DEVELOPMENT OF A PROTOTYPE AIRBORNE OIL SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM

A prototype airborne oil surveillance system was developed for the U.S. Coast Guard by Aerojet ElectroSystems Company. The multisensor system permits real-time day/night, all-weather detection, mapping and documentation of oil spills at sea. The system was installed aboard a Coast Guard HU-16 Albatross and flight tested off the California Coast. Surveillance data were obtained from natural seeps, a series of controlled oil spills, routine shipping and targets of opportunity. The airborne system consists of a sidelooking radar, a passive microwave imager, a multispectral low light level TV, a multichannel line scanner, a position reference system, and a real-time processor/display console. The system reliably detected and mapped oil spills and seeps for conditions ranging from dense undercast to clear, wind speeds from 0 to 26 knots and daytime to total darkness. Test results demonstrate that airborne oil surveillance is practical and the system can be invaluable to other Coast Guard missions. Color illustrations reproduced in black and white.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • See also Volume 3, AD-779 484.
• Corporate Authors:

  Aerojet General Corporation

  9200 East Flair Drive
  El Monte, CA  United States  91734
• Authors:
  • Edgerton, A T
  • Bommarito, J J
  • Schwantje, R S
  • Meeks, D C
• Publication Date: 1975-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 327 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Information display systems; Infrared detectors; Light; Microwave devices; Oil spills; Position fixing; Reliability; Remote sensing; Side looking radar; Specifications; Technical drawings; Television; Water pollution
• Uncontrolled Terms: Airborne
• Old TRIS Terms: Engineering drawings; Low light levels; Microwave equipment; Position finding
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00091530
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: AESC-1812FR-1 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-CG-22170-A
• Files: NTIS
• Created Date: Aug 13 1975 12:00AM