AERIAL DETECTION OF SPILL SOURCES

A unique interpretation key emphasizing the environmental aspects of the petroleum industry was developed for use with an aerial surveillance spill prevention system. Aerial baseline and stereograph photographs as well as aerial multiband, aerial oblique, and ground photographs of oil refineries were obtained for inclusion in the key. Processing systems to convert crude oil to fuel and LPG, gasoline, heavy fuel oils, lubricating oils and asphalt were identified with the help of military oil refinery interpretation keys. Three petrochemical facilities within the refinery were also located and identified. The identification of potential spill sources as related to processing systems, product storage and disposition of by-products and waste was performed. The results were confirmed by refinery personnel and included in the oil refinery key. Concurrent with the flight program, fifteen samples of spilled material were obtained along with the appropriate ground truth data. Chemical and spectral analyses of the samples were performed and correlated with the multiband image analysis. Finally, the use of aerial photography for temporal change detection was evaluated and included in the appropriate sections of the key.