An experimental study of the cooperation between sonar and a fluorometer for detecting underwater oil from an underwater vehicle

In oil spill events, using a combination of multiple types of sensors is favorable to improve the performance of oil detection and the reliability of data collected. An experiment was conducted to investigate the feasibility of using a fluorometer and a sonar to detect and cross-validate the presence of spilled oil before being installed and used on a Slocum glider. Considering the limited payload capability and energy availability of a Slocum glider, a lightweight Cyclops submersible fluorometer and a Ping360 sonar were used to cross-validate fluorescence measurements and sonar images. The results from the experiment conducted in a tank with oil release confirmed the feasibility of using both fluorometers and sonar to verify the existence of spilled oil.