Much of the world is facing issues of air pollution on some level. In denser cities, air pollution tends to be higher. As the world has become aware of how harmful air pollution can be to humans and the planet, much has been done to minimize the situation. In Europe, 33 of the continent’s 50 most polluted cities are in Poland, with Katowice being one of the worst. As Poland’s 11th largest city, Katowice is home to close to 3 million people. Like many Polish cities, it was developed on the foundation of its rich coal reserves. The majority of the country still uses coal burning furnaces and energy sources which have led to poor air quality.

The air in Katowice was at one point so bad that acid rain began to wash away the features of statues that lined the streets. It is estimated that close to 44,000 people die in Poland each year due to the effects of air pollution. Not only is coal used by businesses and private homes, but people often burn trash, tires, lacquered wood, anything they no longer needed to stay warm in the winter, further chocking the air. Also, the majority of vehicles on Polish roads, including municipal and public transportation, are old vehicles that spew dirt into the air. Finally, the Polish government stepped in with regulations to help reduce the nation’s overwhelming poor air quality. They made financial aid available to some so they could invest in cleaner energy and heating sources, and transferred all public transportation vehicles over to eco-friendly models. They also made it illegal to burn any hazardous materials, setting fines for anyone still burning toxic materials.

In order to ensure people abide by the rules, police in Katowice have begun using drones to monitor the air for pollutants. If officers see white smoke coming from a chimney they can be sure that it is being used to burn approved materials. However, if black smoke is spotted, it is the officer’s responsibility to test that smoke to see if it is only coal being burnt. Using a drone an officer can test the smoke without having to enter the building. The drones being used by the Katowice police are from Flytronic and were built in input from environmental engineer Marcin Glodniok.

A part of Poland’s technology firm, WB Group, Flytronic in the country’s primary UAV research and development firm. Along with engineers like Marin Glodniok, Flytronic spent 3 months developing sensors that could be supported on a drone to test fumes in the air. The drone they came up with is called the Nosacz, or Sniffer drone. It is a hexacopter that has an array of sensors that can identify minute particles in the air, differentiating between toxic and non-toxic particles. The system also uses GPS so that the exact location of where toxic fumes are coming from can be pinpointed. But perhaps one of the most important features that went into designing the drone was the fact that it had to be safe and lightweight. “We are flying above urban areas, so we couldn’t risk the drone crashing and possibly hurting passers-by,” said Przemyslaw Tomkow, head of training at Flytronic.

A licensed drone operator simply releases the drone, and within moments of flying through a possible pollution zone, results are sent back to the operator. These results are then delivered to a police officer who can intervene if necessary. If a person is caught burning anything other than coal they could face a fine up to $150. For now, the goal is to make sure people aren’t burning anything toxic like trash or plastics. Though the country would like to limit the use of coal, as 80% of Polish homes still rely on coal this is not yet realistic.

While some households have made the switch to natural gas, it is an expensive and time consuming project for most. Anna Kapusta, a sociologist recently invested in upgrading to a gas boiler to heat her home. While she looks forward to being able to stay warm and healthy, unfortunately, the upgrade took too long to complete before winter came. For the time being, she is stuck having to use her coal furnace. Her home is one of the first in her village of Wolowiec to make the transfer. When asked why she chose to switch she said, “The process is unstoppable and will gain speed. Once those old furnaces are in a minority, people will give in under the pressure. I can’t wait to have my village as it should be, a healthy breath.”

While people like Anna, those willing and financially able to make the switch, are still a rarity in Poland, Flytronic hopes that their drone will further encourage people to be aware of the impact they have on the environment. As Marcin Glodniok said, using the drones will not only be to fine and frighten people, but to “build awareness about the types of fuel that should be burned in their households, and how to prevent smog.”