TREX 2017: Linking soil nutrient status with crop health using UAV-remote sensing, and examining volcanic smog (Vog) using low-cost sensors

A team of undergraduates will present results from two studies performed on the island of Hawaii as a part of MITs CEE field-based subject Traveling Research Environmental eXperiences (TREX, 1.091/1.092). This year the students are focused on two projects: (1) examining and linking soil nutrient status with plant health, aided by the use of remote sensing data gathered with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and (2) the measurements of gaseous sulfur dioxide (SO2), a major component of volcanically-derived smog (Vog), using a network of home-built, low-cost and portable sensors. The students will present their measurements and analysis of crop nutrients, remote sensing data, and sulfur dioxide, and discuss their environmental implications. This years trip is led by MIT CEE faculty members Ben Kocar, a soil and water biogeochemist, and atmospheric chemists Jesse Kroll and Colette Heald.