Environmental Monitoring Systems & Technologies

Unmanned systems equipped with environmental monitoring technology play a key role in enabling real-time assessment of atmospheric, terrestrial, and aquatic conditions for a variety of applications. As environmental impact, data-driven decision-making, and sustainability become increasingly critical across industries, the integration of environmental monitoring systems into unmanned platforms—such as drones, autonomous vehicles, and robotic systems—has expanded dramatically. These technologies empower industries ranging from agriculture and defense to marine research and disaster response to monitor, manage, and protect natural environments more effectively.
Overview Environmental Monitoring Systems & Technologies
By Staff Writer Last updated: April 17th, 2025

Unmanned environmental monitoring harnesses cutting-edge sensor systems, software platforms, and autonomous technologies to capture high-resolution, continuous environmental data. From air and water quality analysis to habitat tracking and climate research, these systems offer significant advantages over manual and stationary monitoring approaches.

Environmental monitoring encompasses a wide spectrum of applications and technologies designed to measure and assess environmental parameters. Whether monitoring pollutants in remote regions or assessing weather impacts across broad geographic areas, these tools enhance the accuracy and timeliness of environmental data collection.

Unmanned platforms—such as drones (UAVs), autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs), and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs)—can be equipped with diverse environmental monitoring systems. These may include weather stations, gas detectors, temperature and humidity sensors, and advanced environmental analysis tools. Such integrations facilitate data collection in inaccessible or hazardous environments while reducing risk to human personnel.

Table of contents:

Environmental Monitoring Technologies & Solutions

Weather Stations & Meteorology

Weather stations designed for unmanned platforms deliver essential meteorological data in real time. These systems measure parameters such as temperature, wind speed, humidity, atmospheric pressure, and precipitation. Compact and lightweight weather stations can be mounted on drones or mobile robotic systems, supporting applications from agricultural planning to emergency response operations.

Their data feeds into environmental analysis workflows, enabling immediate interpretation and action based on localized climate conditions. Integrated weather sensors such as ultrasonic anemometers provide precise wind speed and direction measurements, while barometric pressure sensors and hygrometers enhance forecasting capabilities. These components enable unmanned platforms to deliver high-resolution, mission-critical data even in dynamic or remote environments.

Environmental Sensors

Environmental sensors are the backbone of environmental monitoring systems, capable of detecting a range of physical and chemical variables including air and water quality, soil conditions, radiation levels, and particulate matter. These sensors can be deployed on drones, underwater vehicles, or stationary monitoring points, offering real-time data transmission and integration with broader environmental monitoring and assessment frameworks. Miniaturized sensors enhance mobility and versatility, making them ideal for scalable remote environmental monitoring networks.

Environmental Monitoring Software

Environmental Monitoring System by Exail

Delph Sonar Software by Exail for Environmental Monitoring

Advanced environmental monitoring software enables the aggregation, visualization, and interpretation of large datasets collected by unmanned platforms. These platforms support remote environmental monitoring by integrating sensor data, GPS coordinates, and analytics in real time.

Software tools often include customizable dashboards, predictive modeling, and compliance reporting features. These capabilities are critical for environmental monitoring and control across industries such as energy, construction, and conservation.

Environmental Monitoring Drones

Environmental monitoring drones are transforming environmental monitoring through aerial data collection, offering a fast, flexible, and cost-effective alternative to traditional survey methods. Equipped with specialized environmental sensors, these UAVs can detect pollutants, map terrain, assess vegetation health, and conduct thermal imaging.

Drones are especially valuable for aquaculture environmental monitoring and for evaluating remote or hazardous sites where manual inspection is impractical. Their capacity to carry environmental monitoring equipment and transmit data instantly makes them indispensable for modern monitoring operations.

Applications of Unmanned Environmental Monitoring

Environmental Monitoring System

OceanPackâ„¢ RACK Autonomous Marine Monitoring System by SubCtech

Environmental monitoring and management strategies are increasingly dependent on unmanned systems. These tools are used for a variety of purposes including environmental impact assessment before infrastructure development, environmental compliance monitoring in mining and industrial operations, and ecosystem monitoring for conservation purposes.

In the marine sector, autonomous underwater vehicles collect temperature and salinity data, supporting climate change research and ocean health assessments.

