UAE plans to use drones for automated cloud seeding

The UAE is studying the possibility of using drones for automated cloud seeding.

The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has carried out a research campaign in Colorado, US, to study the use of autonomous unmanned aircraft systems to collect cloud microphysical measurement.

The three-week field campaign aimed to demonstrate the autonomous observation and seeding capabilities of UAVs through a series of Intensive Observation Periods (IOPs) of increasing complexity.

It was conducted as part of the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP).

A team of researchers led by Prof. Eric Frew, Professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder and the programme’s third cycle awardee, successfully deployed and validated a miniaturised instrument suite for in-situ cloud microphysical measurements and demonstrated their use to conduct seeding.

The campaign represents one of the first technology demonstrations of UAVs dedicated to seeding operations while being guided by real-time measurements and autonomous decision-based algorithms.

"The deployment of such advanced technologies will allow our scientists to improve their understanding of cloud formation processes in the UAE and other arid and semi-arid regions and carry out more reliable and efficient rain enhancement operations," said Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, Director-General of NCM and President of the Regional Association II (Asia) of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

"Through harnessing new technology advances, the programme plays a pivotal role in improving the effectiveness of cloud seeding and achieving global water security," added Alya Al Mazroui, Director of UAEREP.