Sensor Data Fusion on Small Sats and Airborne Platforms: How Next Gen Technology can help Pipeline and Asset Operators
Methane emissions from pipelines and other critical assets pose increasing regulatory, operational, and environmental challenges—particularly given the growing need for rapid, credible leak detection and quantification to meet global standards such as OGMP 2.0 and EU Fit-for-55. This paper introduces AIRMO’s integrated satellite and airborne sensor fusion approach for greenhouse gas monitoring across both onshore and offshore pipeline networks. By combining continuous wide-area surveillance from satellites with targeted, high-resolution drone inspections, AIRMO enables operators to detect and localize methane releases ranging from large "super-emitter" events (emission rates up to tens of thousands of kilograms per hour, as evidenced in the Nord Stream case) to persistent small leaks previously invisible to orbital systems. Technical workflows are described, detailing the architecture of multi-sensor fusion—including short wave infrared (SWIR) spectroscopy, elastic LiDAR, and visible imaging—and the deployment strategies for both terrestrial and maritime assets. Performance justification is provided through detection limits, measurement uncertainties, revisit frequencies, and cost savings benchmarks, situating AIRMO’s system in the context of current literature and industry best practices. Limitations in offshore and challenging environments are addressed, along with needed advancements for smaller leak detection and endurance. The approach demonstrates how harmonized satellite-drone operations deliver robust, compliant, and cost-effective greenhouse gas reporting for asset managers, regulators, and stakeholders in the energy sector.