PR-417-203902-R01 Remote Sensing and Leak Detection Platform That Can Deploy Multiple Sensor Types
Authors: Yoel David , Sicilia Tina , Bogaart Matthew , Fernandes Jeremy 
Published: October 2024

The PRCI Project #417-203902 - ROW 3-1-A Final Report is attached for Member review and comment. The report includes a summary of all work completed in all Tasks which include:

- Catalog, taxonomy, and sample data set for the threats detected.

- Benchmarks of the sensitivity, accuracy, reliability, and robustness of an automated multi sensor, multi-threat detection and near real-time reporting comparing performance on conventional aircraft and UAS.

- Technical synopsis for operators on integrating automated near real-time aerial threat reports into pipeline performance and safety improvement programs.

- Report on status of integrating UAS into the National Airspace System in an application that contributes to improving the safety and integrity of the Nation's critical pipeline infrastructure.

The project is complete. Full testing on the multi-spectral sensor is complete and Flight 4 of Phase 1 Flight Tests, scheduled for Oct/Nov 2021 was completed with approval of a no-cost extension in 2022. These delayed tasks are excusable due to delays caused in 2020 and 2021 by Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), inclement weather and wildfires impacting several western states, and aviation delays (i.e., licenses from government authorities, misrepresentation of the specification and performance of the Sentera camera), which caused impacts to the contractor's capability to maintain a schedule under ROW 3-1-A and were completed under extension under ROW-3-1.

The scope for this research project is to integrate PRCI Project ROW-3-1 multi-threat sensors, algorithms and communications systems onto the unmanned aircraft system (UAS); select Test Range(s) and complete Threat Staging Planning, while developing an Aviation Safety Case to the FAA for use of long endurance UAS on pipeline patrol.

In addition, the project includes conducting UAS Test Program flights with automated multi-threat detection system on long endurance UAS flying hundreds of miles of pipeline corridor and perform analysis of data, benchmark automated threat detection system and UAS performance, report on advances in the integration of the remote sensing platform outputs with existing pipeline operator performance and safety programs.

Lastly, it provided data of value to the FAA with respect to the integration of long-range Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) into the National Airspace System.

The program objectives stated in the contract include:

- Produce a data set that enables benchmarking the sensitivity, accuracy, reliability and robustness of an automated multi-sensor, multi-threat detection and near real-time reporting system operating on a long-range Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for damage prevention and other pipeline integrity applications.

- Generate data to compare and benchmark the detection and reporting system operating on conventional aircraft and UAS and with standard patrol methods for evaluating the value of integrating generated threat reports into performance and safety improvement programs.

- Provide data to the United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), PHMSA, and the PRCI research team to assist with information for safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace System for pipeline infrastructure.