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

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

卷:172

Article

Bernabeu, A. M.¹  Plaza-Morlote, M.¹  Rey, D.¹  Almeida, M.²  Dias, A.^3,4  Mucha, A. P.^2,5 

[1] Univ Vigo, Ctr Invest Marina, GEOMA, Vigo 36310, Spain

[2] Univ Porto, CIIMAR Interdisciplinary Ctr Marine & Environm Re, Av Gen Norton de Matos S-N, P-4450208 Matosinhos, Portugal

[3] INESC Technol & Sci, Porto, Portugal

[4] Porto Polytech Inst, ISEP Sch Engn, Porto, Portugal

[5] Univ Porto, FCUP Fac Sci, Rua Campo Alegre S-N, P-4169007 Porto, Portugal

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

DOI  :  10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112791

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

Free