Metrological Evaluation of Selected Low-Cost NDIR CO2 Sensors for UAV-Based Air Quality Measurements

Air-quality measurements performed using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) enable observations that are difficult or impossible to obtain with stationary monitoring systems. Although low-cost CO2 sensors are widely applied in such work, their accuracy is restricted by environmental influences. This study assesses the metrological performance of inexpensive NDIR CO2 sensors using a controlled test chamber. The TESTO probe results show strong temperature sensitivity, with CO2 indications varying by approximately 17 ppm per 1 ∘C. Measurements at −2.6∘C produced implausibly low concentrations of 275–280 ppm, despite the global baseline being about 430 ppm. Electromagnetic interference and humidity produced negligible effects on the indications. No differences appeared between measurements taken during UAV flight, after landing, or under laboratory conditions. Comparison with the manufacturer-calibrated Figaro CDM7160 sensor revealed a substantial shift in the characteristic at the lowest CO2 concentration level and a marked reduction in sensitivity, which shows that the sensor needs recalibration. The findings confirm that investigated low-cost CO2 sensors provide reasonably accurate absolute measurements only when environmental conditions are correctly compensated. However, their relatively high measurement uncertainty prevents reliable detection of small concentration changes and therefore limits their suitability for precise UAV-based air-quality studies.