre-spending date
activities as long as the contracts are authorized and both parties, USU’s Sponsored Programs
Office (SPO) and the funding agency (UDAQ), are in signed agreement.
Data compilation and analysis will continue through Fall 2024 and Spring 2025. During Spring
2025 the final report will be completed and the thesis and to-be-published manuscript will also
be processed, although these components may extend beyond the proposed project
completion date.
BUDGET
The total, 1-yr, UDAQ-requested funds, $99.586.23, are shown in the table below. As shown,
the requested funds are nearly equally split between personnel and supplies/services costs. As
stated in the RFP, matching or in-kind funds are not required; however, Dr. David Tarboton, the
Director of the Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL), has committed to up to two years of
support for an Environmental Engineering M.S. graduate student, if the project is awarded.
These additional funds equate to an annual contribution of $34,038.58, approximately 34% of
the requested UDAQ funds. The total project costs, including the request UDAQ and committed
UWRL contributions total $133,642.81.

Effort Requested
UDAQ Funds UWRL Funds
PERSONNEL
Dr. Randy Martin 0.75 mo $8,647.44
Dr. Cal Coopmans 0.5 mo $5,816.57
Ian Going 1 mo $8,710.26
UAS Pilots 48 hrs $772.10
UG students 1080 hrs $16,205.28
MS graduate student $26,660.00
FRINGE BENEFITS $11,307.25 $713.16
USU Fees & Insurance $3,571.00
SUPPLIES
Misc. Expendables $5,000.00
UWRL Env. Quality Lab Fee $5,039.95
AggieAir Flight Charges $14,170.68
AggieAir Equipment Usage $12,060.80
TRAVEL
6 RTs to SLC, 2 vehicles $2,880.00
TOTAL DIRECT COSTS $90,532.93 $30,944.16
TOTAL INDIRECT (10%) $9,053.30 $3,094.42
TOTAL PROJECT COSTS $99,586.23 $34,038.58
COMBINED UDAQ & UWRL FUNDS $133,642.81

PERSONNEL ROLES AND RESPONISIBILITES
The project will be managed by Dr. Randy Martin, Associate Research Professor and
Environmental Engineering Program Head. Dr. Martin will be in charge of guiding the research
and ensuring that all deadlines and deliverables are met. Dr. Calvin Coopmans, Assistant
Research Professor in USU’s Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Director of
AggieAir Services will handle coordination of the overall UAS logistics. Additionally, Dr.
Coopmans will help electronically integrate the meteorological and pollutant measurement
instrument with the UAS’s on-board avionics to provide system-wide data collection
coordination. Mr. Ian Going, Research Engineer III and the AggieAir Service Center Manager,
will function as the lead in actual flight preparation and coordination both at UWRL (USU’s Utah
Water Research Laboratory) and in the field. One each flight day, an FAA Part 107-certified
pilot from AggieAir will perform the actual flight duties.

As discussed under the budget section, the proposed project will also be managed as an M.S.-
level research project. However, in order to optimize project budget, no requested monies are
directly budgeted for this student support. Rather all M.S. stipends, tuition and other fees have
been secured as voluntary matching through the Utah Water Research Laboratory. This
expected 1-year contribution totals $34,038.58. Finally, some project funds have been
budgeted to include up to 1080 hours of undergraduate support. Besides the needed hands-on
help in the lab and field, the project will give students in the Departments of Civil and
Environmental Engineering and/or Electrical and Computer Engineering the opportunity to
participate in a relevant and cutting-edge campaign, as well allowing exposure to the wider
investigators of the USOS program.