Remote Sensing and GIS Applications for Pipeline Security Assessment

William E. Roper and Subijoy Dutta

Abstract

A variety of advanced technologies are available to enhance planning, design,

management, operation, and maintenance of pipeline system. Aerial and satellite remote
sensing integrated with GIS represents one area of rapid development that can be
leveraged to assist pipeline risk assessment to assure the safety of pipeline facilities.
Industrial and scientific advances in airborne and satellite remote sensing systems and
data processing techniques are opening new technological opportunities to develop an
increased capability to accomplish the pipeline mapping and safety needs of the industry.
These technologies when combined with GIS have significant and unique potential for
application to a number of cross cutting system security issues. This paper addresses
some of the applications of these technologies to pipeline security assessment.

Key Words: Remote sensing, satellite imagery, pipeline monitoring, LIDAR, radar,
spectral imagery, thermal infrared, environmental risk assessment, waste management,
digital elevation models, GIS and GPS

1. Introduction

Advances in geospatial sensors, data analysis methods and communication technology

present new opportunities for users to increase productivity, reduce costs, facilitate
innovation and create virtual collaborative environments for addressing the challenges of
security improvement and risk reduction. Sensor developments include a new generation
of high-resolution commercial satellites that will provide unique levels of accuracy in
spatial, spectral and temporal attributes. An example is Digital Globe’s commercial
Quick Bird satellite with a spatial resolution of sixty-one centimeters. An example of an
image from this system is the open pit mining and pipeline facility in Thailand (Digital
Globe 2003) shown is figure 1. This image was taken by Quick Bird from 450 miles in
space and provides a degree of detail not available previously to the civil community
from space based monitoring of infrastructure on the ground.

In addition to the high resolution panchromatic imagery illustrated in figure 1, there are a
number of other commercial imagery products that are potentially applicable to pipeline
transportation and power industry infrastructure. They include air borne and satellite
radar, LIDAR, multi-spectral, and hyper-spectral sensors. Part of the challenge is
matching the best sensor to the specific transportation related application. Visualization
and advanced data analysis methods are also important capabilities. Automated change
detection within a defined sector is one example of analysis capability that will assist in
detection of unauthorized intrusion events. A specific application of these techniques to
power distribution security is the detection of unauthorized intrusion onto pipeline right
of ways. Pipelines often cover thousands of miles and are located in remote areas that are

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difficult and expensive to monitor. In one case study satellite imagery and target
identification analysis is used to detect unauthorized intrusion onto a pipeline right-of-
way in a remote area of Canada.

There are also challenges that may slow or impede the application of geospatial
technologies to the electric utility sector. These include the need for improved methods
and authorities for better data sharing across institutional boundaries. The developers and
user communities need to communicate better and overcome some significant
disciplinary differences. There are also challenging technical issues in the multi-sensor
data fusion area to be overcome. Finally, there is a need for a focused interdisciplinary
effort to match geospatial capabilities with specific user requirements.

2. Pipeline Industry and Safety Issues

The pipeline network in the United States consists of approximately 1.9 million miles.
Part of this network is made up of 302,000 miles of natural gas transmission pipelines
operated by 1,220 operators and 155,000 miles of hazardous liquid transmission pipelines
operated by 220 operators. In addition to transmission pipelines, there are 94 liquefied
natural gas facilities operating in the United States. This vast network's was initially
developed in the early 1900's and has continued to expand each year to meet the growing
energy needs and product requirements of the United States (US DOT, 2003). Growing
worldwide demand for gas-fired electric power generation and to a lesser extent by
growing industrial, commercial and residential demand is driving demand for gas.
Natural gas projects continue to dominate construction and engineering work.

Estimated miles of natural gas, crude oil and refined products pipelines underway or
planned for construction outside the U.S. and Canada total 122,276 km., new
construction linear distance is 17,564 km, which is above last year's figure of 15,214 km
due to ongoing projects all over the world (A Staff Report, 2001). In addition, natural gas
distribution pipeline systems are being built, expanded, replaced, and planned worldwide.
Much of the new construction is in the Middle East and South East Asia. In a number of
cases there have been environmental pollution problems associated with leaks and
damage to pipelines in this area of the world.

