Drone technology developed at the Victoria University of Wellington has helped analyse volcanic gases from PNG’s remote Bagana volcano, one of the most active in the world.

Volcanologist Dr Ian Schipper joined an expedition of international scientists where his modified drones were mounted with instruments and hardened to cope with toxic gases, allowing them to get closer to volcanic craters than ever before to capture samples.

The drones were developed with the Earthquake Commission’s (EQC) Biennial Grant in 2018. The EQC funds NZ$16 million ($15 million) of research and data annually to reduce the impact of natural disasters on people and property.

“From satellite observation, we expected Bagana to be one of the top 10 gas emitters in the world. What the team actually found was that instead of the thousands of tonnes per day of sulphur dioxide they anticipated, Bagana was emitting much less while they were there,” Dr Schipper said.

Dr Schipper was asked to join the team from Deep Carbon Observatory, led by Brendan McCormick Kilbride from the University of Manchester and comprising colleagues from Bristol, Cambridge and Sheffield, because his drones were highly portable yet robust.

The expedition took three flights, a boat ride and two days’ walking to get to their village base of Wakovi.

“I could operate the drones myself and carry them in my backpack,” Dr Schipper said. “My drones are highly agile, light, easily modifiable.”