ENHANCED OIL SPILL SURVEILLANCE, DETECTION AND MONITORING THROUGH THE APPLIED TECHNOLOGY OF UNMANNED AIR SYSTEMS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Many leading edge technologies that are conceptualized, developed, tested, refined and applied as military defense technologies evolve into useful applied technologies in other public and private sectors. Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) and the rapidly evolving Small Unmanned Air Vehicle (SUAS) are finding operational applications in scientific research, wildlife, law enforcement, security, natural disaster, and environmental surveillance, detection and monitoring. This paper will review the use of UAS in operational oil spill surveillance, monitoring and assessment. UAS show particular potential for shoreline, coastal and inland surveillance and monitoring of remote areas with limited accessibility. Numerous international oil companies have sponsored UAV demonstrations focused on facility and pipeline inspection, surveillance and monitoring. Governmental agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency, have incorporated UAS into oil spill response exercises and test applications. Currently, many areas of high risk to pollution and high environmental sensitivity are monitored daily by costly manned aircraft surveillance; UAS can replace or augment these manned air vehicles, providing a cost effective alternative that also reduces human risks. UAS technology is continually evolving to achieve broader application:On-water launch and in-water recovery;Payload Integration - video, still daylight and nighttime IR imaging, image processing, and hazardous material air plume sensing and mapping;Command, Control and Communications (C-3) - real-time data link to the Incident Command Post;Platform Improvements - greater reliability, minimized size and weight, portability, longer operational flight time and extended range, and improved power sources;GPS positioning - pre-programmed flight patterns and break-away vectoring; andSimulation & Training - train effectively, maintain proficiency, and evolve tactics, techniques and procedures.