AERIAL SURVEILLANCE SPILL PREVENTION SYSTEM

An aerial surveillance system, consisting of four Hasselblad cameras and a Zeiss RMK 1523 camera, was evaluated for the remote detection of both real and potential spills threatening inland waterways. Twenty-three multiband and baseline missions were flown over oil refineries and other industrial sites located adjacent to the Mississippi River. Baseline flights were effective in counting storage tanks, locating and identifying storage equipment and pipeline systems and determining dike conditions. Stereoscopic analysis of baseline imagery was used to estimate the height of tanks and dikes, drainage patterns and the area of openly stored waste products. The multiband imagery was obtained by combining each of nine filters with each of three different black-and-white films. Spectral contract image enhancement was accomplished by either suppressing or transmitting the target reflected radiation through proper film/filter selections. Spills, effluents and waste areas were hence identified on the multiband imagery. Normal and false color imagery was evaluated with the multiband imagery to determine the best film/filter combinations for the areas of interest. Finally, the personnel, equipment and procedures required to implement an aerial surveillance spill prevention system were determined.