Pipeline monitoring and surveillance using Geospatial Approach

Pipeline Monitoring System and Surveillance

Pipeline equipped with pumps, valves, and other devices to transfer liquids, gases, and slurries from one place to another. Pipeline monitoring systems and surveillance provide a technique to monitor the condition of a pipeline such as evaluation of corrosion, preservation of the environment, leakage detection, etc.

 

Airborne Pipeline monitoring system

Airborne Lidar system can capture high resolution long linear ground features such as pipelines and can identify any security issue using 3D data. UAV-based airborne system mounted with the sensor can also be used to monitor the condition of pipelines such as watered sites with a high danger of corrosion, thermal traces on pipelines. 

 

 

 

Satellite-based Pipeline monitoring system

In the satellite-based monitoring system, High-resolution satellite imagery (30 cm), ultra-high-resolution imagery (15 cm HD) used to compile environmental maps (geological and technical features) to determine the effects and risk in construction, leakage, and maintenance of pipelines on environmental components such as water bodies, plants, soil, etc. and pollution. The map which shows the possible ways of oil accumulation in case of an oil spill can be also be compiled. Remote sensing uses these compiled maps to monitor the condition of the pipeline.

 

 

Oil spill detection

Oil spill detection based on SAR imagery includes detection and feature extraction of all dark areas. Features are used as inputs for the classification of oil spills or look-like areas and can distinguish oil spills from other dark spots. UV and Infrared sensors can be mounted on aircraft for oil spill surveillance, as the oil absorbs solar radiation and emit thermal energy. SAR imagery with aircraft surveillance is the most cost-effective method to monitor pipelines and leakage detection.

 

 

Hydrocarbon leak detection

UAV mounted with IR Sensors can be used to detect emissions from gas leakage. Pipeline leakages can be detected by the difference in temperature, vegetation, or water color by IR images. 

Impact assessment of leakage on Environment

Pipeline leakage or oil spill affects the environment, wildlife, human health, etc. Impact assessment of leakage can be done using Remote sensing techniques. Effect of oil spill on vegetation, soil can be analyzed by using vegetation and soil indices respectively. Spectral bands used in vegetation indices sensitive to changes in the environment such as the red band is sensitive to change in chlorophyll content in the visible spectrum.

 

 

Change detection

Time-series image analysis can be done using Multispectral resolution imagery with SAR imagery data and Remote sensing change detection methods to identify potentially unauthorized intrusion environmental risk and security issues. After change detection, before and after changes can be identified and analyzed.

Advantages of Remote sensing-based monitoring system

• It helps in improving utilization and performance.
• It provides safety and helps in the identification of potentially hazardous conditions.
• The detection rate of pipeline security problems such as leakage is higher.
• Change detection and damage analysis of pipelines can be done rapidly and accurately.
• Highly Reliable

 

Solutions as per given by Satpalda Geospatial services

• High-resolution imagery (30cm) and ultra-high-resolution imagery (15 cm HD) used for aboveground pipeline monitoring.
• Provides ortho-photos by processing UAV imagery.
• The impact of oil spills on the environment and vegetation can be detected by estimating vegetation and soil indices of satellite imagery. 
• Provide Topographic maps used in determining the scope and conditions for planning pipeline construction.
• Evaluation and detection of corrosion can be done using UAV imagery
• Land use Land cover maps can be used to detect urban areas, forests, agricultural areas which helps in acquiring the area for pipeline construction. It can be used to determine the condition of land around the pipeline as it can affect floods, Pipeline leakage, and other factors.
• GIS mapping can be done for aboveground pipelines. In the case of underground pipelines, identification of pipeline areas and extracting features of pipelines can be done by taking data from the clients.
• Provides high-resolution satellite imagery to detect and map water leakages in pipelines.
• High-resolution imagery can be used in pipeline right of way encroachment monitoring helps to prevent from the intrusion of third-party.