Gulf Coast Ecosystem Imaging Data Collected

TTI Exploration, a geosciences technology company in Houston, Texas says it has successfully acquired some 26,000 square kilometers of ultra high-resolution, hyperspectral surface images over environmentally sensitive areas in Louisiana and Mississippi. The company acquired the imaging data as part of Operation GulfSCAN, an initiative it launched to measure the health of the Gulf coastal ecosystems, including prior to the incursion of oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

According to TTI Exploration, its data acquisition systems use multiple methods and technologies including sensors, seismic, well-bore, and satellite data from its own and public (U.S. Geological Survey) sources. The company then integrates the data into a common dataset framework.

The company says Operation GulfSCAN combines ultra high-resolution images with an expert habitat sampling program. TTI Exploration deployed its systems on 1 May to detect the presence, extent and concentration of oil, as well as the degree of impact on plants, soil and water quality in the coastal marshes and wetlands.

TTI Exploration plans to extend the coverage area to coastal marshes and wetlands in Alabama. The company says it is in negotiations with potential customers for licensing the datasets.

Photo: International Bird Rescue Research Center/Flickr