Drone Methane Leak Detection

Methane Leak Detection

Integrated Drone, Methane Leak Detector payload, software & system for natural gas pipeline surveys, tank inspections, landfill emission monitoring, gas well testing, and plant safety audits

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Solution Overview

Mount the Methane Leak Detection kit onto the drone
Plan survey mission with UgCS
Receive data during flight
Generate a report with detected Methane Leak locations

The system consists of the drone integrated with Laser Methane Metector "Laser Falcon" by PERGAM. The full integration is ensured by adding the onboard UgCS data logger to the system.

UAV

Methane Detector

Data Logger

UgCS

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DJI M600, M600 Pro and M210, M210 v2

Falcon Laser Methane Detector by PERGAM

Data logging is started automatically and geotagged with GPS coordinates from the autopilot

Flight planning and control software displays detected CH4 level instantly
UgCS

Case Study

Drone METHANE LEAK DETECTION

Goal: Locate methane leaks.

Technology: integrated Laser Methane detector by PERGAM with a drone equipped with a laser altimeter.

Flight control: UgCS with True Terrain Following mode.

Result: Methane leaks can be located during the drone's inspection flight. Methane level data is being logged with precise GPS coordinates of drone's autopilot.

The Solution details

1. Laser Falcon

Laser Falcon is a very lightweight laser-type methane gas detector. The dramatically reduced weight of the product allows variety of new applications of the device including airborne methane monitoring and robotic instrumentation. This device can detect methane that exists about 100 meters away instantly. Measurement data is sent through a communication port and is backed up in a micro SD card. Power supply through the external power connector enables continuous operation of the device.

Laser Falcon Brochure

2. UgCS Data Logger

UgCS Data Logger is the key element that enables the full integration of the drone, laser methane detector, and ground control software UgCS. The onboard UgCS Data Logger, designed by SPH Engineering, saves the gas detector’s data in .txt format and transfers them instantly to the remote control of the drone pilot and to the desktop software UgCS. This allows operators to detect leaks in real time and ensure faster response time.

Optional:Adding a laser altimeter enables the flight in True Terrain Following mode, so the drone (UAV) can accurately follow the terrain during the flight. True Terrain Following enables the drone to fly at constant AGL altitude without a need to import precise Digital Elevation Model (DEM) height-map into UgCS.

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3. UgCS Application

Smooth operation is ensured by UgCS software, developed by SPH Engineering in Riga, Latvia. Besides supporting most industrial drones on the market, it offers several productivity-enhancing innovations: automatic Photogrammetry, Facade scan, and Search pattern tools. Most importantly for methane detection, UgCS software allows for the drone to be flown at a constant height, even over rough and mountainous areas, as its 3D maps and terrain-following mode can cope with any kind of landscape. UgCS's drone mission planning software also provides tools for the easy creation and calculation of flight paths, and for the interpretation of acquired data in a user-friendly manner.

4. Supported Drones

Currently, the UgCS Data Logger is compatible with off-the-shelf or custom-built UAV based on DJI A3 flight controller, i.e. DJI M600 / M600 Pro and DJI DJI M210 / M210 v2

The DJI M600 and M600 Pro is a durable system that offers extended flight time (up to 25 minutes) and a 5-kilometer-long range of data transmission.

Webinar

LANDFILL AND PIPELINE CH4 MONITORING

A drone-based methane monitoring system suits best to inspect large and inaccessible by foot areas, to create a map with detected methane concentration.

Watch the webinar to learn more in detail why drone-based methane detection system performs better for landfill and pipeline infrastructure and how to plan the flights with UgCS.

Our Partners

Methane Leak Detection

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