Drones from the Uncrewed Aircraft Training program at the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) have been engaged in cleanup efforts at the Brunswick Executive Airport since approximately 1450 gallons of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) mixed with 50,000 gallons of water was released from Hangar 4 on August 19, 2024. The AFFF is of particular concern as it contains poly-fluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, which are considered “forever chemicals”. Though these chemicals have been used in consumer products worldwide since about the 1950s, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, they are difficult to break down and can adversely affect health.
UMA drones have been monitoring the environment from the air, searching for evidence of foam and providing important information about its possible spread in nearby waterways. The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority contacted Dr. Daniel Leclair, Assistant Professor of Aviation/Uncrewed Aircraft Systems at UMA, to participate in the cleanup efforts.
Tasked with monitoring the environment, including tidal marshes, between the airport and Casco Bay, Dr. Leclair, Assistant Professor of Aviation/Uncrewed Aircraft Systems at UMA, has conducted vital daily aerial photography, looking for evidence of the foam spreading. “The foam is fluffy and very light. The wind can easily carry it. When it dissipates in water, it creates a surface sheen like gasoline but is not as colorful. It can also re-foam and expand if the water gets stirred up,” Dr. Leclair described.
The drones are invaluable for quickly accessing areas that would otherwise be time-consuming and difficult to reach. Instead of hiking through dense forests or tangled grassland, through underbrush, mud, and rocks, the drones can be flown high above or close to the surface. They can record video and take still shots with powerful zoom lenses and image stabilizers.
Dr. Leclair is an experienced uncrewed aircraft pilot, having flown multiple missions, including recording the extent of damage from Hurricane Sandy for FEMA in 2012. He uses different drones for specific purposes. For this mission, he employs the small but powerful Parrot ANAFI USA, initially designed for the U.S. Army, which is particularly good for flying along the waterways under tree canopies. He is also using two larger drones, the DJI Matrice 210 and the fast-moving, long-range DJI Inspire 2, which are better for more open areas and locations farther away. These drones have up to seven cameras, some for recording images and others for navigational functions. Not all foam on these waters is AFFF; some can be from biological sources resulting from natural processes. All potential areas of interest are photographed, and the locations recorded are reported directly to the Coast Guard to evaluate and triage for further study.
By assisting in the monitoring and cleanup efforts, UMA is helping research efforts at the University of Maine PFAS+ Research Initiative and other researchers studying AFFF behavior in waters and tidal marshes. “UMA is proud of what we do to help our community with this unfortunate incident. This work not only assists in cleanup efforts but also in research to learn how to mitigate future incidents, create safer products, and improve our ability to recover from incidents when they occur,” said Dr. Leclair.
For more information about UMaine’s PFAS+ research, visit umaine.edu/pfas/resources/. To learn more about sampling and remediation efforts, visit the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) web page for the Brunswick site at maine.gov/dep/projects/bnas/index.html.
UMA is the only university in Maine that has an Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) pilot training program.
UMA has trained over 500 students in the introductory Commercial Drone course. The program has expanded, and students can now earn a UAS bachelor’s degree in Applied Science. A UAS minor is also available in combination with any major. To learn more about this and UMA’s other aviation programs, visit uma.edu/aviation.
In addition to the Uncrewed Aircraft program, UMA offers aviation programs in Flight Instruction and aviation maintenance and is planning an Air Traffic Controller program for next year.