Augmenting the FIREX-AQ Program with a Rapid-Response, Low-Cost, Broad Area Dual Vis-LWIR Remote Sensing System

Urban Sky is an aerospace startup that has developed an innovative reusable high-altitude balloon vehicle with the novel ability to launch from virtually anywhere at any time with minimal personnel. This flight platform can be coupled with sensors to thermally and optically survey wide swaths of land without creating a conflict with Temporary Restricted Airspace. Our approach targets identified NASA needs for improved air quality monitoring and modeling data inputs, especially from wildfires where current monitoring technologies are unable to collect timely, high resolution data due to conflicts with firefighting aircraft. Ournbsp;system is capable of collecting measurements that supportnbsp;current air quality model validation, improvenbsp;surface-based remote sensing networks, and in particular augment the NASA FIREX-AQ Airborne Science Program campaign.Our proposed SBIR Phase I work involves the development and demonstration of a rapidly deployable, high-altitude flight systemnbsp;coupled with state-of-the-art long-wave infrared (LWIR) and visual RGBnbsp;sensors for collecting high-spatial resolution data over broad, remote areas affected by wild and agricultural fires. We will provide highly resolved measurements of burn temperature, composition of burned material, and smoke signals above active fires. The combination of high-spatial resolution RGB and LWIR data above fires will enable research investigating the correlation between wildfires and resulting air quality. Through direct measures of burning biomass intensity, density and composition, our data will augment air quality prediction models while supporting operational real-time firefighting. Urban Sky will deliver a TRL 6 sensor/platform prototype capable of operational flight and data collection over demonstration areas. Each fully operational systemnbsp;is estimated to cost just a few tens of thousands of dollars, each of which is reusable and capable of covering over 3,000 sq. km per mission within just hours of deployment.