What is a mist spray drone? Delhi govt’s new move to curb air pollution

As part of a fresh initiative to address rising pollution, the Delhi government plans to deploy mist spray drones across identified pollution hotspots. These drones are specially equipped to spray water, helping to control dust particles and reduce air pollution in some of the city’s most affected areas, officials announced on Thursday.

A mist spray drone is designed to combat air pollution by dispersing a fine mist over targeted areas, which helps to settle dust particles and reduces particulate matter (PM) in the air. The technology is expected to aid in reducing pollution levels, improving air quality, and alleviating some health and environmental issues caused by Delhi’s high pollution levels.

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Mist spray drone trial and capabilities

For the initial rollout, three mist spray drones will operate across 13 identified pollution hotspots. Officials have confirmed that the hiring process for a vendor to oversee the 15-day trial period has begun.

Each drone is equipped with a minimum 17-litre tank, capable of covering one acre in about 15 minutes. Beyond simply spraying water, these drones will also integrate real-time air quality monitoring systems and high-resolution cameras to capture accurate data on pollutants and provide reports.

Real-time monitoring and data collection

To maximise the effectiveness of the trial, the drones will operate on pre-programmed routes covering the most affected areas. Alongside the mist spray, the drones are equipped with environmental sensors that measure key air quality parameters, including temperature, humidity, ozone, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, PM10, and PM2.5 levels. This data will be sent directly to a central system, providing officials with real-time insights into air quality conditions across hotspots.

The real-time air quality data and images collected by the drone will be transmitted online to the Environment Department, Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), Air Lab of Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the Green War Room for evaluation.

Additional support and future prospects

The Environment Department has also proposed using the CORS network—a collection of reference stations that provide high-precision geospatial data for mapping and surveying—to enhance the accuracy of drone coverage in the trial areas. This approach will be further supported by assistance from the Survey of India to ensure precise geographical positioning.

Though this trial is set for 15 days, the duration and the number of drones may be extended if officials find the trial results favourable.

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