USE OF SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY FOR OPERATIONAL POLLUTION MONITORING, SOURCE DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION

摘要

Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) is a world leading provider of space based information. One of the main focuses is use of satellite technology for marine applications. KSAT utilises the company's ground segment facilities in Tromse, Svalbard, Grimstad and Troll (Antarctica), to obtain global access to the data. Illegal and accidental discharges of oil from vessels and oil rigs can cause significant damage to the marine environment and may also have a large financial impact. Satellite radar data has proven to be an efficient tool to assist users in detecting potential oil slicks and locate polluters. Information from the satellites are used as basis for the end users decision on further investigation e.g. by patrol boats and aerial surveillance. Oil spills that impact shorelines are considerably more expensive to clean up than ones which can be dealt with offshore. Fast detection and early warning of oil pollution is crucial to initiate actions before the oil drift on shore. KSAT provides an operational oil spill detection service based on Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery. Users are agencies responsible for monitoring pollution, environmental protection and the offshore oil and gas industry. The service has been used operational in Europe for many years and a KSAT lead consortium has provided the pan-European satellite based oil spill detection service to the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) since 2007. The KSAT vessel detection service provides vessel positions from SAR and optical satellite images, integrated with identity information from land or satellite based AIS (Automatic Identification System). By correlating the satellite based information with other identification systems, non-reporting vessels can be identified and reported. The vessel detection service is also used in combination with the oil service for detection and identification of potential polluting sources.