Landfill Fire Prevention Drone

Abstract

: Landfills are significant contributors to environmental degradation and pose serious risks due to the accumulation and spontaneous ignition of methane gas. Methane, a highly flammable greenhouse gas, builds up in decomposing organic waste and, under the right conditions, can trigger fires that are difficult to control and harmful to surrounding ecosystems. This study investigates the role of real-time gas monitoring and rapid response systems in preventing such incidents. A detailed analysis of existing landfill safety measures revealed a gap in active, autonomous monitoring solutions, especially those that combine detection with immediate suppression capabilities. This led to the conceptualization of an aerial platform that can proactively monitor and mitigate gas hazards in landfills.The project culminated in the development of a functional drone system equipped with an ESP32 microcontroller, an MQ-4 methane sensor, and a chemical suppression unit powered by a pump. The ESP32 acts as the core controller, managing sensor data acquisition and wireless transmission, while the MQ-4 sensor continuously measures methane concentration during flight. Upon reaching critical thresholds, the system activates the pump to release a neutralizing chemical, effectively reducing methane concentration in real time. The drone is programmed to autonomously patrol designated landfill zones, offering both mobility and rapid response. Field testing demonstrated the system\'s ability to detect varying levels of methane and dispense chemicals with high accuracy and reliability.This drone-based solution represents a significant advancement in landfill safety and environmental monitoring. Unlike traditional static sensors or manual inspections, the aerial platform offers scalability, speed, and access to otherwise unreachable areas. In future iterations, the drone can be enhanced with thermal and flame detection sensors to actively identify and suppress landfill fires, not just prevent them. The study confirms that integrating IoT-based detection systems with autonomous aerial platforms can create an effective, low-cost, and scalable method for mitigating landfill fire risks, ultimately contributing to safer waste management practices and reduced environmental impact.

Introduction

Landfills are crucial for waste management but pose environmental risks, especially due to methane gas buildup, which can cause spontaneous fires. Traditional methane monitoring methods are often manual and limited. This project proposes an autonomous drone system equipped with an ESP32 microcontroller, an MQ-4 methane sensor, and a chemical suppression system to detect methane levels in real time and automatically spray fire-retardant agents to prevent fires.

The drone is built on a standard F450 quadcopter frame with components such as the APM 2.8 flight controller for stable autonomous navigation and a high-resolution camera for enhanced monitoring. Wireless communication modules enable real-time data transmission for rapid response. Inspired by firefighting and wildfire drones from DJI, the system integrates advanced sensors and RTK modules for precise hazard localization.

The drone’s operation involves continuous methane sensing, data processing via ESP32, and activation of a chemical pump when methane exceeds safe levels. This system offers a safer, efficient, and proactive approach to landfill gas monitoring and fire prevention, reducing human risk and environmental damage.

Conclusion

The Landfill Fire Prevention Drone successfully demonstrates a proactive approach to detecting and mitigating methane gas accumulation in landfill environments. By integrating the MQ-4 sensor with the ESP32 microcontroller and a chemical suppression system, the drone is capable of identifying hazardous gas levels and responding in real time. Combined with autonomous flight control using the APM 2.8 and Mission Planner, the system ensures wide-area coverage and minimal human intervention. The project proves to be an effective and scalable solution for preventing landfill fires and can be further enhanced with thermal imaging and flame detection for direct fire suppression in future developments.

References

[1] Jones, Emily. Wireless Communication for Drones. RC Tech Journal, 2021 [2] Smith, John. Drone Building Guide. DroneTech Publishing [3] Wilson, Alex. Integrating Cameras in Drones. Tech Drones Monthly, Vol. 32, no.2, 2022, pp 15-23 [4] https://enterprise.dji.com/public-safety/firefighting. [5] https://enterprise.dji.com/public-safety/wildfires.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Hemalatha G, Nithish Krishna. S, Adharsh S, Richkumar D, Parthasarathy Nambi. A. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.