Abstract
ABSTRACT For the last several decades, the sensors available for remote sensing of oil spills have changed significantly while the platforms for these sensors have remained unaltered. The limitations on these platforms are well known. Satellites are expensive, remote, and inflexible. Fixed-wing aircraft cannot hover easily over the spill site and often fly too fast for good observations. Helicopters are expensive, require specially trained pilots, and can be more hazardous than other alternatives. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) provide a potentially new alternative platform for monitoring spill location and clean-up operations. The aircraft (also called unmanned aerial or airborne vehicles) fit into three general categories. Very large aircraft require much or more of the infrastructure of manned aircraft and will probably be deployed only in spills of national significance. Mid-range vehicles have proven their worth monitoring forests fires, emergencies with many similar requirements to oil spills, but still require designated landing and take-off facilities. A rapidly expanding category is the very small UAS that can be field launched and recovered. The range, guidance, and sensor availability of these aircraft have improved considerably from early prototypes. This paper explores the possibility of incorporating particularly these smaller UAS into spill response. Potential roadblocks include weather limitations, operator training, payload restrictions and regulatory restrictions. This last roadblock is presently the most difficult to overcome although re-consideration at the Federal Aviation Administration could modify existing regulations, making use of low-flying unmanned aircraft more plausible. Assuming the necessary regulatory changes, the paper explores typical applications and expected benefits from such system.
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