If the Deepwater spill should have taught the USCG anything it was that we need to stop using high dollar equipment to do low tech work.
In the service a picture is key. Unfortunately the USCG doesn't rate high enough in the government world to use its own satellite and because of that we rely on aircraft. These aircraft aren't always available, practical or cost effective to complete the job the Coast Guard is trying to do.
While we were begging for air assets that could easily be diverted for other missions, civilian organizations were solving the problem of creating maps through other means.
A great example of this is the Public Lab (http://publiclab.org) , which resorted to the age old technique of Balloon Mapping. Using open source software, a mylar ballon, a thousand feet of line and a 55 dollar digital camera they were able to get very detailed local maps of impacted areas quickly. With a slightly more advanced camera, or a camera with thermal imaging, or infrared capability it would be possible to get get very accurate SCAT surveys done, and accurately chart the spread of a spill while on the ground. As it stands a simple Balloon or Kite survey kit clocks in at less than 200 dollars which is a steal when you consider the operating costs of a multi-million dollar rescue helicopter. And thats before you consider the benefit to the crew of said aircraft. Crashing a balloon doesn't endanger an entire air crew.
This technology (ha!) should be in every Sector IMD shop immediately.
(image courtesy of Publiclab.org)
