Options for environmental management have improved dramatically over recent years. Sensors for air and water pollutants, and subsets of the electromagnetic spectrum, have become smaller, cheaper, and more bundled into comprehensive units. Aerial sensor platforms have also expanded in the form of low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles (micro-drones), but their use in populated spaces is increasingly restricted for safety and privacy reasons. This article discusses potential applications of drones for use in environmental monitoring and management of urban spaces as well as the potential risks. Applications better suited to an Internet of Things approach include those in which frequently repeated or continuous measurements are needed from a location proximal to existing infrastructure. Surveillance applications are likely to move to higher altitude drones with better safety and security systems. The main niche for small drones is difficult to access spaces under which there are few to no people, but this still includes many potential applications.
