First Experiences with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Oil Spill Model

A research group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has completed the first phase of development of a computer-assisted model for analyzing complex decisions and policies regarding oil spill cleanup. The model is the product of an ongoing MIT Sea Grant project sponsored by a consortium of government and industry organizations. The model can be used, among other things, in “strategic” planning for the long-term oil spill response needs of a region, in assisting on-scene coordinators in responding to a specific spill (“tactical/operational” setting), in evaluating the environmental and economic damages of a spill versus the cost of cleanup, in simulation and training, and in the analysis of various policy and regulatory issues such as delays, use of dispersants, and liability and compensation. The model is described in detail, with a focus on its potential uses. Some illustrative applications in the New England region are presented and applications of the model for the solution of Petro-Canada's dispersant logistics problem are discussed briefly.