Safe pipeline transportation of energy resources is a major concern for the public and the
pipeline industry. The pipeline Safety Act of 1992 requires that Research and Special
Programs Administration (RSPA) adopt rules requiring pipeline operators to identify
facilities located in unusually sensitive areas and high-density population areas, to
maintain maps and records detailing that information, and to provide those maps to
federal and state officials upon request. The Department of Transportation's Office of
Pipeline Safety (OPS) currently does not have access to a reasonably accurate and
national depiction of natural gas and hazardous liquid transmission pipelines and
liquefied natural gas facilities operating in the United States. To ensure the safe, reliable,
and environmentally sound operation of the pipeline transportation systems, OPS is
working with state agencies and the pipeline industry to create a National pipeline
Mapping System (NPMS, 2003). This system is a full-featured geographic information

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system database that will contain the locations and selected attributes of natural gas
transmission lines, hazardous liquid lines, and liquefied natural gas facilities operating in
onshore and offshore territories of the United States (NPMS, 2003).

The most widely used methods for pipelines monitoring include foot patrols along the
pipeline routes and aerial surveillance using small planes or helicopters. These patrols
perform facility inspections, check for construction activity in the vicinity of the pipeline,
and maintain the pipelines' right-of-way. Heavily congested areas are inspected and
patrolled more frequently. In addition, the pipelines undergo periodic maintenance
inspections, including leak surveys, and safety device inspections. So the developments
and events that could place high-pressure pipelines, the surroundings of pipelines or
security of supplies at risk could be prevented. In a continuing effort to remove the
guesswork from pipeline operations and reduce costs, many new techniques have been
employed to develop software and hardware systems that analyze pipeline risks and
maintenance needs in a scientific fashion.

Research and application efforts are developing cost-effective ways to enhance pipeline
integrity, inspection, and monitoring, as well as new tools and techniques for managing
the risks involved in pipeline operations (Willke, 1996). Some of these efforts have
investigated the use of satellite-based technology for pipeline protection. This work has
identified the potential for satellite imagery to detect significant slope motion and ground
movements that could threaten nearby pipelines with a less expensive means (Hartdraft,
1998). Some specialized software systems such as PIMOS can model five types of
pipeline defects: external corrosion, internal corrosion, stress corrosion cracking,
material/ manufacturing defects, and mechanical damage (Leewis, 1998). Other work by
Zirnig et al. (2001) has studied natural gas transmission pipeline monitoring using high-
resolution satellite imagery

Pipelines and their associated facilities pose potential environmental pollution risks that
can also be monitored by a variety of remote sensing systems. Pipelines are required to
meet all EPA hazardous waste management standards. Some pipeline wastes are
excluded from the hazardous waste standards but others are not. Some large volume, or
"special wastes", are believed to be lower in toxicity than other wastes regulated as
hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
Subsequently, Congress exempted these wastes from the RCRA Subtitle C hazardous
waste regulations pending a study and regulatory determination by EPA. In 1988, EPA
issued a regulatory determination which stated that control of exploration and production
(E & P) wastes under RCRA Subtitle C regulations are not warranted. Hence E & P
wastes have remained exempt from Subtitle C regulations (IOCC, 1990). However, the
RCRA Subtitle C exemptions did not preclude these wastes from control under State
regulations, RCRA subtitle D regulations, or other federal regulations. Although, these
wastes are exempt from the requirements of hazardous wastes, this exemption does not
mean that these wastes could not present a hazard to human health and the environment if
they are ill managed. Management of these wastes continues to be a requirement of the
pipeline industry (U.S. EPA, 1993, U.S. EPA 1988).

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Hazardous wastes related to the transport process of oil and gas in pipelines is fully
covered by EPA regulations for the control of hazardous material. Examples of these
wastes include: 1) waste in transportation pipeline related pits, 2) waste compressor oil,
filters, and blowdowns, 3) waste solvents, 4) Vacuum truck and drum rinsate from trucks
transporting or containing non-exempt waste, 5) used hydraulic fluids, and 6) used
equipment lubrication oils (Dutta and Alam, 1995).

