A synthesis of decision models for analysis, assessment, and contingency planning for oil spill incidents

Oil spill incidents can have a devastating effect on the natural environment. The evidence is clear that a lack of attention to an integrative approach in response strategies has resulted in the poor performance of clean-up activities in many oil spill incidents. This paper critically presents and evaluates decision models related to the modelling, analysis, assessment and contingency planning for oil spill incidents. The models are presented according to the hierarchy that characterizes the decision-making process. The paper presents an integrated conceptual framework that synthesizes all the above models and shows the interdependencies among the different echelons of the decision-making process. The framework also identifies directions of modelling approaches for future research.