Contract description: Firm-fixed price contract between BSEE and Water Mapping, LLC to develop a new automated algorithm for a multispectral sensor.
Abstract - RROB 1177 Python algorithm development for multi-spectral sensor
Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are crucial tools for oil spill response operations. They can be used to monitor and detect oil spills, guide tactical positioning for containment or dispersants, and conduct mapping of the oil spill over the course of the response operations. The oil spill response community has utilized UAV technology for dozens of research projects in which detection and mapping of the oil spills is needed. Depending on the mapping needs, UAV sensors can include visual, thermal, and multispectral imaging.
The objective of this project is to develop a new automated algorithm designed to work with a newer multispectral sensor, Micasense Altum-PT, which was recently acquired by BSEE and the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC). Micasense Altum-PT is superior to any sensor used before because it integrates all the sensors previously described (multispectral, visual, and thermal all in one), where all the data can be collected at the same time over the same location covering the exact same extent reducing data processing time and increase accuracy. It also provides much higher resolution compared to other sensors, which allows it to capture much higher detail in oil features.
This 12- month, $212,600 project will develop a new automated algorithm based on Python that is open-source license, making it freely usable and distributable, even for commercial use.