The remote sensing methodologies described in this paper could support international
environmental improvements in many countries. This includes specifically the use of
remote sensing technologies to assist in the ongoing efforts of the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to provide an effective means of waste and environmental
hazards management during an emergency response in various cities in Southeast Asia.
Figure 2 is an illustration of the transportation system and land use in the area just south
of Jakarta, Indonesia. The ten member countries, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia,
Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet
Nam of ASEAN have a combined population of over 500 million and include some of the
fastest growing metropolitan areas in the world. The recent devastation in many of these
countries caused by the Tsunami on December 26 2004 and at the end of January, 2005
has totally demolished many facilities supporting clean land initiative and rendered a
major blow to the growing infrastructure for the clean land initiative in these countries.

The major partners involved in this effort are still providing assistance to some of the
Tsunami impacted areas by exploring development of a robust and sustainable water
supply system in the highly vulnerable coastal areas. The study authors plan to make
some effort to use the remote sensing methodologies for waste and environmental
hazards management in a project involving a Thematic Workshop on Clean Land for the
ASEAN cities. The primary goals and objectives of the proposed project include a move
towards sustainable production and consumption patterns and to manage an effective
disposal of solid waste, industrial waste and toxic wastes to safeguard public health. A
better understanding of pipeline environmental and health risk conditions following
disasters and/or spill situations are an important component of response planning. The
remote sensing systems described in this paper provide guidance for selection of the best
approach for different impact scenarios.

3. LIDAR Systems

Airborne LIDAR is an aircraft-mounted laser system designed to measure the 3-D

coordinates of Earth's surface. It has been proven to be an effective technology for
acquiring terrain surface data with high accuracy. The LIDAR may provide a
supplemental technology to pipeline risk management to assure safety in design,
construction, testing, operation, maintenance, and emergency response of pipeline
facilities. It provides rapid 3-D data collection of long, linear objects such as pipeline
corridors, roads, railway tracks, waterways, coastal zone or power lines (Fowler, 2000). It
is easier to obtain many terrain parameters (e.g., slope) and to generate a 3D fly-through
using these data. Since IDAR systems have a narrower swath width in comparison to
many optical sensors, they are well suited for capturing high resolution long linear

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ground features in 3D, such as pipelines.

3.1 Terrain Analysis

When the LIDAR is combined with a digital photograph, the client has the added value of
an image geo-referenced to the laser data set. By combining traditional photogrammetric
mapping services with advanced data collection and processing techniques, the new
technology provides pipeline monitors with better information for solving problems and
making decisions. LIDAR data also could facilitate the planning of new lines and
deciding safe routes for placement of a pipeline by considering the terrain parameters
such as slope.

LIDAR-topographic-mapping systems have considerable promise for producing high-

resolution digital elevation models (DEMs). Satellite communications and GPS
navigation systems are critical parts of LIDAR mapping systems. In one study the
Topographic Engineering Center (TEC) acquired multiple LIDAR-topographic-mapping
data for the purpose of producing high-resolution DEMs. These were evaluated and the
results used to help develop criteria for future applications for floodplain mapping
(Roper, June 1999).

However, processing of raw LIDAR data into useful and reliable DEMs is not yet mature.
Unless exceptional effort is made to produce accurate LIDAR calibration, significant
merging artifacts, and their associated errors, can occur. Another example is with
merging artifacts that can presently be found in Houston Advanced Research Center
(HARC) data.

Merging artifacts in LIDAR data are generally due to miss-calibration of the LIDAR
sensor or residual GPS errors. Both kinds of errors can be described by mathematical
models and corrected. Because data within overlap regions should match, the parameters
of the mathematical models can be calculated. Subsequently, the data can be adjusted so
that the errors are minimized. Least-squares estimation techniques have proven to be
efficient, accurate, and reliable for this purpose. The overall process is a least squares
model-based merging.

