In the project MesSBAR (Automated airborne measurement of pollution in the near-earth atmosphere in urban areas), unmanned aerial systems and specially adapted air quality measurement technology were developed to carry out measurements upwind and downwind of pollution sources in urban areas, industrial plants and traffic routes.To validate and optimise the measurement technology and flight systems, two short measurement campaigns were carried out in 2021 near Wesseling next to the motorway A555 (North Rhine-Westphalia - Germany). There, the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) operates two measurement containers next to the motorway, which were used for the validation. Various flight profiles were tested. It was found that only for vertical ascents at a constant speed, useful results of the air quality measurements could be determined. The measurement data from these flights are published in this data publication.

Measuring chamber (MC) vs. Inlet measurements:The MC is located inside the measurement payload and is supplied with the air taken in at the inlet by means of a pump. We did this in order to obtain an undisturbed air sample. In order to be able to detect differences between the air at the inlet and in the measuring chamber, we placed two identical temperature and humidity sensors, one at the inlet and one in the measuring chamber. We have used the measured variables with Inlet and MC to differentiate between them.