MetScan V1P (MS-1), remote methane detection by drone, TDLAS laser

A remote methane detector for drone-based LDAR campaigns

The MetScan V1P is the long-range methane detector in the AIRINS range. Its 1,650 nm infrared laser passes through the plume, reflects off the ground or the installation and returns to the sensor: the share absorbed gives the amount of methane crossed, in ppm·m. A green laser marks the laser spot, a rangefinder measures the distance, and the position of each measurement point is estimated in longitude, latitude and altitude. The drone stays at a distance from the source, which suits gas distribution networks, production sites, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. For the Matrice 4D / 4TD and the Dock 3, see the compact MetScan Nano 1D and MetScan Nano 1F detectors.

Two scan modes

In Belt Scan mode, the drone follows a pipeline or a strip of land at a height of 30 to 120 m, and the laser sweeps a band 5 to 15 m wide at 1 to 3 m/s. In Sector Scan mode, available on the Ultra version only, the drone hovers while the gimbal sweeps a sector of the installation, tilting the laser in steps of 10 to 30°. Both modes are controlled in DJI Pilot 2 and can be replayed in AIRINS.ai.

What the sensor sees and measures

• Open-path TDLAS measuring laser, 1,650 nm, class 3R, with a green laser indicating the laser spot.
• Class 1 laser rangefinder: 800 m at night, 500 m in daylight.
• Wide-angle camera of around 35 mm and telephoto of around 300 mm in 35 mm equivalent, displayed together in DJI Pilot 2, with video synchronised with the measurements.
• 3-axis gimbal (yaw, pitch, roll), with the position of the laser spot estimated in longitude, latitude and relative altitude.
• Typical results published by AIRINS: a 1,000 ppm·m cloud detected continuously at 75 m in sunny weather, 2,500 ppm·m at 100 m in overcast weather.

Ultra and Standard versions

Both versions share the same sensor. The Standard version covers Belt Scan and 2D visualisation in AIRINS.ai, with CSV and KML exports. The Ultra version adds Sector Scan, 3D visualisation with laser beams, import of orthoimages and 2.5D / 3D models, AI hotspot detection in 3D, mission merging, GeoJSON and Shapefile export, MQTT transfer, web integration and deployment on your own servers. An upgrade from Standard to Ultra remains possible after purchase.

AIRINS.ai, included with purchase

The AIRINS.ai software is included with purchase, for perpetual use with one unit and one main account, together with one year of remote technical support and updates. A subscription is available as an alternative to purchase. The platform locates hotspots, ranks them by intensity in ppm·m with a confidence index, and produces PDF or DOCX reports with map links, for use in your LDAR and OGMP 2.0 programmes. European data is hosted on isolated servers within the European Union. Quantification in kg/h, which requires wind measurements, is available as an option.

Compatibility and installation

The MetScan V1P mounts on the DJI Matrice 400 and the DJI Matrice 350 RTK via the DJI SkyPort adapter, and is controlled through PSDK in DJI Pilot 2. A standalone version, with its own GNSS and inertial measurement unit and an 18 to 32 V power supply, can be installed on other platforms and is controlled from AIRINS.ai. The 4G connection is used for updates and synchronisation, while 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and the USB-C port are used for data transfer. Details for each drone are given in our AIRINS and DJI compatibility table.

Warranty, calibration and service life

Warranty. Standard one-year warranty. The extension can only be purchased with the initial order, at 20% of the total product value per additional year, up to two years of extension. After the warranty period, the hardware and software remain fully usable.

Calibration. Units are factory-calibrated before shipment. Recalibration is recommended every 12 months in a stable operating environment. If working conditions change (temperature, measurement environment), some modules require their zero point to be readjusted. Two methods are available:

• By the customer. Injection of a calibration gas or comparison with the reference equipment of a measuring station. The new correction factor is calculated using the manufacturer’s formula, then saved in the calibration interface of the AIRINS.ai platform.
• By return to the factory, for annual inspection and calibration. Free of charge during the warranty period, with shipping costs borne by the customer. Outside the warranty, it is invoiced according to the inspection results, with costs communicated for prior approval.

Service life. 3 years on average, depending on how often the unit is used and the concentration levels encountered. This lifetime is shorter with frequent use in heavily polluted areas.

Technical specifications

Measuring principle	Diffuse-reflection OP-TDLAS, open-path, methane only
Measuring range	100 to 99,999 ppm·m
Measurement error	10% at most, from 1,000 to 50,000 ppm·m at 20 m
Measurement frequency	Up to 50 Hz
Lasers	1,650 nm measuring laser and 520 nm green indicator, class 3R; 905 nm rangefinder, class 1
Rangefinder	800 m at night, 500 m in daylight
Cameras	Wide-angle around 35 mm, telephoto around 300 mm (35 mm equivalent)
Gimbal	3-axis: yaw, pitch, roll
Dimensions	Around 192 × 129 × 172 mm, including gimbal
Weight	Around 890 g, including gimbal
Ingress protection	IP54
Operating temperature	-20 to +55 °C
Drones	DJI Matrice 400 and Matrice 350 RTK, DJI SkyPort adapter; 18 to 32 V standalone version for other platforms
Control	DJI PSDK, data and controls in DJI Pilot 2
Connectivity	4G (SIM card), 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, USB-C
Software	AIRINS.ai included with purchase, Ultra and Standard versions
In the box	MetScan V1P, lens cap, adapter cover, dual USB-C cable, dust blower, reference methane cell of around 1,700 ppm·m, accessory case, carrying case, quality control certificate

See the MetScan V1P in action

Order from Drone Parts Center

Drone Parts Center, official AIRINS reseller for the Benelux, helps you choose between Ultra and Standard and provides training in Nivelles or at your site. Request a quote: purchase orders accepted from public authorities, intra-EU VAT-exempt invoicing for VAT-registered businesses. To measure the concentration in the air rather than remotely, see the Sniffer4D Nano 2 Plus Methane. Explore the full AIRINS range and our environmental monitoring solutions.