Oil spill reconnaissance and delineation through autonomous underwater vehicle technology

Ship-based sampling methods for collecting data beneath the sea surface are difficult and expensive. Robotic autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) outfitted with sensors can measure oil concentration along with other chemical, biological and physical parameters. Researchers will use AUVs to assess how sensor and robotic technologies can collect vital data in open and iced waters to help inform Canadian incident responders about the spread of oil beneath the sea surface, supporting Canada’s oil spill response capacity.