In agriculture, environmental monitoring systems guide precision farming by providing insights into weather patterns, soil moisture, and crop health. In urban planning and smart city development, sensor networks deliver data that supports air quality management and environmental risk forecasting. Defense and disaster response teams utilize mobile monitoring platforms to detect hazardous materials, monitor weather threats, and assess post-event environmental conditions.

Environmental Monitoring System Integration

The integration of environmental monitoring systems with unmanned technologies involves both hardware and software coordination. Transducers convert physical signals into measurable electrical outputs, which are then processed through embedded systems or relayed to cloud-based software platforms. These technologies often operate in conjunction with AI algorithms, enhancing environmental monitoring techniques such as anomaly detection, predictive modeling, and pattern recognition.

System integration also ensures interoperability across different unmanned platforms and sensor types, enabling a cohesive and scalable approach to environmental monitoring and assessment. Modular solutions allow users to customize their platforms based on mission requirements, from compact UGVs for industrial inspections to long-endurance drones for regional air quality surveys.

Evolution & Future of Environmental Monitoring Technologies

Environmental Monitoring Technology by Teledyne Valeport

Hyperion Turbidity Deep-Sea Sensor by Teledyne Valeport

Advancements in environmental monitoring solutions are driven by the need for more efficient, precise, and scalable tools. Miniaturization of environmental monitoring sensors, improvements in battery life, and the expansion of IoT connectivity are all contributing to more robust and autonomous environmental monitoring and control systems.

Additionally, satellite integration and AI-enhanced analysis are enabling new possibilities in global environmental monitoring and climate modeling.

Drone environmental monitoring, in particular, continues to evolve, with multispectral imaging, LiDAR, and thermal sensors expanding the scope of what can be analyzed remotely. These tools are becoming essential in disaster recovery, endangered species monitoring, and sustainable development planning.

Products (16)

Delph Seismic Software

Complete software package for seismic & sub-bottom profiler data

Complete software package for seismic & sub-bottom profiler data
...lution seismic systems and sub-bottom profilers. It features 2D profile view and 3D geographic data...
Delph Sonar Software

Complete software package for side-scan sonar surveying

Complete software package for side-scan sonar surveying
Delph Sonar is a complete acquisition, processing and interpretation software package for high-accur...
SeapiX-R

3D multibeam sonar for fisheries & environmental monitoring

3D multibeam sonar for fisheries & environmental monitoring
...rch and marine environmental monitoring. Featuring a dual Mills Cross multibeam sonar transducer and...
MIDAS WLR

Water level recorder for offshore environments

Water level recorder for offshore environments
The MIDAS water level recorder is a high-performance instrument that is designed for offshore enviro...
Hyperion Turbidity

Deep-sea dual-sensor turbidity measurement for ROVs & AUVs

Deep-sea dual-sensor turbidity measurement for ROVs & AUVs
...act standalone environmental sensor that delivers high-performance measurements of turbidity,...
Ocean CT Sensor

Cost-effective conductivity & temperature measurement for shallow waters

Cost-effective conductivity & temperature measurement for shallow waters
D-2's low-cost Ocean CT sensor provides a highly accessible solution for reliable conductivity and t...
Hybrid CTD Sensor

Cutting-edge conductivity, temperature & depth sensing in a low-SWaP footprint

Cutting-edge conductivity, temperature & depth sensing in a low-SWaP footprint
...able telemetry systems....
UL-CTD Sensor

Advanced conductivity, temperature & depth sensor with low power consumption

Advanced conductivity, temperature & depth sensor with low power consumption
...able telemetry systems....
Microplastics Sampler

Ocean sampling system for USVs

Ocean sampling system for USVs
...s per m³. The system features high-efficiency ocean sampling even at high speeds of up to 30 knots,...
Greenhouse Gas Monitoring

Air and water quality monitoring systems for CO2 and methane measurement

Air and water quality monitoring systems for CO2 and methane measurement
... water quality monitoring systems can be used to measure the presence of greenhouse gases, and can...
Subsea NetDI® Logger

Versatile data logger for deep-sea AUVs and ROVs

Versatile data logger for deep-sea AUVs and ROVs
...ded underwater monitoring deployments....
OceanPackâ„¢ BUOY

Compact pCO2 analyzer for marine monitoring platforms

Compact pCO2 analyzer for marine monitoring platforms
...y small marine monitoring platforms and can be left unattended for several months....
OceanPackâ„¢ RACE

Mobile water monitoring system for racing vessels

Mobile water monitoring system for racing vessels
...d robust water monitoring system that has been specially optimized for racing vessels and designed...
OceanPackâ„¢ CUBE

