On the SAR derived alert in the detection of oil spills according to the analysis of the EGEMP

Abstract

Satellite services that deliver information about possible oil spills at sea currently use different labels for classification of the ¿confidence¿ in the detections based on radar image analysis and auxiliary information. A common approach is to use a classification differentiating between low, medium and high levels of confidence. There is an ongoing discussion about the suitability of the existing classification systems of possible oil spills detected by radar satellite images with regard to the significance of their declaration and their correspondence to user requirements. As a general contribution to the discussion this paper contains a basic analysis of user requirements and the current technical possibilities of the satellite services as well as a collection of requirements and some proposals for a possible redesign of the classification systems. This paper is a review of existing methodologies and research ideas proposed and evaluated at the European Group of Experts on satellite Monitoring of sea-based oil Pollution (EGEMP website) meetings on oil spill confidence level.