Abstract
In the past 10 years, satellite-based monitoring has been breaking barriers. Back in 2014, monitoring started off with one satellite in a single constellation (Pipeline integrity management from space, Jan Ridder, PTC 2014)1 ; the latest operational deployments use over 100 satellites (Gasunie and Orbital Eye - Operational assessment of satellite-based right-of-way inspections, Alexander Blauw, PTC 2024)2 . The growing number of satellites has gone hand in hand with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Satellites have the capability to monitor all pipeline networks in the world. However, a solid system is necessary to translate these vast amounts of data into insights all the way down to the operators. This study breaks down the necessary technical developments of COSMIC-EYE (CombinedSar-Multi-spectral-Change detection) in the past years into a scalable system for the future to integrate satellites in the day-to-day workflow of operators all around the world.
A reflection is provided on the technology backbone of COSMIC-EYE and how it has integrated different satellite sources over time to monitor the earliest signs of potential threats. A study of different operational deployments with operators is provided. Multiple threats are discussed that were followed up in the field by operators when satellite-based monitoring was integrated into their routine. These activities highlight why the mix of radar, multi-spectral, and high-resolution optical satellites is necessary to create a scalable solution.
The number of satellites in the foreseeable years keeps increasing, and therefore, the reliability of satellite-based monitoring will also increase. Conventional aerial patrols are becoming increasingly expensive as costs go up and sustainability disrupts the Right-of-Way monitoring industry. Satellitebased monitoring is already a proven alternative in the industry operating on networks over 10,000 kilometers. Especially, the scalability of the presented solution with the network size is shown to be a key driver for success.