Improving the preparedness against an oil spill: Evaluation of the influence of environmental parameters on the operability of unmanned vehicles

A M Bernabeu; M Plaza-Morlote; D Rey; M Almeida; A Dias; A P Mucha

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112791

Improving the preparedness against an oil spill: Evaluation of the influence of environmental parameters on the operability of unmanned vehicles

Mar Pollut Bull. 2021 Nov:172:112791. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112791. Epub 2021 Sep 4.

Authors

A M Bernabeu¹, M Plaza-Morlote², D Rey², M Almeida³, A Dias⁴, A P Mucha⁵

Affiliations

¹ Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, GEOMA, 36310 Vigo, Spain. Electronic address: bernabeu@uvigo.es.
² Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, GEOMA, 36310 Vigo, Spain.
³ CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal.
⁴ INESC Technology and Science, Porto, Portugal; ISEP - School of Engineering of Porto Polytechnic Institute, Porto, Portugal.
⁵ CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; FCUP - Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.

PMID: 34523429
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112791

Abstract

When an oil spill occurs, a prompt response reduces significantly the impact. The preparedness and contingency plans are essential to identify the most appropriate technologies. Unmanned and autonomous vehicles (UAVs) is emerging as a powerful tool of strategic potential in the observation, oil tracking and damage assessment of an oil spill. The SpilLess project explored the suitability of these devices to be the first-line response to an oil spill. This work analyses the operational requirements related to environmental parameters following a two steps approach: 1) Environmental characterization from long wind and waves time series and modelling; 2) Definition of the optimal periods for operating each UAVs. We have defined the periods in which each of these facilities acts best, confirming that the operational limits of UAVs are not significantly more restrictive than the traditional operations. UAVs should be included in contingency plans as available tools to fight against oil spills.

Keywords: Oil spills; Operational conditions; SpilLess; Unmanned and autonomous vehicles; Wave height; Wave period; Wind speed.

MeSH terms

Petroleum Pollution* / analysis
Wind