Cutting-Edge Method by Princeton ECE Researchers Pinpoints Gas Drilling and Sewer System Leaks, Large and Small, for Swift Repairs Using Drones and Lasers.
A groundbreaking method developed by a team of researchers from Princeton University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department has revolutionized the detection and repair of gas drilling and sewer system leaks. Leveraging laser-based sensing and drone technology, their innovative approach can accurately detect and quantify leaks ranging from large greenhouse gas emissions to leaks up to 25 times smaller, pinpointing the source of emissions within a meter.
The researchers harnessed the remote-sensing capabilities of lasers and the agility of drones to create a unique system that can quickly identify otherwise hidden leaks in hard-to-reach areas. The system involves a small drone equipped with a retroreflector, a type of mirror that reflects light back to the source, and a base station of gas sensing equipment that tracks the drone’s movement during flight. By bouncing a laser beam off the drone as it flies to specific points near a suspected leak, operators can precisely locate the source of the leak and measure its intensity.
Unlike other drone-based atmospheric sensing techniques that require gas sensors to be mounted directly onto the drone, the Princeton team offloaded the expensive gas-sensing components to the base station.
This allows for smaller, less expensive drones with longer flight times to collect detailed emissions data across large areas, potentially enabling the monitoring of entire natural gas transmission and distribution facilities in a single drone flight. Additionally, the team’s approach has the potential to measure multiple gases simultaneously, a challenging feat with other drone-based methods due to size and weight constraints.
The flexibility and scalability of the Princeton team’s approach make it a promising technology platform that could foster future innovations and applications beyond methane leak detection. For instance, by adding other lasers of different wavelengths to the base system, the system could be easily adapted to measure other gases such as carbon dioxide and ammonia. “All you’d need to do is add a second laser to the system,” explained Michael Soskind, the first author of the study. “The rest of the system is already built out to do the work.”
With its cutting-edge capabilities and potential for expansion, this pioneering method developed by Princeton ECE researchers could significantly impact the field of gas leak detection and environmental monitoring, paving the way for more efficient and effective leak repairs and emissions management.
LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and create precise three-dimensional maps or point cloud data of objects and surfaces. LiDAR sensors emit laser pulses that bounce back when they encounter objects, and the time taken for the light to return to the sensor is measured to calculate the distance. By collecting multiple data points, LiDAR sensors can create highly accurate and detailed maps of terrain, vegetation, buildings, and other objects, making them valuable tools in various applications such as mapping, surveying, forestry, archaeology, and urban planning.
At Truoosh, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to on our site, Truoosh may earn commission.