Airborne LIDAR systems are capable of precise platform-to-ground ranging that produce
decimeter-level height accuracy and meter-level post spacing topographic information of
the surface. Some systems are capable of return pulse waveform digitization, which
provide precise ground surface and vegetation height and volume measurements. Laser
altimeter measurements are acquired along profiles or swaths up to a few hundred meters
wide using small aircraft (Schnick, 2001). These swaths could replace channel and
pipeline right of way cross-sections (currently obtained via costly ground-based surveys)
required by flood backwater models, which are used to predict floodplain extent.

A portion of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) LIDAR data collection effort was over
the levee and pipeline systems of the Sacramento River valley near Sacramento,
California. A segment of this DEM data set in the Meling Orange Grove area of

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California (Jorgensen, 1998) is shown in Figure 3. The three dimensional data bases that
can be created from LIDAR sensor data can be viewed from different orientations and in
a virtual fly-thru mode. The fly-thru capability allows the viewer to experience the terrain
in a way that provides unique information about the terrain and a better understanding of
the conditions on the ground.

3.2 Submerged Infrastructure Assessment

Some parts of the pipeline systems are constructed underwater at critical crossings and
low-lying areas. This presents a new challenge for LIDAR systems that has lead to the
development of an advanced LIDAR system for this application. The Scanning
Hydrographic Operational Airborne LIDAR System (SHOALS) system provides the
capability for high spatial density utilizing state-of-the-art LIDAR technology consisting
of a scanning laser transmitter/receiver that produces 200 soundings per second. The
SHOALS System operates from a helicopter (or fixed wing aircraft) and includes a
separate ground based data processing system. It is a highly mobile system capable of
rapidly covering large areas. This unique capability produces a more comprehensive
measurement of inlets, pipeline rights of way and the adjacent near shore bathymetry.
Output from SHOALS is an accurate X, Y and Z (position/depth) from each laser
(Lillycrop, Parson, etal, 1994) sounding that is easily formatted for most data analysis
software tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), volumetric computations,
or other contouring and mapping systems.

The SHOALS hydrographic survey system was developed for the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) through a cost-shared project with the Canadian Department of
Science, Industry, and Technology. Built by Optech, Inc., of Toronto, SHOALS consists
of an airborne laser transmitter/receiver capable of measuring 200 soundings per second.
The system operates from a Bell 212 helicopter, flying at an altitude of 200 – 1,000 m
with a ground speed of 0 to 100 knots. The Bell 212 was provided by the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Aircraft Operations Center, through
a Memorandum of Agreement. The SHOALS system also includes a ground-based data
processing system for calculating accurate horizontal position and water depth. Data
processing utilizes a state-of-the-art depth extraction algorithm developed by the NOAA
National Ocean Service. The SHOALS system completed field tests in February 1994.
John E. Chance and Associates operate and maintain the SHOALS system, providing
survey services nationwide (Roper, 1996).

The SHOALS System uses LIDAR technology with the reflective and transmissive
properties of water and the seafloor to gather high-density survey data. When a light
beam hits a column of water, part of the energy is reflected off the surface and the rest,
unless absorbed by particles in the water, is transmitted through the column. Using this
principal, SHOALS fires a laser into the water, where a significant amount of energy
from the infrared beam is reflected off the surface and detected by receivers in the
helicopter. The blue-green laser penetrates the surface and reflects off the sea floor. A
computer calculates the depth from the time interval between the two reflected energy
readings (Lillycrop, Parson, etal, 1994).

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As the beam travels through the water column and reflects off the ocean floor, scattering,
absorption, and refraction all combine to limit the strength of the bottom, return and,
therefore, the system’s maximum detectable depth. This depth is a function of water
clarity; generally about three times the Secchi depth. A typical plot of these energy
readings, or waveform as illustrated in Figure 4. This graph shows the reflection off the
water surface—the left most peak—to be a very strong return, while the bottom return, or
right most peak appears much weaker.

4. Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing

Temperature differences between the pipeline and the environment, whether the lines are
buried or above ground is another detection opportunity. The principle of thermal
infrared imagery is that the detected objects produce maximum temperature difference
against the background. In addition the weather condition at that time and the possible
interference factors on the ground must be taken into consideration.

