Pipelines
Where safety, placement and monitoring matter
Trimble Applanix supports unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pipeline applications by providing ultra-lightweight Direct Georeferencing (DG) hardware, such as the Trimble APX boardsets, paired with POSPac UAV post-processing software. This hardware combines tightly integrated GNSS and inertial navigation systems (INS) to track a drone’s position and orientation precisely, even in turbulent wind or remote areas.
By utilizing this tech, operators can attach advanced payloads like LiDAR, thermal, or RGB cameras to drones and map lengthy pipeline corridors without setting up time-consuming ground control points (GCPs). It reduces flight line overlap and enables base station-free processing through cloud-based corrections, making routine asset inspections, leak detection, and environmental monitoring highly efficient and safe.
For larger-scale pipeline engineering and corridor planning, Trimble Applanix utilizes crewed airborne mapping setups driven by robust systems like the Applanix POS AV and the versatile Trimble AP+ Air. These systems are built to handle high-altitude, high-speed flights over massive, inhospitable geographical expanses where extensive terrain assessment is required before laying down infrastructure.
Manned operations utilize these hardware configurations to instantly georeference data from heavy-duty remote sensing equipment, such as dual-antenna heading setups and massive digital cameras or LiDAR scanners. This setup eliminates the need for aerotriangulation and extensive ground surveys. The resulting high-resolution digital terrain models (DTMs) give operators the absolute spatial precision required to safely select pathways, track structural threats, and manage right-of-way security across thousands of miles.
Get answers before you buy
Let's find the solution for your needs and challenges