The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Coast Guard are conducting a simulation-based research exercise with the goal of bolstering security and environmental protection in the Arctic.
USCG researchers aboard the Healy cutter are set to simulate an oil spill and test unmanned airborne and underwater sensing technologies when the ship reaches north, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.
The NOAA team will also work to evaluate systems for oil spill reconnaissance and mapping and fly the Puma unmanned system to measure the extent of the simulated oil spill scenario during the month-long Arctic Shield operation.
NOAA also intends for the exercise to further the development of the Environmental Response Management Application mapping website.
The research teams will be able to view measurements taken by the NOAA Puma and other unmanned systems in order to develop response mechanisms to oil spill incidents.
