This new technical support document in the joint Ipieca-IOGP oil spill preparedness and response series has been developed to help operators navigate the steps involved in implementing and maintaining a surveillance programme during a response to an oil spill.
Intended to form the basis of a scalable surveillance strategy for use in a response situation, the guidance describes how a surveillance plan can be developed to support the management of a comprehensive surveillance programme through the collection of accurate and targeted information in a timely manner.
The guidance introduces six activity steps which are fundamental in developing and maintaining a surveillance plan that is aligned to the response objectives and priorities, anticipates the changing needs for response over time, and ensures that response activities are adapted appropriately to serve a variety of purposes, regardless of the size of the incident. The six steps guide the reader through how to:
- gather information requirements;
- identify and manage appropriate resources;
- develop tasking;
- handle the data inputs; and
- communicate the gathered information appropriately.
The guidance also includes a series of templates which are intended to form the basis of a surveillance plan; these can be completed at the time of an incident and can be modified and adapted depending on incident needs.
