Automatic Detection and Sample-Collection of Oil Spills and Red Tides in Omani Shores using Heterogeneous-Cooperative Unmanned Vehicle Systems

The Sultanate of Oman is blessed with an exceptional geographical location and a unique coastline. To the north, the peninsula of Musandam overlooks the strait of Hormuz; a strategic location for maritime trading and a passage to 35% of the world's seaborne oil shipments. Therefore, it is no surprise that the shores of Oman are a busy route for ships and tankers. While the likelihood of oil spills from oil tankers is low, however, other oil derivatives (e.g. diesel) may leak from engines of ships and vessels. These incidents are much more frequent, and could potentially cause harm to the marine environment. This puts a stress on the local authorities to constantly monitor the Omani shores for any spills around the clock to protect the environment. In addition to oil spills, there are other sources of pollution that would have a significant impact on the environment. Red tides are an example of such pollution, even though they are caused by a natural biological phenomenon. The current approach that is used nowadays by the concerned authorities for detecting and containing these hazards is slow, costly, and ineffective. Therefore, the research investigators propose employing unmanned vehicle systems as an alternative. The proposed system will use state-of-the-art technology to help in detecting oil spills and red tides. In particular, the proposed alternative uses Heterogeneous-Cooperative Unmanned Vehicle Systems, where Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (e.g. Drones) and Unmanned Surface Vessels cooperate and coordinate to detect contamination, collect samples for lab experiments, and help in controlling and containing the pollution.

The Sultanate of Oman is blessed with an exceptional geographical location and a unique coastline. To the north, the peninsula of Musandam overlooks the strait of Hormuz; a strategic location for maritime trading and a passage to 35% of the world's seaborne oil shipments. Therefore, it is no surprise that the shores of Oman are a busy route for ships and tankers. While the likelihood of oil spills from oil tankers is low, however, other oil derivatives (e.g. diesel) may leak from engines of ships and vessels. These incidents are much more frequent, and could potentially cause harm to the marine environment. This puts a stress on the local authorities to constantly monitor the Omani shores for any spills around the clock to protect the environment. In addition to oil spills, there are other sources of pollution that would have a significant impact on the environment. Red tides are an example of such pollution, even though they are caused by a natural biological phenomenon. The current approach that is used nowadays by the concerned authorities for detecting and containing these hazards is slow, costly, and ineffective. Therefore, the research investigators propose employing unmanned vehicle systems as an alternative. The proposed system will use state-of-the-art technology to help in detecting oil spills and red tides. In particular, the proposed alternative uses Heterogeneous-Cooperative Unmanned Vehicle Systems, where Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (e.g. Drones) and Unmanned Surface Vessels cooperate and coordinate to detect contamination, collect samples for lab experiments, and help in controlling and containing the pollution.