Microplastics have been a growing concern due to their widespread presence in the environment and potential health impacts. Recently, researchers in Japan have developed a method to detect various types of plastics remotely using lidar technology mounted on drones. The system boasts a resolution of 0.29mm, enabling detection of microplastics as small as 5mm in diameter. This innovation could revolutionize efforts in assessing and cleaning up marine plastic debris.
Skyler said:
Wouldn’t it be macroplastic if you use a drone to detect it?
They claim 0.29mm resolution at 6 meters, capable of detecting microplastics less than 5mm in diameter.
The linked journal article I scanned didn’t mention “microplastics”, only “plastic debris”. It’s more about a combined green lidar/hyperspectral sensor that could be drone-mounted.
This is below most obstacles on inland waterways and coastal features. No practical use case unless a sorting algorithm can distinguish plastic from sand.
This is below most obstacles on inland waterways and coastal features. No practical use case unless a sorting algorithm can distinguish plastic from sand.
Hyperspectral sensors are adept at distinguishing materials. They’re used for plant species and sand particle composition. Spectral signatures of plastic and sand differ significantly.