The thermal conduction caused by underground pipes usually forms temperature

anomalies on the ground that often appeared as a difference in temperature. Imaging
time: Imaging at night is the presupposition for the thermal target detection with the
surface as background, because the ground temperature-increasing phenomenon caused
by sun radiation is removed. Test data have shown that for high latitude area, the ground
surface temperature tends to be stable at 2000 hours at night to 0600 hours the next
morning at this season. The maximum difference in temperature usually appears just
before dawn (Jensen, 2000).

The mathematical expression for object resolution is:

d = β.H (2)

Where:

β = The transient view angle for scanning (2.5m rad.)

d = Object resolution (m)

H = imaging flight relative altitude (m)

It is shown in the expression (2) that the object resolution is inversely proportional to the
flight altitude, i.e. the lower flight altitude, the higher. Object resolution. Field test data
have shown that the temperature anomaly width appeared on the ground for the
petroleum pipe was usually 1-1.5m at night. Considering the safety of aircraft flying at
night, pilots will often use 600m as their imaging flight altitude. The ground resolution
(d) is in the range of 1.5m. So, the pipe anomalies easily detected.

Typical instrumentation is a DS-1230 quantitative double-channel infrared scanner with

two blackbodies as reference source to control the upper and lower limitation of the
received temperature signal. According to the ground test data and the signal in the flight,
usual set limits would be BB2=-2°C (the upper limit temperature), BB1=-1.5°C (the
lower limit temperature) for imaging. In this way, the radiant temperature from different

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objects on the ground was in the range. The upper limit of the normal temperature range
is a little higher, in order to identify the pipe anomalies against the relatively dark
background of the images.

Recent tests have successfully proven that the airborne thermal infrared remote is a new
and efficient technology for petroleum pipe detection, and can be used in production.
The selection of imaging season, imaging time, flight altitude and the normal temperature
range for the thermal infrared remote sensing investigation are reasonable and the
effectiveness of test were good. The advantage of airborne thermal infrared remote
sensing for petroleum pipe detection is: good visualization, easily positioned and
convenience for comparison and because it is not limited by access its cost is lower than
the other ground geophysical methods.

5. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IFSAR)

The state of the art in exploiting interferometry synthetic aperture radar (IFSAR) for
terrain information is advancing, and provides significant potential for use in floodplain
mapping, pipeline right of way evaluation and emergency support operations, as well as
other situations. Unlike conventional SAR imagery, IFSAR data permits the generation
of rectified synthetic aperture (SAR) images co-registered with an accurate terrain
elevation file (Jorgensen, 1998). This imagery can have an absolute geographic accuracy
of 3 meters RMS or less. The rapidity with which IFSAR data can be collected and
processed over wide areas, and the all-weather, day-night capability offers significant
potential for providing direct support to crisis and security situations as well as enhancing
the performance of spectrally based assistance (Roper, 1998). In addition, IFSAR terrain
elevations can be employed to rectify Hyperspectral and other imagery, allowing for the
registration of radar and Hyperspectral imagery in the ground plane thus providing an
improved, rapid digital elevation model (DEM) product.

The Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar for Elevations (IFSARE) was a joint
industry-government program between TEC, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, JPL and the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM).
This research effort resulted in the fabrication of an interferometric radar system
integrated with a GPS inertial navigation system which was mounted on a Learjet 36A.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration joined with the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory in California to develop the processing software and the ground-processing
environment. This software and ground processing capability has now been transitioned
to Intermap Technologies Company and is available for commercial applications (Roper,
1998).

A number of universities and government laboratories have been actively involved with
the development of a capability to create maps from IFSAR with a minimum of human
intervention. Automated algorithms operate on the IFSAR data files to extract land use
classification, DEM generation, and bald earth estimations. Hydrology, elevated
structures, power lines, and road network data layers can also be automatically extracted.
The effort continues to enhance these automated algorithms to assess floodplain soil

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roughness and extend infrastructure identification capabilities (Remote Sensing Users’
Guide, 1997).

