ABSTRACT
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are now evolving as highly effective tools for tackling the requirements of oil and gas pipeline monitoring, a specific environmental application of the UAV technology. This chapter describes the current use of UAV platforms and sensors, as well as the foreseen potential of small UAV systems for monitoring oil and gas pipelines. This chapter will include sections covering the following: (i) an overview of the characteristics of UAVs; (ii) the use of UAVs for oil and gas pipeline monitoring to date with particular attention paid to the strengths and successes, as well as the weaknesses; (iii) considerations and developments in the technology of small-scale aerial platforms and sensors specifically tailored to oil and gas pipeline monitoring applications, including battery, sensor, navigation, software, and platform; and (iv) future prospects for UAV development and application.
