The platform has been used in several case studies, including monitoring deep-water drilling infrastructure for leaks and spills, quantifying and improving accountability for frequent spills in Indonesia, and mapping oil slicks affecting UK waters. Despite being a work in progress, SkyTruth plans to improve Cerulean with an improved model, an interface for users to set up alerts for new slicks, more training and feedback sessions with partners, and more work with concerned organizations and individuals.
Key takeaways:
- SkyTruth has developed Cerulean, an orbital monitoring platform that uses satellite imagery to detect oil spills and the ships that cause them in coastal waters.
- The platform uses machine learning to identify suspicious slicks or trails and can rewind to find vessels that were nearby at the time.
- Cerulean is being used by various organizations around the world to monitor oil spills, quantify their impact, and hold responsible parties accountable.
- SkyTruth's plan for 2024 includes improving Cerulean with a better model, an interface for users to set up alerts for new slicks, more training and feedback sessions with partners, and more work with concerned organizations and individuals.