{"id":1519,"date":"2019-10-22T07:17:29","date_gmt":"2019-10-22T07:17:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/en\/?p=1519"},"modified":"2020-02-14T08:45:40","modified_gmt":"2020-02-14T08:45:40","slug":"new-israeli-technology-combats-oil-pollution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/en\/animal_plants\/new-israeli-technology-combats-oil-pollution\/","title":{"rendered":"New Israeli Technology Combats Oil Pollution"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Remote Sensing Technology in Israel\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/O_Dhv2GO1GE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The oil spill that occurred during the early morning hours of December 4, 2014, at the Evrona Nature Reserve in the Arava Valley in southern Israel is considered one of the most notorious environmental disasters in Israel\u2019s recent history.<\/p>\n<p>That night, 5,000 cubic meters of crude oil leaked from a ruptured section of the Eilat-Ashkelon oil pipeline. Vast quantities of oil flowed through the streambeds into the reserve, causing severe damage to flora and fauna.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOil is one of the most common pollutants in the world,\u201d says Ran Pelta, a doctoral student in Prof. Eyal Ben-Dor\u2019s Remote Sensing Labat the Porter School of Environmental and Earth Sciences at Tel Aviv University.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs a result of human activity, oil pollution can be found in almost any ecosystem, onshore, or offshore. Studies have shown that oil impairs the enzymatic activity of the ground, restricts soil porosity, and impedes water and air passage through the soil. People who live near refineries or those who have worked in oil pollution clean-ups have had a variety of health problems, from skin irritations to liver and kidney damage,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n<p>Over the years, numerous methods were researched and developed to tackle the damage caused by oil leaks. Most of the proposed solutions were of a chemical nature, which is expensive, ineffective, and harmful to the environment.<\/p>\n<p>Some studies suggested treating the contaminated soil with bacteria that can biodegrade the oil without the use of chemicals.<\/p>\n<p>Although using bacteria is cheaper and more efficient in cleaning up oil contamination, the main difficulty is detecting the exact location of the pollution. In the Evrona Nature Reserve, significant efforts were made to sample various areas to identify sites with the highest oil concentrations. This was a slow and tedious process.<\/p>\n<p>Two recent Israeli studies presented at the 47th Annual Conference on Science and the Environment examined new cost-effective approaches to detect soil pollution and speed up environmental rehabilitation.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1521\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1521\" style=\"width: 996px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-1521\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/\u05ea\u05e6\u05dc\u05d5\u05dd-\u05de\u05d0\u05e8\u05e7-\u05db\u05e5-\u05e8\u05e9\u05d5\u05ea-\u05d4\u05d8\u05d1\u05e2-\u05d5\u05d4\u05d2\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd-1024x576-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"996\" height=\"561\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/\u05ea\u05e6\u05dc\u05d5\u05dd-\u05de\u05d0\u05e8\u05e7-\u05db\u05e5-\u05e8\u05e9\u05d5\u05ea-\u05d4\u05d8\u05d1\u05e2-\u05d5\u05d4\u05d2\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd-1024x576-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/\u05ea\u05e6\u05dc\u05d5\u05dd-\u05de\u05d0\u05e8\u05e7-\u05db\u05e5-\u05e8\u05e9\u05d5\u05ea-\u05d4\u05d8\u05d1\u05e2-\u05d5\u05d4\u05d2\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd-1024x576-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/\u05ea\u05e6\u05dc\u05d5\u05dd-\u05de\u05d0\u05e8\u05e7-\u05db\u05e5-\u05e8\u05e9\u05d5\u05ea-\u05d4\u05d8\u05d1\u05e2-\u05d5\u05d4\u05d2\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd-1024x576.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 996px) 100vw, 996px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1521\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><small><em>The aftermath of the 2014 oil spill at the Ashalim stream. Photo by Mark Katz Nature and Parks Authority<\/em><\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"lead\"><strong>\u201cThe algorithm developed in our lab can use 288 different colors\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Both studies feature methods that would use remote sensing to find contaminated areas. Remote sensing is the process of obtaining information about an object without making any physical contact.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis technology has been around for decades, but only in recent years has there been significant progress in technology and availability. Google, for instance, has built a tool geared towards downloading, processing, and analyzing satellite imagery,\u201d explains Pelta.<\/p>\n<p>Acquiring information about the Earth\u2019s surface through remote sensing is made possible by the reflectivity of physical matter. For example, solar radiation hits different objects, such as vegetation, water, and soil. Some of this solar radiation is reflected by the object and can be absorbed into a remote sensor. Components within the sensor split the reflected radiation into specific wavelengths.<\/p>\n<p>Each object has a spectrum that represents its wavelength and its frequency \u2013 a kind of fingerprint that allows the sensor not only to distinguish between soil or vegetation but also to determine the type of soil and vegetation in question, without even having to see the object.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe cameras on our cell phones work in a similar manner,\u201d explains Prof. Shai Kendler, a researcher at the Israel Institute of Biological Research and guest professor at the Technion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery photo on our phones contains many pixels, each of which has a reflectance spectrum. The phone has three colors \u2013red, blue, and green \u2013all of which are on the visible spectrum and can be detected by the human eye,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n<p>The sensor in question, which is not yet available for commercial use, encompasses a much wider spectrum, enabling the detection of wavelengths that are not visible to the human eye, and uses different algorithms to decode the information that the sensor receives.<\/p>\n<p>By testing various material samples at Kendler\u2019s laboratory, scientists were able to develop an algorithm capable of quickly identifying the type of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ieeexplore.ieee.org\/abstract\/document\/8572748\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pollutant<\/a>&nbsp;according to its reflectance spectrum, which can subsequently be mapped to show the impacted area.