Ocean Visuals' project centers on the development and deployment of the Oil-in-Water Locator (OWL), a cutting-edge technological solution designed to address the complex challenges of monitoring and safeguarding the marine environment, including open waters and coastal areas. By utilizing advanced Hyperspectral Laser Induced Fluorescence (HLIF) LiDAR techniques, OWL can detect, classify, and quantify oil spills and chemical pollution as a film on the water surface and within the depths of the water column in dissolved, emulsified, and submerged forms. This innovation impacts response strategies and empowers real-time, accurate, and comprehensive surveillance, revolutionizing our ability to protect and manage marine ecosystems, mitigate environmental damage, and ensure the safety of coastal regions.
For decades, (satellite) radar and camera systems have been the primary early warning and detection method of oil in water. As oil is intrinsically lighter than water, the hydrocarbons will float on the surface. But recent scientific reports from some of the largest oil spills globally have revealed that as much as 30-40% submerged after a brief period. Typically, 2 to 4 hours, depending on the oil type and meteorological conditions. Meteorologic conditions at sea, like currents, play a significant role in the pattern of submerged oil spills. Ocean Visuals seeks to solve the challenges related to where oil spills occur, where they will end up, what type of oil and the area of the actual spill. This will aid energy companies and enforcement agencies in their capacities of early warning of oil spills, perform in-situ classification of oil type through AI and machine learning, pattern matching techniques. Correlation with other (meteorological) data will create better prediction models as real-time data is collected from the surface and water column.
