MSRC Tactical Oil Spill Surveillance and Remote Sensing Industry Technical Advisory Committee for Oil spill Response October 25, 2016 0
Historical Perspective -- Oil Spill Surveillance in U.S Exxon Valdez Gulf Hurricanes of mid-2000 period Deepwater Horizon Strategic Surveillance Satellite - Optical - Radar (detection mapping) Strategic COP Enhanced satellite imagery Relative thickness mapping (delayed basis) Limited tactical value Tactical Surveillance Visual Aerial Spotting - Eye - Photography - Video Tactical Surveillance Same reliance on visual Day light only Boat positioning challenges Thickest Oil False Targets Compressed Window (Daylight positioning) 1
Provoking Questions: Where would we want to position a Responding OSRV? More importantly --- How do we do it? Inefficient Recovery Maximal Recovery Inefficient recovery Maximal recovery 2
Post DWH Observations Surveillance Timely operating decisions Earlier recognition of where to position/ reposition assets as oil moves Distinguishing recoverable vs. sheen Key to response efficiency Avoiding false targets Expanding operating window beyond daylight 3
Post DWH Observations Surveillance Challenges Oil/Water fingerprints are complex -- more so than human targets No single sensor provides all answers Some only work in daylight (optical/near visual) Technical Challenges Some only provide detection Do not distinguish recoverable targets vs. sheen (radar/most satellite images) Some do not work through clouds or humidity (thermal infrared) 4
MSRC Taking Surveillance To New Levels Exxon Valdez Gulf Hurricanes of mid-2000 period Deepwater Horizon Since Deepwater Horizon Strategic Surveillance Satellite - Optical - Radar (detection mapping) Tactical Surveillance Visual Aerial Spotting - Eye - Photography - Video Strategic COP Enhanced satellite imagery Relative thickness mapping (delayed basis) Tactical Surveillance Same reliance on visual Day light only MSRC Systems Approach Tactical Priority With Strategic Application Level V Visual Non dedicated aircraft Level A Aircraft Non dedicated with sensors Level B Balloons/Tethered with sensors Level C Close-in ship-mounted with sensors Level D Drones/sUAS with sensors Level S Satellite (Pending) 5
MSRC Level V -- Visual Regulatory Requirement OSROs provides this capability with Aircraft of Opportunity (AOO) to meet Federal regulations MSRC has enhanced this capability with our Visual Observation Report (VOR) Internally developed ipad app o Combined use of camera (video and still) o Integrated geo-referencing information o ASTM and NOAA documentation templates 6
MSRC Visual Observation Report (VOR)
MSRC Visual Observation Report (VOR)
Level A -- Aircraft Using Ocean Imaging TRACS System Pre-identified Aircraft of Opportunity Audited operating standards Appropriate ports to utilize TRACS system High height of eye with 24-hr operations potential ~500 to ~12,500 Fast speed of advance (120-200 mph) Three dedicated TRACS systems Operated by trained MSRC personnel Located in Edison, NJ; Houston, TX; and Long Beach, CA Sensors Thermal Infrared (TIR) Multi-spectral (color not seen with eye) 9
Level A -- Aircraft Using Ocean Imaging TRACS System System mounted with pre-engineered adapter plates on airplane floor porthole Tactical real-time imagery MSRC developed WiFi network for image transfer to Recovery vessels (up to several miles) Fully Processed Oil Distribution Mapping by Ocean Imaging for COP purposes 10
Example: Visual vs. Digital Imaging of a Slick Visual or Photo OI Sensor: Visual Multispectral OI Sensor: Thermal Source: Ocean Imaging, 2010 11
MSRC Level A -- Imagery Example MSRC/Ocean Imaging Training Flight Natural Seeps, Platform Holly Santa Barbara, CA March 12, 2014 Standard digital photo representative of a visual observers view 12
MSRC Level A Imagery Imagery from Multi-spectral Camera Imagery from Thermal IR Camera MSRC/Ocean Imaging Training Flight Santa Barbara, CA March 12, 2014 Fully Processed Oil Distribution Map 13
MSRC Level B Tethered Balloon (Aerostat) Battery powered Up to 12-hour hang time Rechargeable battery Package includes: HD Camera TIR Camera AIS Repeater NOFO: OOW 12 Small, compact easily transportable package Proprietary viewing software and gimbal WiFi transfer to host vessel 14
MSRC Level B Balloons (Aerostats) Deep Blue Responder ------- -------- 01/23/2014 15
MSRC Level B Imagery Examples Viewing: IR/HD Image Fusion ~75% IR overlaid with ~25% HD Visual
MSRC Level C -- Close In Vessel Mounted Systems for Tactical Optimization (NOFO OOW 13) Oil X Band Radar Oil Detection Infra-Red: Thermal Infrared Camera Mounted On Crow s Nest Of MSRC Responder Class OSRV Imagery From Camera Allowing Spill Responders To Optimize Recovery 17
MSRC Level C -- Close-In Containerized X Band/TIR Transportable Containers For Use with Barges and Large Vessels of Opportunity 18
MSRC Level D -- Drones/sUAS Current regulations Day time operations only Must maintain line of sight Certified pilot required Section 333 permit holders have blanket authorization up to 400 feet altitude subject to: Distance from airports or helipads Depends on flight rules and operational control towers Restriction ranges from 2-5 NM from airport or helipads 19
MSRC Level D -- Drones/sUAS Pre-established contracts with four operators Pre-vetted capabilities (demonstrated raw videos, screen shots, and mosaics) Both fixed wing and rotary Optical (HD Video) and Infrared Nationwide coverage through individual Areas of Interest Most likely used for near shore and shoreline assessment o SCAT priorities 20
MSRC Level S Satellite (Pending) Primarily for general oil spill mapping (Common Operating Picture Typically optical and radar (detection) images Pre-established boilerplate terms and conditions to expedite use at time of spill Working with two satellite providers 21
Airplane Or Helicopter MSRC Level V Visual Incident Management Over-flight Assessment (ipad App) Initial On Water Asset Deployment On-going On Water Asset Deployment Airplane (AOO) Suitable For Ocean Imaging TRACS System Large Swath Surveillance Tactical Operations Real Time Remote Sensing Tactical Decisions Oil Thickness Distribution Mapping Common Operating Picture (COP) MSRC Level A OSRV Or Other Platform (Tethered Balloon/Aerost at) MSRC Level B Close-In Ship Mounted Sensors MSRC Level C Mid Swath Surveillance Move with Oil Day or Night Positioning On Water Asset Recovery Optimization On Water Asset Deployment Drones (suas) MSRC Level D MSRC Developed WiFi Data Transfer Prime For Hard To Access Areas (Near shore/shorelin e) Primarily Optical and Radar Detection of Oil MSRC Level S
Summary A concluding quote from the December 2012 API JITF report on Remote Sensing In Support of Oil Spill Response Planning Guidance: Spill response readiness must be actively managed to ensure that the capabilities, technologies, infrastructure, and logistics are in place and that they are sustained, ready, and continuously improved. The report emphasized the need for a prominent role in the Incident Command Structure MSRC has developed an industry-unique systems approach Multi-platform, multi-sensor capability Comprehensive knowledge of oil surveillance through our internal 17 employee strike team 23