Three files are generated from the IFSAR instrument; a magnitude file, correlation file,
and an elevation file. The magnitude file is a backscatter image that provides information
on the shape of features, as well as terrain texture. The correlation image provides
information on surface or volume backscatter. The elevation data, or DEM, provide
information on terrain elevation and height of features (Jorgensen, 1998). A sample
DEM of the San Joaquin Valley is shown in Figure 5.

6. Unmanned Airborne Vehicles

Unmanned airborne vehicles (UAVs) are an immerging category of airborne sensors that
provide good resolution imagery at a lower cost than large scale manned airborne
systems. Some of the UAVs, particularly military systems, have long range in-flight
capabilities. Most of the small UAV systems, however, have limited range and flight
time capability. For applications to pipeline monitoring larger UAV systems would
probably best meet system wide coverage requirements. For critical segments of a
pipeline system that is of more limited geographic area the small UAVs could be very
effective. A number of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) presently exist, both
domestically and internationally. Their payload weight carrying capability, their
accommodations (volume, environment), their mission profile (altitude, range, duration)
and their command, control and data acquisition capabilities vary significantly. Routine
civil access to these various UAV assets is in an embryonic state and is only just now
emerging.

A buildup of domestic UAV configurations, promoted by the Department of Defense

(DOD) occurred in the late 1980s and well into the 90s. This occurred as the DOD sought
UAVs to satisfy their mission unique surveillance requirements in either a Close Range,
Short Range or Endurance category of vehicle. Close Range was defined to be within 50
kilometers, Short Range was defined as within 200 kilometers and Endurance as anything
beyond. With the advent of newer technology and with the demonstrated performance of
the UAVs provided to the DOD by industry, the Close and Short Range categories have
since been combined, and a later separate Shipboard category has also been incorporated
with them. The current classes or combination of these type vehicles are called the
Tactical UAV, followed by the Endurance category.

For the potential civilian user of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, the following categories are
often used: LOCAL, REGIONAL, and ENDURANCE. Within these three categories of
vehicles (LOCAL, REGIONAL, and ENDURANCE), approximately twenty-two
companies domestically within the U.S. are or have been involved, and represent
approximately forty-five different UAV configurations. The appearance of these UAVs
and their known performance capabilities and payload accommodations vary
considerably. They range in size from hand-held to runway-operated behemoths, whose
payload weight capabilities range from a few pounds to 2000 pounds

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 • Silent flight using fuel cells to supplant internal combustion engines in some
New capabilities projected for UAVs over the next 25 years include:

• 60 percent gains in endurance due to increasingly efficient turbine engines.

systems.

• Rotorcraft capable of high speeds (400+ kts) or long endurance (24+ hrs) while

• Endurance UAVs serving as GPS pseudo-satellites and airborne communications

retaining the ability to hover.

nodes to provide theater and tactical users with better connectivity, clearer

• Faster cruise missile targeting due to more precise terrain mapping by high
reception, and reduced vulnerability to jamming.

• Self-repairing, damage compensating, more survivable UAVs.

altitude UAVs.

• Significantly speedier information availability through onboard real-time

processing, higher data rates, and covert transmission.

UAVs will likely play a major role in the increasingly complex world of security and
homeland defense that will evolve in the 21st century. There will be micro air vehicles as
well as behemoths. UAVs will stay airborne for weeks or months and longer, fly at
hypersonic speeds, sense data in revolutionary ways, and communicate their data at
unprecedented rates. Challenges, such as providing an adequate command, control and
communication infrastructure to capitalize on unmanned as well as manned operations,
remain to be overcome. However, the decisions made now will lay the foundation for
how far and how fast these advances are implemented. Only our imagination will limit
the potential of UAVs in the 21st century.

7. Integrated Satellite Based Detection System for Pipeline Monitoring

One of the largest and fastest growing markets for high-resolution satellite imagery in
digital mapping is the utility industry. Utility companies and semi government bodies are
turning to high-resolution satellite imagery to identify optimum facility and infrastructure
locations. Using highly accurate, digital, ortho-rectified images, utility companies have a
valuable information resource for planning, implementing and maintaining facilities and
infrastructure, supporting disaster management efforts (Lindsay, 2001). High-resolution
satellite imagery can aid utilities in monitoring electric and gas transmission corridors
and rights-of-way; accurate and economical corridor analysis for power and gas
pipelines; monitoring vegetation intrusion on transmission and distribution lines; and
mapping for cable placement.

