Hyperspectral Imaging-Based Marine Oil Spills Remote Sensing System Design and Implementation

Offshore drilling platforms leak hundreds of thousands of tons of oil every year causing immeasurable damage to the marine environment, therefore it is important to be able to monitor for oil leakage. A hyperspectral camera, as an advanced device integrating spectral technology and imaging technology, can keenly capture the differences in spectral reflectance of different types of oil and seawater. This study presents the design of a hyperspectral camera covering the 400 nm–900 nm spectral band (90 bands total) and establishes a monitoring system comprising a high-precision inertial navigation system, a stabilization system, and a data acquisition system. Furthermore, this study conducted a field flight experiment using a Cessna aircraft, acquiring hyperspectral data with a one m spatial resolution of a drilling platform around the South China sea at 3000 m altitude, which effectively delineated the spectral characteristics of the oil spill area. The detection system developed in this study provides a robust means for oil spill monitoring on drilling platforms in remote sensing of the marine environment.