The Aerial Video Mapping System (AVMS) that Gyrovision offers combines broadcast quality aerial video, seamlessly integrated with positional information onto an easy to use stand-alone DVD or within your own GIS system.

The addition of geo-referencing technology to the video answers a number of questions, including; where, and when, was that taken? And, what is at that location? There are a number of applications with the construction and management of pipelines where this kind of data is extremely useful, and able to help decrease one-off and ongoing costs.

Route Selection

Aerial surveys are an effective way of obtaining an overview of prospective pipeline routes, and narrowing down the number of options. Recent developments augment the aerial survey by combining the video with GIS and GPS data in the one system, viewable on DVD. On one screen, accessed by a single DVD, is a video fully integrated with maps and other customised data layers and the ability to easily attach notes, photos, cost estimates and other information.

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Tendering & Estimating

A DVD of the proposed route can be supplied to prospective tenderers and subcontractors – complete with map, video and notes. The more information available, the lower the risk and the more accurate any pricing can be. This should be reflected in lower contingency allowances and lower construction costs.

Project Planning & Commencement

The extra information provided by a geo-referenced aerial video will minimise costs and scheduling complexities during the planning and commencement of the construction project. The DVD can be used to identify any problem areas and give new project managers and sub-contractors an accurate idea of the situation and the landscape – giving them a good understanding of the environment before going on site.

Project Management & Review

The executive team is always interested in the progress of any major construction project. Regular aerial surveys, providing geo-referenced video of recent stages of completion and of any upcoming problem areas are an effective and interesting way of communicating the information. Still shots can also be extracted from the video. Other benefits of aerial surveys include;

  • Decreased time and cost of on site field surveys;

  • Ability to increase the field of view simply by flying higher;

  • Full integration with GIS system from the beginning, eliminating requirement for subsequent conversion.

Compliance

One of the issues facing pipeline construction projects is the ability to prove full compliance with any conditions inherent in the project. Whatever the question, a video with the GPS location embedded can provide hard evidence in any dispute.

Risk Assessment & Mitigation

It is always the “don’t know what you don’t know” issues that supply the highest level of potential risk in any project. Any increased knowledge gained from easy to use data, helps to identify specific risks and to decrease general risk levels. Any specific risks identified can then be the subject of appropriate risk mitigation strategies.

On-Going Maintenance

Aerial surveys of the pipeline also provide data about its immediate environment. The addition of infra-red information highlights areas where changes in temperatures and the surrounding ground conditions provide indicators of likely areas of leakage.

Aerial surveys will never replace the man in the field, but any information that can be gained by using geo-referenced surveys will minimise the time, costs and risks associated with the construction and management of pipeline easements.