Method and tracking device for tracking movement in a marine environment with tactical adjustments to an emergency response

• US 8,917,175 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: O'Regan, Peter R., Almohsen, Ali Amer
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US13/454,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20130063304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/24 container type, i.e. having provision for the storage of material
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2213/02 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. the Global Positioning System GPS
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 15/04 Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials stopping water-borne material in artificial water canals E02B5/085; stopping water-borne material at barrages or weirs E02B8/023; other treatment of water, waste water or sewage C02F; materials for treating liquid pollutants, e.g. oil, gasoline, fat, C09K3/32 ; separation of oil in sewage conduits E03F5/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/204 Keeping clear the surface of open water from oil spills

Abstract

The present invention relates to devices and methods for tracking movement in a marine environment. At least one tracking device that is adapted to be deployed on a surface of the water, wherein the tracking device is capable of moving along the same trajectory of a desired object. Data from the tracking devices are received by at least one satellite, transmitted to a database, and used to determine the forecasted trajectory of the desired object. All data collected from deployed tracking devices may be integrated into a spatial data repository for analysis and reporting using GIS and associated information technologies, thereby allowing for more accurate decision-making and asset deployment during a fluid spill or similar marine contamination event. The present invention also allows for the collection and modeling of accurate localized sea current data, which may assist with marine and coastal engineering works such as shoreline protection and port dredging.

Claims

1. A method for tracking movement in a marine environment comprising:

associating a plurality of tracking devices with a fluid spill event;

deploying the plurality of tracking devices in a fluid spill, each tracking device of the plurality of tracking devices transmitting a geographic location of the tracking device to a data processing satellite;

monitoring the geographic location of each tracking device of the plurality of tracking devices to track the movement of the fluid spill over a period of time;

determining a forecasted trajectory of the fluid spill based on the movement of the fluid spill over the period of time;

adjusting a spill response based on the forecasted trajectory;

attaching an asset-tracking device to a spill response asset;

deploying the spill response asset based on the forecasted trajectory of the fluid spill; and

monitoring the asset location of the spill response asset using the asset-tracking device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spill response asset is a containment boom, the asset-tracking device being attached to a middle portion of the containment boom, and wherein the containment boom is adapted to be deployed in a down-current position of the forecasted trajectory of the fluid spill.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining geo-referenced aerial imagery of the fluid spill that is captured by flyover reconnaissance;

identifying a wayward device of the plurality of tracking devices that is outside a perimeter of the fluid spill based on the geo-referenced aerial imagery; and

redeploying the wayward device inside the perimeter of the fluid spill.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a battery notification that a depleted device of the plurality of tracking devices has low battery power;

retrieving and maintaining the depleted device; and

redeploying the depleted device in the fluid spill.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first subset of the plurality of tracking devices are deployed in leading edges of the fluid spill, a second subset of the plurality of tracking devices are deployed in a center of the fluid spill, a third subset of the plurality of tracking devices are deployed in trailing edges of the fluid spill, and a fourth and fifth subset of the plurality of tracking devices are deployed on the sideward edges of the fluid spill.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

preemptively deploying one or more tracking devices at a predetermined distance between a present location of the fluid spill and an expected shoreward landing point along the forecasted trajectory of the fluid spill; and

monitoring a preemptive location of one or more tracking devices to obtain an early indication a future location of the fluid spill.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein monitoring the geographic location of each tracking device of the plurality of tracking devices to track the movement of the fluid spill over a period of time further comprises:

dynamically determining the overall extent of the plurality of tracking devices using a concave hull polygon to approximate the location of the fluid spill, wherein the fluid spill comprises one or more of an oil fluid, a chemical composition fluid, and a hydrocarbon-based fluid;

dynamically averaging the position and velocity of the plurality of tracking devices within the concave hull polygon to produce a plurality of fluid spill vectors of a location of the fluid spill over time; and

enabling the plurality of fluid spill vectors to be retrieved from a spatial data repository to determine the forecasted trajectory of the fluid spill.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

identifying a wayward device of the plurality of tracking devices that is outside a perimeter of the fluid spill by performing an automatic statistical comparison of the plurality of fluid spill vectors; and

redeploying the wayward device inside the perimeter of the fluid spill.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an impact warning notification that one of the plurality of tracking devices is within a predetermined distance of a critical location; and

deploying spill response assets based on the impact warning notification.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a velocity of each tracking device of the plurality of tracking devices;

automatically calculating an average velocity of the fluid spill based on the velocities of the plurality of tracking devices; and

transmitting a sea-conditions warning notification when the average velocity changes by a predetermined percentage.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring locations of a plurality of vessels involved in a fluid spill response using a combination of vessel-tracking devices and automatic identification system (AIS) transponders.