Application of mobile monitoring technology in atmospheric environment research

Mobile monitoring is a technique for conducting environmental quality assessments by deploying monitoring equipment on mobile platforms like cars, bicycles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and boats. Due to its flexibility, mobility, and real-time capabilities, mobile monitoring technology has gained widespread application in recent years, particularly in atmospheric environmental monitoring. However, there is a shortage of systematic research regarding the application scenarios, advantages, and drawbacks of mobile monitoring technology in atmospheric environmental research. A literature-based review of the foreign and domestic applications of mobile monitoring technology in atmospheric environmental research was conducted, with a focus on the monitoring equipment and the platforms used for atmospheric environmental mobile monitoring. The mobile monitoring equipment is categorized into two groups: sensors and large-scale devices. Sensors, characterized by their compact size and cost-effectiveness, find extensive use on platforms like UAVs and automobiles. Conversely, large-scale devices, including monitors and analyzers, are primarily employed on larger platforms like aircraft and ships, mainly due to size and cost constraints. Atmospheric environmental mobile monitoring platforms are classified into three categories: vehicle-based, aircraft-based, and ship-based. Vehicle-based mobile monitoring is primarily employed for environmental quality assessment, traceability analysis, hotspot monitoring, vehicle emissions tracking, and air pollution exposure measurement. Aircraft platforms play a key role in monitoring ambient air quality, traceability analysis, hotspot monitoring, and the tracking of atmospheric pollutant dispersion. Ship-based mobile monitoring platforms are chiefly utilized for studying sea surface atmospheric components, traceability analysis, and ship exhaust emissions research. Finally, current challenges in existing applications of mobile monitoring platforms, such as coverage, battery life, and data quality, were addressed, and future perspectives were presented for the field.