A team of Chinese engineers have begun work to develop a laser radar equipment that can monitor and analyze air pollutants such as PM2.5. The product will go on sale next year to monitor air pollution, the China Daily reported.
Song Yubin, a radar expert at the Beijing Huahang Radio Measurement Institute, said that the laser radar is a new monitor and measurement tool in the environmental and meteorological fields, which can monitor airflow, particulate matter and other air pollutants.
"The apparatus has a narrow beam, supreme directivity and excellent resistance to outside electromagnetic elements. It can conduct three-dimensional, omnidirectional scans from the surface to the planetary boundary layer, so it can monitor almost everything in the air that affects our health," Song said.
Zhao Yi, a publicity officer of the institute, said that part of the Third Academy of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp, which was previously focused on the space sector, now specializes in radar and photoelectric equipment.
Zhao said that the institute's leaders have decided to make use of their radar expertise to help cities tackle pollution after seeing the huge potential of environmental protection market in the country. They also wish to address one of the cities' biggest concerns, which is PM2.5, the particulate matter with a diameter smaller than 2.5 microns that can penetrate the lungs and harm health.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection said that the PM2.5 was the biggest contributor to air pollution in 74 monitored cities during the first quarter of the year.
Song said that the institute is developing a range of radar equipment called SkyLidar designed to monitor the distribution of dust and haze, forecast sandstorms, calculate levels of particulate matter, and analyze the concentration of chemical pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide.
The country's environmental authorities are now mainly using gravimetric analysis or beta ray attenuation instruments to monitor PM2.5 concentration in the air.
According to Song, the institute's instruments are smaller than the existing equipment and use less energy, and can be easily mounted on aircraft, ships, vehicles, and even satellites. He said that the devices will be offered on sale next year.
Tianjin and Hefei have been earlier reported to have bought imported laser radar equipment to detect PM2.5.