Compact ocean monitoring system for scientific & environmental observation vessels

Compact ocean monitoring system for scientific & environmental observation vessels
...ox-style ocean monitoring system with a standard 19″ form factor, designed for unattended...
OceanPackâ„¢ RACK

Autonomous marine monitoring system in 19″ rack format

Autonomous marine monitoring system in 19″ rack format
...onomous marine monitoring system with a FerryBox-style design in a 19″ rack format. Designed to be...
D270 Echosounder

Versatile single-beam echosounder for bathymetric survey

Versatile single-beam echosounder for bathymetric survey
The D270 is a portable single-beam echosounder that can be easily integrated into USVs for a wide va...

Related Articles

Teledyne Valeport to Launch Self-Calibrating pH Sensor for Ocean Monitoring

Teledyne Valeport is unveiling a self-calibrating pH sensor, designed for long-term ocean monitoring with enhanced reliability, durability, and minimal maintenance

Apr 08, 2025
LI-COR Connect 2025 Showcases Innovations in Environmental Monitoring

LI-COR Connect 2025 showcased environmental monitoring solutions, bringing together experts to explore advancements in climate change mitigation, soil health, and precision research technologies

Mar 07, 2025
New CTD Cell Developed for Oceanography

With WHOI and BIOS, D-2 Inc. has developed, tested, and produced for field testing a new and more precise version of the company’s flow through closed field conductivity cell

Feb 11, 2025
Teledyne Valeport to Deliver Precision ROV Instruments Following New Investment

Teledyne Valeport has secured a significant investment from NOR Offshore Rental, enabling the delivery of advanced oceanographic instruments to subsidiary NOR LTD in Aberdeen

Nov 05, 2024
Agricultural Drone Solutions Advanced with New Collaboration

Drone Nerds has partnered with Sentera to expand its range of agricultural and industrial drone solutions, adding Sentera's PHX fixed-wing drone and multispectral sensors to its offerings

May 24, 2024
Saildrones Deployed for Hurricane Season

In total, 12 Saildrone Explorers will be deployed throughout the mission, storm chasing in the Tropical Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico to study why some relatively mild tropical storms rapidly intensify into major hurricanes

Jul 06, 2023
Charles River Analytics AI & Computer Vision Technology Enhances Wildlife Protection

As part of the Vineyard Wind 1 project, Charles River Analytics is providing its Awarion artificial intelligence and computer vision technology to help detect marine mammal, ship, and fishing gear

Mar 13, 2023
Drone Payload for Remote Bio-Hazard Detection Launched 

Teledyne FLIR Defense’s MUVE B330 is a continuous biological detector and collector, purpose-designed for unmanned aerial systems and unmanned platforms to provide real-time monitoring of biological threats on the move

Jun 15, 2022
Platinum Partners
Exail

Inertial Navigation & Positioning Technology for Unmanned, Autonomous Systems

Gold Partners
Teledyne Valeport

High-Precision Oceanographic & Hydrographic Instruments for Uncrewed Marine Vehicles (USVs, AUVs & ROVs)

Voyis

AUV Payloads & ROV Skids: Underwater Laser Scanners & 4K Stills Cameras for Subsea Inspections & Surveys

YellowScan

High Precision, Long-Range UAV LiDAR & Drone LiDAR Mapping Solutions

RIEGL

Drone LiDAR Sensors & Laser Scanners for Aerial Surveying, Mapping & Bathymetry

LI-COR

Compact 3D Ultrasonic Anemometers & Weather Sensors for Drones, UAVs & GCS

Sonardyne International

Tracking, Navigation, Positioning and Communication Sensors for AUV, ROV, USV

Silver Partners
D-2 Inc

Conductivity, Temperature & Depth (CTD) Measurement Technologies for Unmanned Oceanography & Marine Survey

Wavefront Systems

Underwater Sonar: Side-Scan Imaging Sonar & Forward Looking Sonar for Obstacle Avoidance & Navigation

SubCtech

Ocean & Marine Monitoring Systems, AUV & ROV Subsea Batteries

CHC Navigation

GNSS Positioning & Navigation Systems, Mobile Mapping UAV LiDAR & Unmanned Surface Vehicles

Airmar Technology Corporation

Weather Monitoring Stations, Marine Transducers, Side-Scan Sonar & Underwater Altimeters

Related Categories