Influence of satellite alerts on the efficiency of aircraft monitoring of maritime oil pollution in German waters

Peer Helmke; Björn Baschek; Thomas Hunsänger; Susanne Kranz

doi:10.1117/12.2065956

14 October 2014 Influence of satellite alerts on the efficiency of aircraft monitoring of maritime oil pollution in German waters

Peer Helmke, Björn Baschek, Thomas Hunsänger, Susanne Kranz

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9240, Remote Sensing of the Ocean, Sea Ice, Coastal Waters, and Large Water Regions 2014; 92400B (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2065956
Event: SPIE Remote Sensing, 2014, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

For detecting accidental and illegal pollution by mineral oil, the German exclusive economic zone and surrounding waters have been monitored by aircraft operationally for more than 25 years. Aircraft surveillance uses predominantly Side-Looking-Airborne-Radar for visualization of the effect of oil to smoothen capillary waves. A set of near range sensors complements the remote sensing data available for the human operator to classify the detected features as "mineral oil", "natural phenomenon", "other substance" or "unknown" pollution. Today, as an add-on to aerial surveillance, the German Central Command of Maritime Emergencies uses the operational satellite service "CleanSeaNet" provided by the European Maritime Safety Agency: Radar satellite data is analyzed in near real time and alerts of potential pollution are sent out. Shortly after receiving the results, aircraft surveillance flights are started by the 3rd Naval Air Wing and the locations of the satellite alerts are checked. Thus, a combined system of satellite and aerial surveillance is in place. The German Federal Institute of Hydrology, BfG, has access to the data of the pollution events detected during these flights and the corresponding meta-data of flights and satellite images. In this work, a period of two years of this data is analyzed. The probability to detect pollutions is evaluated for (A) flight missions associated with satellite scenes, and (B) additional flights performed independently from satellite scenes. Thus, the influence of satellite alerts on the efficiency of aircraft monitoring is investigated. Coverage and coordination of the monitoring by aircraft and satellite are assessed and implications for the operational monitoring are discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Peer Helmke, Björn Baschek, Thomas Hunsänger, and Susanne Kranz "Influence of satellite alerts on the efficiency of aircraft monitoring of maritime oil pollution in German waters", Proc. SPIE 9240, Remote Sensing of the Ocean, Sea Ice, Coastal Waters, and Large Water Regions 2014, 92400B (14 October 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2065956

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