EP0989353A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mapping system for the integration and graphical display of pipeline information that enables automated pipeline surveillance
Assignee: PII Ltd
•
Filing: 1999-07-30
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Granted: —
•
Expires: 2019-07-30
Abstract
Abstract Pipeline data and satellite data are used to provide surveillance for a pipeline. The satellite data is integrated with the pipeline data to produce a current pipeline map. The current pipeline map is then compared with a previous pipeline map to determine whether the route of the pipeline or a surrounding environment of the pipeline has changed. The satellite data includes very high resolution (VHR) satellite imagery and the pipeline data includes location data that is a series of global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.
Inventors
- 👤 Maria Petrou
- 👤 Andy J. Fraser
- 👤 Alan Tuck
- 👤 Brian Hewitt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:01
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17D; F17D5/00; G; G01; G01S; G01S19/00; G01S19/38; G01S19/39; G01S19/40; G01S19/41
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
A method of providing surveillance for a pipeline, comprising the steps of : merging satellite data of the pipeline with existing pipeline data to form a current map
of a section of the pipeline; and comparing the current map with a previous map of the pipeline to detect relative
changes between them.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the satellite data provides ground features
which can include roads, railroads, dwellings, vehicles, valve stations, and maglogger
locations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
integrating client data as overlays on the current map.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the client data can include pipeline inspection
data, pipeline fixture data, pipeline fining data, soil condition data, land class data, and land
elevation data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the existing pipeline data includes pipeline
location data, and wherein the merging step includes the steps of: tracking the section of the pipeline in the satellite data; and registering the satellite data to the pipeline location data such that the current map
retains the accuracy of the pipeline location data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the pipeline location data is a series of GPS
coordinates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the registering step includes the step of: capturing a ground control point (GCP) in the satellite data, wherein the GCP is
utilized to facilitate merging of the satellite data and the pipeline location data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the registering step is performed using a
resample method and an integration method.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
171 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the tracking step further comprises the steps
of: (a) selecting two end points in the satellite image, wherein each of the two end points
correspond to a tacking branch of the pipeline; (b) scanning pixels of the satellite image along a line orthogonal to a straight line
between the two end points, wherein the pixels are scanned from both of the end points; (c) filtering the scanned pixels using a non-linear filter to identify peaks which
indicate a route of the pipeline; (d) selecting the scanned pixels with a peak closest to the straight line between the
two end points; (e) fining the selected pixels with a least squares fining line utilizing a robust fining
method; (f) setting the two end points to the location of the last selected pixel for each of the
tracking branches and repeating steps (b) through (f) until the tracking branches
approximately intersect; and (g) fining the tracking branches with a least squares error line utilizing the robust
fining method.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the selection of the two end points in step (a)
is performed manually.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the satellite data is VHR satellite imagery.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the comparison step is automated using
standard image analysis techniques.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
A computer system that provides for surveillance of a pipeline, the computer
system comprising: a processor; a video display system coupled to the processor; a mass storage device coupled to the processor; and pipeline mapping code in a processor readable medium for causing the processor to
perform the steps of: merging satellite data of the pipeline with existing pipeline data to form a
current map of a section of the pipeline; and comparing the current map with a previous map of the pipeline to detect
relative changes between them.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer system of claim 13, wherein the satellite data provides ground
features which can include roads, railroads, dwellings, vehicles, valve stations, and maglogger
locations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer system of claim 13, the pipeline mapping code further
comprising code for causing the processor to perform the step of: integrating client data as overlays on the current map.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein the client data can include pipeline
inspection data, pipeline fixture data, pipeline fining data, soil condition data, land class data,
and land elevation data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
The computer system of claim 13, wherein the existing pipeline data includes
pipeline location data, and wherein the merging step includes the steps of: tracking the section of the pipeline in the satellite data; and registering the satellite data to the pipeline location data such that the current map
retains the accuracy of the pipeline location data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer system of claim 17, wherein the pipeline location data is a series
of GPS coordinates.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer system of claim 17, wherein the registering step includes the
step of: capturing a ground control point (GCP) in the satellite data, wherein the GCP is
utilized to facilitate merging of the satellite data and the pipeline data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the registering step is performed using a
resample method and an integration method.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
172 words
The computer system of claim 17, wherein the tracking step farther comprises
the steps of: (a) selecting two end points in the satellite image, wherein each of the two end points
correspond to a tracking branch of the pipeline; (b) scanning pixels of the satellite image along a line orthogonal to a straight line
between the two end points, wherein the pixels are scanned from both of the end points; (c) filtering the scanned pixels using a non-linear filter to identify peaks which
indicate a route of the pipeline; (d) selecting the scanned pixels with a peak closest to the straight line between the
two end points; (e) fining the selected pixels with a least squares fining line utilizing a robust fitting
method; (f) setting the two end points to the location of the last selected pixel for each of the
tracking branches and repeating steps (b) through (f) until the tracking branches
approximately intersect; and (g) fitting the tracking branches with a least squares error line utilizing the robust
fitting method.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer system of claim 21, wherein the selection of the two end points
in step (a) is performed manually.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 13, wherein the satellite data is VHR satellite
imagery.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer system of claim 13, wherein the comparison step is automated
using standard image analysis techniques.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of tracking a linear feature in a digital image, the method
comprising the steps of: (a) selecting two end points in the digital image, wherein each of the two end points
correspond to a tracking branch of the feature; (b) scanning pixels of the digital image along a line orthogonal to a straight line
between the two end points, wherein the pixels are scanned from both of the end points; (c) filtering the scanned pixels using a non-liner filter to identify peaks which
indicate a route of the feature; (d) seiecting the scanned pixels with a peak closest to the straight line between the
two end points; (e) fining the selected pixels with a least squares fitting line utilizing a robust method; (f) setting the two end points to the location of the last selected pixel for each of the
tracking branches and repeating steps (b) through (f) until the tracking branches
approximately intersect; and (g) fining the tracking branches with a least squares error line utilizing the robust
method.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 25, wherein the nonlinear filter is a trimmed
contraharmonic filter and Ransac is the robust method utilized.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
52 words
A method of determining in VHR satellite data the location of a pipeline, the
method comprising the steps of: obtaining an indication of a pipeline route from GPS data; obtaining the VHR satellite data; and processing the VHR satellite data to align it with the pipeline route indicated by the
GPS data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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