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The Zeppelin NT Type LZ N07 has become an efficient and effective research and science platform. Due to its remarkable flight characteristics and its imposing flight performances, the Zeppelin NT allows fields of application that can neither be accomplished in this qualitaty by an aircraft nor by a helicopter.
Apart from its comfortable and roomy cabin, the following characteristics are decisive for its suitability and success as a mission platform:The Zeppelin NT has ex factory substantial mechanisms to perform special missions with, among others, the following devices:
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The electrical equipment also meets the requirements of a flying high-tech laboratory and offers:
The cabin of the Zeppelin NT has a volume of 26 m³ and offers free movement for the scientists apart from the integrated measuring equipment (racks mounted at the seat rails). The most important equipment features are:
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Since its commissioning in summer 2001, the Zeppelin has successfully been used in several areas:
| Multimedia platform: | broadcasting platform with live image and audio broadcasting at mega events |
| Remote sensing: | location of interfering transmitters, satellite simulation in the "Galileo" project |
| Geophysics: | micro-gravimetric and geomagnetic field measurements within the scope of mineralogical prospection |
| Airspace surveillance: | police supervision at mega events (Paris 2005, papal visit at Cologne 2005 and football World Cup 2006) |
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| Atmospheric research: | compiling of vertical profiles in the lower planetary boundary layer, atmospheric chemistry and tropospheric research, exploration of free radicals, trace gases and aerosols, as well as the compilation of photochemical and meteorological measurement series |
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During these missions, the Zeppelin NT was equipped with highly complex, active and passive sensors, as well as with measuring devices of different manufacturers and it also participated in multinational research projects (e.g. "SMART", "Eye in the Sky", "Galileo", "FOGL", "TRACKS", "COPS", "AIRLif", etc.).
When evaluating the results, the industry and scientists were more than content with the potential of the platform. Anyway, measurement series, such as vertical profiles, would not have been possible with a different vector.
Our most important customers of the last years:
In autumn 2007, the French government launched an invitation of tendering within the scope of Homeland Security with the view to validate the Zeppelin NT for specific missions in the fight against terrorism. In the future, French metropolises are regularly monitored and overflown by an airship, which is equipped with the SENTINUC and SENTITOX reconnaissance systems. Emphasis was put on the compilation of gamma mappings and the detection of radioactive sources, as well as on the visualisation of released toxic gases.
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The results speak for the special suitability of the Zeppelin NT as a science platform and recommend it for new missions in the following fields of applications:
With the growing consciousness in our society concerning climate changes and the realisation that measures have to be adopted against it, the application of multispectral analysis becomes more and more important. The mayor of Paris has disposed an environmental evaluation of the metropolis on the Seine in order to reduce CO² emissions significantly. This year, the company TCC will get the following orders:
Thermography
TCC detects energy losses in residential and office buildings by air and transfers the measured values to a patented "Thermicarte". This map, similar to a register, displays the factor of heat loss of the single buildings in different colours. Thus, the property owners and the municipality gets important information about energy losses resulting from defective roof and facade isolation, leakage in pipe and conduit systems, defective heating systems, etc. The order from Paris is disposed on condition that it is performed by an overflight of an airship. The measurement flight is performed in 650 m (2153 ft) above ground at temperatures below freezing point. For noise and safety reasons a helicopter as a measurment platform is not approved.
Environmental anomalies
On 1 April, 2007, a new EU law has come into force, after which each commune is obligated to create a contaminated land register of its properties. This includes natural anomalies (e.g. natural radioactivity), as well as heavy metal loads of former industrial companies and explosive ordinances of former wars. In case of a purchase of land, the purchaser gets the warranty that the purchased land is clear of inherited waste.
City lights
Street lighting can account for up to 40 % of energy consumption costs of a city and it is responsible for about 6 % of the CO² emissions. The optimisation of street lighting can not only save costs and reduce CO² emissions, but it also contributes to the safety on the streets and in residential areas. The client additionally gets an outline about defective light fittings and poorly illuminated urban areas, where the accident frequency and crime rate is considerably higher than in well-lighted areas.
The company TCC wants to execute the order of the city of Paris with the Zeppelin NT. The superior flight characteristics of the Zeppelin NT in comparison to usual blimps were decisive. Especially the precise flight when hovering along the rasters is almost unique. The first mission is scheduled for February/March 2008 in Paris. Further European metropolises and metropolises combined in C40, CCP (Cities for Climate Protection) and ICLEI (International Council for Local Environment Initiative) already indicated their interest.
Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik is very interested to offer the Zeppelin NT in Germany for these missions and for this reason they already met with the Federal Environment Ministry and TCC in Bonn, Berlin, Paris, and Friedrichshafen.
The Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Mr Gabriel, indicated his interest in this topics in Friedrichshafen and got in touch with his ministry. Thomas Brandt, CEO of Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik, introduced further application fields of the Zeppelin NT concerning environmental protection at the Federal Environment Ministry in Bonn
Before Mr Wolfgang Köhn of the Federal Environment Ministry Berlin visited Friedrichshafen, different options, strategies and the following application fields of the airship were discussed:
The discretionary power of European authorities (European Commission and European Environment Agency), the responsibility of federal authorities (Federal Environment Ministry, FEO, German energy agency) and the responsibility at the Bundesland level (Departments of Environment of the states, Landesämter für Emissionsmessungen and Landesvertretung der Energieagentur) require a multi-level procedure.
With the assistance of the Federal Environment Ministry, it is planned to introduce the platform Zeppelin NT for environmental protection tasks and to attain a certification. Appart from compiling an overview of application fields, it is planned to prepare a qualitative audit of the city lights in Berlin within the scope of a pilot project in order to deduct optimisation and conservation potentials. Before approaching the Senate of Berlin, the official order from Paris shall be awaited to support an application for the required subsidies for an equal reference project.
After a successful conception of the lighting plan, the results will be presented at different events, such as the International Aerospace Exhibition and Conferences or at the German Association of Cities and Towns.