Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Marine Environment Simulator in Oil Pollution Investigations

Abstract

Oil is one of the most important substances causing marine pollution. Oil covering the sea surface damages the marine ecosystem and prevents the oxygen cycle between the sea and the atmosphere. For these reasons, the importance of protecting the marine environment against oil pollution, which is the most serious pressure on the marine environment, emerges. Recent investigations approved that UAV could provide an effective, low cost way to conduct surveillance of oil spills. Especially in emergency response applications that require rapid decision making, UAV systems can provide a wide range of perception through autonomous systems as well as generating data. On the other hand, a number of image processing techniques and multi-functional computer programs are needed to interpret the data obtained from UAVs in terms of coastal management. Marine Environment Simulators (MES) is one of these multifunctional programs. In this study, it has been shown how UAVs and MES are used for this purpose and how this combination will increase the intervention operation in oil pollution researches. For this purpose, an integrated model proposal is presented for the use of UAV and MES in oil pollution research.