title: Drone based measurement system for radiofrequency exposure assessment.
abstract: For the first time, a method to assess radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure of the general public in real environments with a true free-space antenna system is presented. Using lightweight electronics and multiple antennas placed on a drone, it is possible to perform exposure measurements. This technique will enable researchers to measure three-dimensional RF-EMF exposure patterns accurately in the future and at locations currently difficult to access. A measurement procedure and appropriate measurement settings have been developed. As an application, outdoor measurements are performed as a function of height up to 60 m for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) 900 MHz base station exposure. Bioelectromagnetics. 37:195-199, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Information Technology, Ghent University/iMinds, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wout
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: Department of Information Technology, Ghent University/iMinds, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aerts
authors.affiliation: Department of Information Technology, Ghent University/iMinds, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vandenbossche
authors.affiliation: Department of Information Technology, Ghent University/iMinds, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thielens
authors.affiliation: Department of Information Technology, Ghent University/iMinds, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martens
keywords: RF measurement; drone; exposure mapping; free space measurements; general public exposure