ASPECT
EPA’s Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology (ASPECT)
Based near Dallas, Texas, and able to deploy within one hour of notification, ASPECT is EPA’s only airborne real-time chemical and radiological detection, infrared and photographic imagery platform. ASPECT is available to assist local, national, and international agencies supporting hazardous substance response, radiological incidents, and situational awareness. ASPECT is available 24/7/365 and can begin collecting data at any site in the continental US within nine hours.
Description
ASPECT consists of a suite of sensors and software mounted in a single engine turboprop aircraft. This system can generate data in a variety of formats to produce scientifically valid products within five minutes of data collection. Primary sensors and features include:
- Infrared Line Scanner
- High Speed Infrared Spectrometer
- Gamma Ray Spectrometers
- Straw Neutron Detector
- Digital Aerial Mapping Camera
- Satellite Data/Communication System
- Data Delivery Using Google Earth, ESRI and other formats
To request ASPECT assistance, please call: EPA’s Emergency Operations Center at 202-564-3850.
ASPECT (Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology) Fact Sheet
ASPECT Flight Schedule (subject to change)
Ongoing: Comprehensive Atmospheric Monitoring Program
The comprehensive atmospheric monitoring program is a joint monitoring program between the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and ASPECT. The purpose of the program is to develop and demonstrate how infrared remote sensing techniques can be used to conduct atmospheric carbon dioxide monitoring. The program will also estimate possible carbon dioxide sources from city sized areas.
Past Flights
- Winter 2023: East Palestine, OH Train Derailment (East Palestine, OH)
- Spring 2022: Cobalt Magnet Radiological Exercise (Austin, TX)
- Spring 2022: Journey to Justice (Gulf Coast, LA/TX)
- Summer 2022: Hurricane Ida (Gulf Coast, LA)
- Winter 2022: Department of Energy Nuclear Incident Response Teams (NIRT) Radiological Calibration (Grand Junction, CO)
- Winter 2021: Winter Storm Uri (Houston, TX)
- Summer 2020: Hurricane Laura (Beaumont, TX)
- Summer 2020: Bio-Lab Fire (Westlake, LA)
- Summer 2020: Poly America Fire (Grand Prairie, TX)
- Spring 2019: KMCO TEG Release (Crosby, TX)
- Winter 2019: ITC Fire (Deer Park, TX)
- Summer 2018: Valley Feed Fire (Winnsboro, TX)
- Summer 2018: National Governors Association Conference (Santa Fe, NM)
- Spring 2018: Navajo Radiological Survey (Arizona)
- Spring 2018: Clean Solvents (Mansfield, TX)
- Winter 2018: Tri-chem (Cresson, TX)
- Summer 2017: Hurricane Harvey (Houston, TX)
- Summer 2017: Ammonia Release (Plano, TX)
- Winter 2016: Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl Game Pre-Deployment (Pasadena, CA)
- Fall 2016: Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (Albuquerque, NM)
- Fall 2016: Jackpile Mine Radiological Site Survey (Laguna, NM)
- Summer 2016: Convert Refinery Fire (Convert, LA)
- Summer 2016: Bloomfield Oil Fire (Nageezi, NM)
- Summer 2016: EPA Region 2 Radiological Surveys (Niagara, NY)
- Summer 2016: FEMA WINGS Radiological Exercise (New, Jersey)
- Summer 2016: Cascadia Rising Field Exercise (Seattle/Spokane, WA)
- Fall 2015: Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (Albuquerque, NM)
- Fall 2015: UCI Bike Race (Richmond, VA)
- Fall 2015: Gold King Mine (Silverton, CO)
- Summer 2015: FEMA WINGS Radiological Exercise
- Summer 2015: Tronox Radiological Assessment (Cove, AZ)
- Spring 2015: Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl Game Pre-Deployment (Pasadena, CA)
- Winter 2014: Tronox Radiological Assessment (Cove, AZ)
- Fall 2014: National Guard Field Exercise (Spokane, WA)
- Fall 2014: Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (Albuquerque, NM)
- Fall 2014: Hoxie Train Derailment (Hoxie, AR)
- Summer 2014: 64th CST WMD Exercise (Santa Fe, NM)
- Spring 2014: Grand Canyon Radiological Survey (Arizona)
- Spring 2014: Boston Marathon Pre-Deployment (Boston, MA)
- Spring 2014: Tournament of Roses Parade, Rose Bowl, and BCS National Championship Game (Pasadena, CA)
- Summer 2013: 64th CST CBRN Field Exercise (Santa Fe, NM)
- Summer 2013: 2013 Boy Scouts of America Jamboree (West Virginia)
- Spring 2013: West Fertilizer Explosion (West, TX)
- Spring 2013: Westlake Landfill and Coldwater Creek Radiological Survey (Westlake, LA)
- Spring 2013: 2013 NFL Super Bowl (New Orleans, LA)
- Winter 2013: 2013 Inauguration Pre-Deployment (Washington, D.C.)
- Winter 2013: 2013 Chemical Background Survey of the National Capitol Region (DC, VA, MD)
Reports
Joint US EPA ASPECT and 64th CST Chemical and Radiological Field Exercise Report
ASPECT was featured in the Winter 2015 edition of Evergreen Magazine.