Drone-Based Soil Covering Thickness Monitoring for Pipelines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring the layer thickness of soil coverings over underground gas and oil pipelines are inefficient, as they rely on infrequent helicopter inspections and manual measurements, which do not account for continuous erosion and lack high-frequency monitoring capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing unmanned flying objects to measure and record the coordinates of the pipeline, create a digital terrain model, and determine soil covering thickness, incorporating technologies like photogrammetry, laser scanning, and precise position determination systems for accurate and continuous layer thickness monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If helicopter inspections are used to monitor layer thickness, then visual inspection capability is provided, but monitoring frequency is limited and cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive helicopter inspections with inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) that can be deployed frequently. These drones carry lightweight measurement devices for continuous layer thickness monitoring, enabling high-frequency inspections at a fraction of the cost of traditional helicopter-based methods while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes manual visual inspection methods with automated measurement devices mounted on unmanned vehicles. The system uses GPS coordinates, digital terrain models, and automated calculations to determine layer thickness, replacing the need for manual measurements and visual assessment by helicopter inspectors.
2Measurement precision
If manual measurements are performed on-site, then accurate local data is obtained, but continuous monitoring over time is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a continuous monitoring system where unmanned vehicles repeatedly survey the pipeline corridor at scheduled intervals. The system continuously updates the digital terrain model and recalculates layer thickness, providing ongoing monitoring rather than periodic spot checks. This enables detection of gradual erosion processes over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital terrain model of the area before pipeline installation and stores reference coordinates. This preliminary data serves as a baseline for future comparisons, allowing the system to detect changes in layer thickness by comparing current measurements against the pre-established model, thereby enabling proactive monitoring before erosion becomes critical.
3Loss of energy
If infrequent inspections are conducted, then cost is reduced, but erosion-related non-compliance risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles instead of expensive helicopters, enabling frequent inspections within the same budget. These inexpensive drones can be deployed regularly to monitor layer thickness, providing continuous compliance assurance without significantly increasing operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where measurement data from unmanned vehicle inspections is automatically processed and compared against minimum layer thickness requirements. The system generates alerts when erosion threatens to violate compliance thresholds, enabling timely intervention to prevent non-compliance while maintaining cost-effective monitoring.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables continuous, high-frequency monitoring of soil covering thickness with improved accuracy, reducing the risk of non-compliance due to erosion and enhancing the efficiency of pipeline maintenance by integrating with SCADA systems.
Implementation Method 1
be equipped with a measuring device, in particular a laser scanner
Implementation Method 2
laser scanner...for accurate and continuous layer thickness monitoring
Implementation Method 3
incorporating technologies like photogrammetry, laser scanning, and precise position determination systems
Implementation Method 4
incorporating technologies like photogrammetry, laser scanning, and precise position determination systems
Data Source
AI summary
A method for measure the layer thickness of soil coverings, in particular in the case of gas and oil pipelines laid underground, wherein the device to be covered is measured and the coordinates thereof in relation to a specified coordinate system are recorded, where the course of the terrain over the device is measured and a terrain model is determined therefrom and recorded in the specified coordinate system after the soil covering has been applied, and where the layer thickness of the soil covering is determined from the coordinates of the device and from the terrain model.