Decision support tools for oil spill response (OSR-DSTs): Approaches, challenges, and future research perspectives

Zhaoyang Yang; Zhi Chen; Kenneth Lee; Edward Owens; Michel C Boufadel; Chunjiang An; Elliott Taylor

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112313

Decision support tools for oil spill response (OSR-DSTs): Approaches, challenges, and future research perspectives

Mar Pollut Bull. 2021 Jun:167:112313. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112313. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Authors

Zhaoyang Yang¹, Zhi Chen², Kenneth Lee³, Edward Owens⁴, Michel C Boufadel⁵, Chunjiang An¹, Elliott Taylor⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
² Department of Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: zhi.chen@concordia.ca.
³ Ecosystem Science, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 200 Kent Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1C 0E6, Canada.
⁴ Owens Coastal Consultants Ltd., Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA.
⁵ Center for Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Newark College of Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.
⁶ Polaris Applied Sciences, Inc., 755 Winslow Way East #302, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA.

PMID: 33839574
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112313

Abstract

Marine oil spills pose a significant threat to ocean and coastal ecosystems. In addition to costs incurred by response activities, an economic burden could be experienced by stakeholders dependent on coastal resources. Decision support tools for oil spill response (OSR-DSTs) have been playing an important role during oil spill response operations. This paper aims to provide an insight into the status of research on OSR-DSTs and identify future directions. Specifically, a systematic review is conducted including an examination of the advantages and limitations of currently applied and emerging decision support techniques for oil spill response. In response to elevated environmental concerns for protecting the polar ecosystem, the review includes a discussion on the use of OSR-DSTs in cold regions. Based on the analysis of information acquired, recommendations for future work on the development of OSR-DSTs to support the selection and implementation of spill response options are presented.

Keywords: Cold regions; Decision support tool; Oil spill model; Oil spill response; Risk assessment.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Ecosystem
Petroleum Pollution*