The integration of high-resolution imagery with geographic information systems to allow

accurate geo-positioning of pipeline and power line vector information on to the local
land use and topography representation becomes a very useful planning and decision
support tool. The pipeline location can be placed as a vector file over a one-meter spatial
resolution satellite image and colored red. Sensitive environmental areas are then
identified as green through a land classification analysis on the GIS product. . The
location of roads, agricultural areas and structures are also clearly distinguishable due to
the high spatial resolution of the image.

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Unauthorized intrusion by individuals onto power line or pipeline rights of way and the
conduct of damaging activities to the pipeline infrastructure is a concern that has grown
particularly in resent times. In North America there are thousands of miles of pipelines
that are located in remote rural and wilderness areas. Monitoring of these vast networks
on even an intermittent basis is difficult and costly. The most common monitoring
method is to use small aircraft to fly over the rights of way on a monthly or less frequent
basis and conduct a quick visual inspection. These methods provide a very limited
monitoring effectiveness and even less security protection.

With the recent availability of high-resolution commercial satellite imagery, advanced

radar system, and target detection algorithms significantly improved monitoring of power
distribution networks are now possible. These imagery collects were sequenced in time
and change detection analysis was conducted to identify potential security and
encroachment events. In this example additional one-meter spatial resolution imagery
was collected over the target area. In figure 6 the three different imagery products are
shown as overlays in the area of highest interest.

An example of this kind of imagery coverage and data analysis system for a pipeline
network in is shown in figure 7. In this application multi-spectral four-meter spatial
resolution imagery was collected over larger areas of the pipeline system. In addition
synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery was collected over the same area, which provides
all weather, day and night coverage that is not possible with optical sensors. Multiple
satellite systems can be tasked to image entire pipeline distribution networks on a daily
basis. Time sequenced image analysis is then conducted using computerized change
detection analysis to identify potential unauthorized encroachment, environmental risks
and security problems. As shown in step four of figure 7, before and after changes in
imagery are identified and analyzed. Detected target information is reviewed and geo-
referenced to map locations. Additional higher resolution imagery maybe collected over
the geo-referenced locations if needed to determine if the situation calls for a notice, alert
or alarm category of response. If determined necessary field personnel would be notified
and dispatched to the predetermined location.

8. Effectiveness of Satellite Based Pipeline Monitoring System

Conventional monitoring of the massive pipeline systems in Canada is most commonly

done on a sporadic schedule by used on visual observation from aircraft flying the lines.
Typical flight observation coverage is in the order of once every one to two months for
most of the pipeline miles. Detection of unauthorized intrusion and security risk events
with current practice is low due to a number of limitations that are inherent with this
approach to monitoring. These limitations include; infrequent coverage, human error in
detection, limited data analysis capability, high mobilization costs and limited trend
analysis.

In an effort to evaluate alternatives to airborne remote sensing of the pipelines a study

was conducted to compare this mode of data collection with satellite based remote

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sensing. A summary comparison of the results is given in table 1. Based on satellite
coverage schedules three imagery collection frequencies were used. These included
collection frequencies of once per week, twice per week and once per day. For each
category the use of satellite based remote sensing was able to detect pipeline security
problems 30 % to 100% better than aircraft based remote sensing. The most significant
improvement was with once per week imagery collection where airborne systems had a
20% detection rate compared to a 32% to 55% detection rate for satellite systems. The
highest rate of detection (93%) was also achieved with satellite systems with once per
day imagery collection. For airborne systems the best detection rate of 88% was
achieved using a twice per day imagery collection rate.

9. Summary

Advances in Information systems, satellites imaging systems and improved software

technologies have led to opportunities for a new level of information products from
remote sensed data. The integration of these new products into existing response systems
can provide a wide range of analysis tools and information products that were not
possible before. For example, with the higher resolution imagery and change detection
analysis pipeline situational awareness and damage assessment can be conducted rapidly
and accurately. Power utility infrastructure and system wide evaluations over a broad
area could also be addressed using remote sensing data sources. All of these information
products can be useful in the response, recovery, and rehabilitation phases of
infrastructure management preparedness.

