Using SAR to Accurately Map an Oil Spill
19180 Rate this article:
1.5
Using SAR to Accurately Map an Oil Spill
Megan Gallagher Thursday, September 10, 2020
On July 25, the Japanese-owned ship MV Wakashio hit a coral reef while carrying 4,000 tons of fuel oil near Pointe d'Esny, which is close to the shores of the remote Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. On August 6, oil began leaking from the vessel.
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data from Sentinel-1 has been used to map the oil leakage and the environmental catastrophe affecting Mauritius. Traces of the oil spreading in the Blue Bay Marine Park are easily visible on SAR Sentinel-1 data compared to the optical Sentinel-2 image. The maximum extension of the spill has been detected using ENVI® SARscape and other ENVI analytics.
The migration of the vessel after its breakage has also been mapped using Sentinel-1 SAR data and ENVI.
Image Details: Copernicus Sentinel-1, track 78, VV polarization Copernicus Sentinel-2 Processing tools: ENVI 5.5.3 and ENVI SARscape 5.5.3, Intensity Time Series
For more about ENVI SARscape, click here. If you would like additional information, please contact us at GeospatialInfo@NV5.com.

DISCOVER MORE
ENVI DEEP LEARNING MODULE

AUTOMATE ANALYTICS
Automate analytics with deep learning for fast, accurate results.
RECORDED WEBINARS

SAR THREE-PART SERIES
Learn Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) applications and benefits.
BENEFITS OF HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGERY

RECORDED WEBINAR
Learn about the benefits and applications of hyperspectral imagery from the Space Station.
SAR Data Used to Extract Damage From Beirut Explosion From School Teacher to Spectral Expert