Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method including: launching a drone-type device into a subsurface terrain, wherein the drone-type device is configured to navigate the subsurface terrain along a path while searching for a source of one or more pollutants; obtaining, using one or more sampling compartments on the drone-type device, at least one sample along the path as the drone-type device travels in the subsurface terrain; measuring, using one or more sensors on the drone-type device on the drone-type device, concentration levels of the one or more pollutants at corresponding locations along the path where the drone-type device obtains the at least one sample; determining a gradient map of the measured concentration levels in the subsurface terrain surrounding the path taken by the drone-type device; and based on, at least in part, the gradient map, determining whether the source of the one or more pollutants has been located.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for identifying one or more sources of an airborne pollutant in a geographical area and for mitigating release of the airborne pollutant, comprising: receiving emission data and vehicle location data associated with a plurality of corresponding vehicles in the geographical area; receiving ambient air quality data for respective locations in the geographical area; apply a vehicle emission plume air dispersion model to process the received emission data, the received vehicle location data, and the received ambient air quality data; identify one or more principal sources of the airborne pollutant based on the processed emission data, vehicle location data, and ambient air quality data; and transmit an instruction related to one or more vehicles associated with the one or more identified principal sources of the airborne pollutant.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for identifying one or more sources of an airborne pollutant in a geographical area and for mitigating release of the airborne pollutant, comprising: receiving emission data and vehicle location data associated with a plurality of corresponding vehicles in the geographical area; receiving ambient air quality data for respective locations in the geographical area; apply a vehicle emission plume air dispersion model to process the received emission data, the received vehicle location data, and the received ambient air quality data; identify one or more principal sources of the airborne pollutant based on the processed emission data, vehicle location data, and ambient air quality data; and transmit an instruction related to one or more vehicles associated with the one or more identified principal sources of the airborne pollutant.

Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure are directed to a parking indicator comprising a vehicle contact body, a pivoting contact body support, an elongated visibility indicator, an indicator actuating mechanism, and an indicator retracting mechanism. The pivoting contact body support is attached to the vehicle contact body and is configured to permit the vehicle contact body to pivot to a horizontally-oriented position when the vehicle contact body is grounded via the pivoting contact body support and is contacted by a vehicle entering a parking space occupied by the parking indicator. The elongated visibility indicator is mechanically coupled to the vehicle contact body via the indicator actuating mechanism such that the indicator actuating mechanism upholds the elongated visibility indicator in an extended position.

Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure are directed to a parking indicator comprising a vehicle contact body, a pivoting contact body support, an elongated visibility indicator, an indicator actuating mechanism, and an indicator retracting mechanism. The pivoting contact body support is attached to the vehicle contact body and is configured to permit the vehicle contact body to pivot to a horizontally-oriented position when the vehicle contact body is grounded via the pivoting contact body support and is contacted by a vehicle entering a parking space occupied by the parking indicator. The elongated visibility indicator is mechanically coupled to the vehicle contact body via the indicator actuating mechanism such that the indicator actuating mechanism upholds the elongated visibility indicator in an extended position.