DOINews: BSEE Works with Partners to Test UAV's Capable of Monitoring Oil Spill Response Operation

03/11/2014
Last edited 09/05/2019

BSEE News Brief
March 7, 2014

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration yesterday for a demonstration that showed how unmanned aerial vehicles can be used to provide visual information about an oil spill to response organizations. The demonstration was conducted at Hains Point in Washington, D.C. The demonstration utilized UAV technology on the ground to send visual information back to a remote command center, where the information can be combined with information from a variety of sources to provide responders with a full view of the oil spill response. BSEE's Oil Spill Response Division coordinated this initial demonstration.

“We are aggressively pursuing research and development opportunities within the oil spill response community to increase the capabilities of first responders,” explained OSRD Chief David Moore. “This is the first time we've put all these sensors and groups together to demonstrate that new technology can provide real time information about a spill."

The UAV technology will continue to be refined ahead of a full scale on-water and aerial technical demonstration, hosted by BSEE, during the International Oil Spill Conference in Savannah, Ga., May 7, 2014. The demonstration will stream information from remote sensors, aerial assets and response vessels to a simulated command operations center. The live streaming video will be transmitted to responders, audience participants and large screen viewing monitors. The intent is to demonstrate a capability previously unused in the oil spill response industry. BSEE is a charter member of the IOSC and is cooperating with other government, non-government and industry organizations on the conference.

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Program manager Buck Holly (left) shows one Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to BSEE Director Brian Salerno (right) and Oil Spill Response Division Chief David Moore. BSEE, government and industry partners are studying how technologies can better prepare for an oil spill cleanup.

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