The strength of any paradigm shift is realized if new questions can be answered along
with traditional ones. Using remote sensing technologies combined with information
sharing will address many, if not most, traditional safety, hazards, and disaster issues
facing pipeline and infrastructure managers, as well as provide for those raised by
deliberate acts of aggression. Despite technological advance, disaster risk continues to
grow. Infrastructure emergency managers and others continue to be called on to make
decisions during emergency events, as well as in the pre-and-post disaster phases, with
incomplete information. In order to make optimal decisions to reduce the loss of life and
property, stakeholders uniformly must be able to obtain the needed information in a
format that is appropriate for their capabilities. There is also the need for parties at great
distances from each other to be able to share information in a seamless fashion. The
shared information needs to be interactive with local data allowing it to be used in
creating new integrated products tailored to the situation.

The remote sensing systems presented have unique capabilities for the applications they
were initially designed for; As a result, each system may fill a different need for the
pipeline system manager. For underwater detection, and characterization of changes the
SHOALS system is a good choice. For small area, high-resolution terrain features and
changes, the LIDAR system works well. For rapid, wide area, elevation terrain
characterization, IFSAR is a good choice. In each case, the capabilities represented
provide new tools to the managers and security personnel for better response, recovery,
and preventative planning.

12
 APPENDIX 1
List of tables and figures

Table 1: Comparison of Aerial and Satellite monitoring systems for pipeline

security applications

Figure 1: Digital Globe satellite image of Mining and pipeline system operation in
Thailand

Figure 2: Satellite image of major transportation arteries and land use in the area
south of Karachi, Indonesia in May 2005

Figure 3: DEM generated from LIDAR data of irrigation and pipeline in Southern
California

Figure 4: Signal response characteristics of the SHOALS system

Figure 5: IFSAR generated DEM of the San Joaquin Valley showing drainage

topography and crop height information

Figure 6: Multi-Sensor data fusion example for pipeline monitoring

Figure 7: Satellite Imagery based decision support system for pipeline monitoring

13
 Frequency of Probability of Detection (%) Probability of Detection (%)
Imagery With Aerial Sensor With Satellite Sensor
Collection Systems Systems

Once per year 0.4%

Once per 6 months 1.0%

Once per 3 months 2.0%

Once per month 5.0%

Once per week 20.0% 32% to 55%

Twice per week 40.0% 50% to 70%

Once per day 70.0% 78% to 93%

Twice per day 88.0%

Table 1: Comparison of Aerial and Satellite monitoring systems for pipeline security
applications

14
Figure 1: Digital Globe satellite image of Mining and pipeline system operation in
Thailand

15
Figure 2: Space Imaging Inc. satellite image of major transportation arteries and land use
in the area south of Jakarta, Indonesia in May 2005

16
Figure 3: DEM generated from LIDAR data of orange grove, irrigation channel and
pipeline in Southern California

17
Figure 4: Signal response characteristics of the SHOALS system

18
Figure 5: IFSAR generated DEM of the San Joaquin Valley showing drainage
topography and crop height information

19
Figure 6: Multi-Sensor data fusion example for pipeline monitoring

20
 Pipeline Monitoring System

Encroachment Event

Field personnel are notified

Alert
Satellite Monitoring Notice Alarm

Time Sequence
Acquisitions
Satellite detected
encroachment event
Geo-referenced
encroachment event

Computerized change
detection analysis

Figure 7: Satellite Imagery based decision support system for pipeline monitoring

21
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23
Author Information

William E. Roper, PhD., P.E.

Professor, School of Computational Sciences
4400 University Drive, mail stop 5C3
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Phone: 703 993 1648
Fax: 703 993 1521
Email: [email protected]

Subijoy Dutta, P.E.

Technical Director,
S&M Engineering Services
1496 Harwell Ave.
Crofton, MD USA 21114-2108
Ph: 410-721-7706
Fax: 410-721-6265
Email: [email protected]

24