About Us
- With a strong emphasis on filling data gaps and meeting observational requirements for atmospheric process studies and models, IITM initiated the UAV project called “Lower Atmospheric Research using Unmanned Aerial System facility (LARUS)”, to obtain crucial, yet under-sampled, meteorological and various atmospheric observations in the lower atmosphere.
- IITM is embarking on making detailed profiles of atmospheric boundary layer for various meteorological and atmospheric measurements using state-of-the-art instrumentation on UAV system which could descend to/ascend-from near the surface. This new initiative by IITM under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) aims to come up with India’s first ever Instrumented Unmanned Aerial vehicle (UAV) system for atmosphere and climate sciences.
- It is envisaged that R & D activity under LARUS project will build roadmap for next generation of affordable observing capability for more sophisticated and challenging measurements for environmental sciences, ocean sciences, coastal studies (marine pollution), will also significantly ease monitoring of remote areas. This facility will also be used in air pollution assessment and associated impacts (health, visibility, climate).
- This program developed under MoES will not only benefit the entire atmospheric sciences and climate research community but also, at its current rate, supports start-ups/small-business initiative/innovations such as the development of miniaturized instruments and suitable UAVs for atmosphere, climate, environment & ocean measurements.