SIMULATION AND OPTIMISATION 
OF AN OF OPTICAL REMOTE SENSING SYSTEM 
FOR MONITORING THE EUROPEAN GAS PIPELINE NETWORK 
M. van Persie, A. van der Kamp, T. Algra 
National Aerospace Laboratory NLR. The Netherlands 
Theme 20: Application of high resolution data 
KEY WORDS: monitoring, pipelines, hazards, high resolution, weather, simulation, performance 
ABSTRACT: 
In Europe an extensive network of high-pressure gas pipelines exists, which needs to be monitored frequently in order to guarantee 
the safety. Currently two weekly monitoring takes place by foot, vehicle or helicopter in order to detect third party interference 
activities like digging. In the PRESENSE project a remote sensing based monitoring system is studied, based on both spaceborne 
and airborne systems, different types of SAR and optical sensors, automatic processing techniques and a pipeline information 
management system. 
In order to investigate the effectiveness of a high resolution optical satellite configuration as part of the monitoring system 
simulations have been made with the CLIMAS simulator, especially in relation to the extended linear network, the influence of 
clouds and season. With this simulator a trade off is studied between platform, orbit, sensor and cloud based satellite tasking 
variables, given the layout of the pipeline network, and a database of realistic cloud coverage and sunlight conditions. 
Results show that a high resolution optical satellite configuration can only fill in a part of the information requirement for monitoring 
of the European pipeline network. With a constellation of 4 satellites 30% of the monitoring capacity can be covered., From the 
distribution of the observations network trajectories less suited for satellite observation can be identified. These can be monitored 
more effectively by other means like aircraft or SAR satellites. Another conclusion is that by using actual cloud information for the 
satellite scheduling the effectiveness of the optical satellite constellation can be increased by about 100%. In the last part of the 
study further simulations will be carried out with larger constellations, with combinations with SAR satellites and airborne platforms 
(manned and UAV's), and with higher monitoring frequencies. 
  
  
l. EUROPEAN GAS PIPELINE NETWORK Pipeline Operator System 
- Web browser / 
For the transmission of natural gas through Europe an Dante user 
  
  
  
  
underground network of high-pressure pipelines (15-85bar) 
with a length of roughly 200.000km exists. In order to PIS E 
guarantee the safety of this network a range of safety monitoring 
techniques are applied, including regular foot and vehicle 
  
  
Information management functions: 
patrols along the pipeline route and two-weekly aerial ; 
: : : Alarm reporting Import known Monitoring 
surveillance using helicopters. | | excavations à | priorities v 
The monitoring activities have to be carried out for all kind of 
areae x 'eeular inte als thr ;] l d lareel Intelligent data 
areas, at regular intervals throughout the year and largely queries 
regardless of weather conditions. These patrols concentrate on 
the detection of third party interference, ground movements and Spatial datbase | 
. engine 
gas leakage. They prevent developments and events, which 9 
could place at risk high-pressure pipelines, the surroundings of 
  
  
  
Data Management | 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
pipelines or the security of supplies. Although the conventional Hazard Extraction Syste-— — 
methods ensure a high level of safety in pipeline operation, the MEER LA 
. . e allo 
cost 1s also very high. I 
Automatic change - 
detection / Prioritising data 
2. PRESENSE FEASIBILITY STUDY feature extraction requests 
Within the EU 5th Framework project 'Pipeline Remote Sensing imagery Collection System 
  
  
  
for Safety and the Environment" (PRESENSE) a feasibility ire on 
study is carried out to develop and integrate the elements of a sash dng scheduling 
monitoring system that is based on remote sensing data (Pride, - 
2004). Objective is to improve safety, reduce survey costs and A 
improve transmission efficiency through an increased Ame ER eI 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
monitoring frequency. An initial developed system concept has Loca aera ih Commercial dor acted satellilos 
been developed (Persie, 2003) and is shown in figure-1. OPT/SAR/TIRMypersp/Lidar OPT/SAR 
  
  
Figure-1: PRESENSE system concept 
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