No pipeline project can be completed without a myriad of critical surveys, typically done from the very beginning of the project all through the very end. While there are quite a lot of factors going into a pipeline project, surveys are one of the most important components—and their importance means they can end up being one of the biggest bottlenecks to a project if they aren't completed correctly due to one or more issues.

Volume: How Much Land Is There to Cover?

A core issue with pipeline surveys is that pipelines tend to cover large tracts of land. Due to the long distances involved, these surveys have been historically conducted by plane. However, planes fly very high and fast, and consequently are limited in terms of fidelity and image resolution.

Today, unmanned aerial vehicles can be used to cover large amounts of land with higher levels of fidelity, whether they're using photogrammetric or light detection and ranging (LiDAR) imaging. Using the right technology is critical, as scans often need to be completed periodically to document progress, and consequently have to be fast and efficient. Fixed-wing UAVs cover more ground faster than multi-rotor UAVs, though the trade-off is that they are less maneuverable. However, that greater maneuverability is typically unnecessary for a pipeline survey outside of periods of complex construction (e.g., elevated paths over bodies of water).

Accuracy: What Resolution Is Necessary?

All surveyors strive for high levels of accuracy, but given the scope of pipeline projects and how critical they are to the economy—as the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack made quite clear—accuracy is paramount for pipeline surveys.

Advances in UAVs and LiDAR technology have made it so that pipeline companies are able to achieve extremely accurate 3D images, even cutting through cloth and brush using laser technology. Without accurate surveys, pipelines can run into unexpected issues. There may be environmental concerns that require the pipeline to make adjustments to its path, or that can lead to part of the project being reworked. UAV and LiDAR technology can even be combined to create high resolution, true-color imagery, which can be viewed in the form of complete 3D simulation.

Speed: How Quickly Can the Survey Be Completed?

Given stakeholder concerns and legal requirements, construction on a pipeline project cannot begin before an initial survey has been completed. At milestones, additional surveys may be necessary to gauge progress and determine whether changes have to be made. Once the project has ended, a final survey will often be necessary to ensure that the pipeline project was completed as originally envisioned, and to identify any errors that must be corrected before the pipeline becomes operational.

Because these surveys are necessary at multiple stages of development, a slowed or failed survey could lead to the entire project grinding to a halt. Many pipeline companies are now using UAVs for their projects because they are so accurate and reliable. They also have another advantage: The permitting process of a UAV survey is generally not as strict (or as time-consuming) as the permitting process for a manned survey.

Data: How Will the Data Be Processed?

Some surveyors outsource their data processing. Other surveyors process data in-house. This is an important distinction. When data is processed in-house, only a single company is the point of contact, and it is less likely that the company will experience delays. When the data is processed by a third party, it can take longer for the data to come back, and there's a heightened risk of the data being analyzed incorrectly—because the data may need to be exported and imported into another system altogether. Most pipeline companies can benefit from contracting their pipeline surveys to a surveyor that manages its data in-house.

Safety: How Will the Data Be Acquired?

Finally, safety is an important element of pipeline construction. UAV surveys are inherently safer than manned aerial surveys because there are no manned operators on board the UAV who can get injured during a crash or other flight incident. UAVs are also safer than manned ground surveys, which can require surveyors to travel through potentially dangerous terrain. Further, UAV surveys are more accurate and more complete, which also leads to better data for the construction itself—regular UAV surveys can be used to detect maintenance and repair issues that could otherwise lead to spills and environmental damage.

No one supervising a pipeline project wants to be held up by a survey. But surveys, especially aerial ones, have to be completed properly if they are going to have any value. Through the use of UAVs, surveys can be completed faster and more cost-effectively, with greater levels of speed, accuracy and safety.