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe algorithm developed in our lab can use 288 different colors, unlike the three that exist on phone cameras. When there are so many shades, it is easier to identify exactly the type of pollutant you\u2019re dealing with and separate it from the soil,\u201d says Kendler.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRocks and soil, for example, are objects which have a color that is strong and distinct,\u201d Kendler explains. \u201cIn contrast, pollutants are often shown as thin and permeable layers. Therefore, part of the reflected spectrum is that of the underlying soil, which makes it hard to separate the pollutant from the soil, let alone mapping the contaminated area.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The new algorithm can detect and specify the chemical properties of a color automatically and without prior knowledge. It can also tell whether a pollutant exists within each pixel.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1522\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1522\" style=\"width: 941px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-1522\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/nick-fewings-os5dhKMu89s-unsplash-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"941\" height=\"627\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/nick-fewings-os5dhKMu89s-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/nick-fewings-os5dhKMu89s-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/nick-fewings-os5dhKMu89s-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 941px) 100vw, 941px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1522\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><small><em>\u201cThe algorithm developed in our lab can use 288 different colors, unlike the three that exist on phone cameras. When there are so many shades, it is easier to identify exactly the type of pollutant you\u2019re dealing with and separate it from the soil,\u201d Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash<\/em><\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"lead\"><strong>Could detect anthrax<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The algorithm has other potential applications. One study in Kendler\u2019s lab, for example, demonstrates the algorithm\u2019s ability to identify anthrax inside&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0379073819301835\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">paper envelopes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While Kendler\u2019s lab is engaged in the development of a generic algorithm for remote sensing technology, Pelta\u2019s doctoral thesis explores the development of oil pollution detection capabilities in Israel through remote sensing.<\/p>\n<p>Pelta performed laboratory experiments with samples of different oil concentrations and examined their reflectance spectrum.<\/p>\n<p>Pelta elaborates on the capabilities of the new algorithm in comparison to past technologies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn an aerial photograph of the Evrona Nature Reserve, for example, we were not able to detect the oil spill, despite the high-quality sensor we used and although we obviously knew the oil was there. The main reason for this is that the footage was taken about two and a half years after the disaster, in an area with challenging terrain, as opposed to laboratory measurements under optimal conditions,\u201d explains Pelta.<\/p>\n<p>Because the oil was exposed to the surface for a period of time, it was difficult to detect its spectral fingerprint through the sensor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"lead\"><strong>Mapping rocks on other planets<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Kendler and Pelta emphasize that what makes their findings unique and important is the efficiency and applicability of the new remote sensing methods.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the time when the technology was first invented, it was relevant to large institutions that were able to invest huge sums of money in order to find pollutants,\u201d Pelta says.<\/p>\n<p>In NASA, for example, remote sensing and reflectivity spectra are used for mapping rocks on other planets. Part of the scientists\u2019 achievement is that the system requirements are relatively low, and so less professional bodies can use the algorithm.<\/p>\n<p>In the future, the scientists hope to develop a sensor, based on the new algorithm, that can be attached to drones or even satellites, thus enabling the mapping of various pollutants efficiently and on a much wider scale.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, the easiest way to reduce oil spills and other pollutions is to prevent them from happening in the first place by taking appropriate safety measures, monitoring, and enforcing environmental regulations.<\/p>\n<p>But in the event of a disaster, new technologies will allow for significantly better data-collection methods in soil sampling. As these technologies continue to evolve, mapping will become more widely available to government agencies and environmental organizations, which will also boost the efforts of protecting nature against the dangers of future oil spills.<\/p>\n<p><em>This ZAVIT article was also published in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.israel21c.org\/new-israeli-technology-combats-oil-pollution\/\">Israel21c<\/a>&nbsp;on 10\/21\/2019.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The oil spill that occurred during the early morning hours of December 4, 2014, at the Evrona Nature Reserve in &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":100,"featured_media":1524,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11,10],"tags":[],"acf":[],"post-meta-fields":{"_edit_lock":["1581669940:11"],"_edit_last":["11"],"_oembed_1c1652591725a1f10264746eea46133a":["<iframe title=\"Remote Sensing Technology in Israel\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/O_Dhv2GO1GE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>"],"_oembed_time_1c1652591725a1f10264746eea46133a":["1581669928"],"subtitle":["A remote sensor capable of producing high-resolution data on soil contaminants could be placed on drones or satellites to help deal with oil leaks"],"_subtitle":["field_59d3d36ea7fe1"],"_thumbnail_id":["1524"],"_oembed_c49313a066d3f819639737c7cfd3d104":["<iframe title=\"Remote Sensing Technology in Israel\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/O_Dhv2GO1GE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>"],"_oembed_time_c49313a066d3f819639737c7cfd3d104":["1581669931"]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1519"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/100"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1519"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1519\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1883,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1519\/revisions\/1883"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1524"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1519"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1519"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1519"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}