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Technology
Assessment & Research (TA&R) Program
| Project Number |
594 |
| Date of Summary |
March 26, 2009 |
| Subject |
Development of a Portable Multispectral Aerial Sensor for Real-time Oil
Spill Thickness Mapping in Coastal and Offshore Waters |
| Performing Activity |
Ocean Imaging Corporation |
| Principal Investigator |
Dr. Jan Svejkovsky and Mr. Judd Muskat |
| Contracting Agency |
Minerals Management Service |
| Estimated Completion |
Completed |
| Description |
This research project will develop a portable, easy-to-operate, aerial
sensor to detect and accurately map the thickness and distribution of an oil
slick in coastal and offshore waters in real-time. Building on previous
research the technical plan, consisting of five phases will lead to the
deployment of an operational system estimated to be completed with 18
months. The five phases are:
- Addition and testing of infra-red camera to the detection system.
- Refinement and implementation of the neural network and fuzzy
ratio-based oil discrimination software.
- Addition of Inertial Measurement Unit and testing/validation of
real-time auto geo-referencing capabilities.
- Ohmsett infra-red and full-system validation experiments.
- Integration of full-system and implementation of near-real-time
analysis discrimination capabilities.
This project will include five separate over-flights over the Santa
Barbara Channel oil seeps and the Ohmsett facility for sensor and algorithm
verification and ground-truthing. This project is co funded with the
California Department of Fish and Game, Oil Spill Prevention and Response. |
| Progress |
The infra-red camera (IR) and GIS
compatible software were received in late September 2007. The camera is
being integrated into the detection system and initial test flights of the
system will be conducted over the Santa Barbara Channel oil seeps in late
October 2007. The Oil Thickness Algorithm Refinement work is being
undertaken simultaneously with the IR camera integration. Laboratory
experiments and aerial flights were conducted. Two significant improvements
to the system were achieved. First, a new wavelength (577 nm) was chosen to
provide the greatest thickness distinction range of ratios. Second. When the
577nm band is used in conjunction with the 551nm band it provides additional
information to the algorithm to adjust the thickness model for different
background water reflectance characteristics. The addition of the IR camera
will extend the available thickness measurement range. The thickness
sensor system was successfully flight tested in day/night operations over
the Ohmsett facility from June 16-20, 2008. Plans are being developed to
conduct final proof of principal over flights of the Santa Barbara oil seeps
in November 2008 to verify total system integration. The final proof of principal flights were successfully conducted on November 13, 2008 during overflights
of the natural oil seeps in the Santa Barbara Channel, CA. The MMS has
accepted the final project report. |
| Report |
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AA
(8,121 KB PDF) |
Development of a Portable Aerial Sensor for Real-time Oil Spill Thickness
Mapping in Coastal and Offshore Waters, Dr. Jan Svejkovsky, Ocean Imaging
Corporation, Solano Beach, CA , 33. pp., May 14, 2009. |
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