Oil spill detection by satellite remote sensing

Camilla Brekke^a, b, ,  and Anne H.S. Solberg^b

^aNorwegian Defence Research Establishment, Postboks 25, 2027 Kjeller, Norway

^bDepartment of Informatics, University of Oslo, Postboks 1080 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway

Received 3 September 2004;  

revised 11 November 2004;  

accepted 17 November 2004.  

Available online 25 January 2005. 

Abstract

This paper presents the state of the art for oil spill detection in the world oceans. We discuss different satellite sensors and oil spill detectability under varying conditions. In particular, we concentrate on the use of manual and automatic approaches to discriminate between oil slicks and look-alikes based on pattern recognition. We conclude with a discussion of suggestions for further research with respect to oil spill detection systems.

Keywords: Synthetic aperture radar; Oil spill; Detectability; Manual detection; Automatic algorithms; Dark spot detection; Feature extraction; Classification

Article Outline

1. 

Introduction

2. 

Satellite sensors for oil spill detection

3. 

Detectability of oil spills in SAR images

3.1. Discrimination between oil spills and look-alikes

3.2. The wind vector

3.3. Satellite configurations for oil spill detection

3.4. Speckle noise

4. 

Methodology for oil spill detection in SAR images

4.1. Manual inspection

4.2. Manual detection compared to automatic detection

4.3. Design issues for automatic detection systems

5. 

Automatic techniques for oil spill detection in SAR images

5.1. Segmentation techniques

5.2. Slick feature extraction

5.3. Classification methods

6. 

Conclusion and suggestions for further work

Acknowledgements

References