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miniRanger

Oil & Gas LiDAR Solutions Case Study
Quick Turnaround Time, Massive Data Collection, Tight Weather Window

Use Case: Implementing LiDAR in Pipeline Surveys Expands Project Scope Capabilities for MSI

Company:  Measurement Sciences Inc.

Challenge

MSI, Inc. leverages lidar technology in the oil and gas industry by expanding their project scopes and increasing the number of completed surveys within the short fair-weather window between snowmelt to snowfall.

They implement lidar in pipeline surveys to be able to show a grander scope of the river crossing and banks. LiDAR enables their team to produce a much more detailed pipeline profile than traditional methods (i.e. taking gridded shots every 5 meters with GNSS), and offers expanded client deliverable offerings.

Solution

MSI, Inc. leverages lidar technology in the oil and gas industry by expanding their project scopes and increasing the number of completed surveys within the short fair-weather window between snowmelt to snowfall.

They implement LiDAR in pipeline surveys to be able to show a grander scope of the river crossing and banks. LiDAR enables their team to produce a much more detailed pipeline profile than traditional methods (i.e. taking gridded shots every 5 meters with GNSS), and offers expanded client deliverable offerings.

Application

MSI, Inc. leverages LiDAR technology in the oil and gas industry by expanding their project scopes and increasing the number of completed surveys within the short fair-weather window between snowmelt to snowfall.

They implement lidar in pipeline surveys to be able to show a grander scope of the river crossing and banks. LiDAR enables their team to produce a much more detailed pipeline profile than traditional methods (i.e. taking gridded shots every 5 meters with GNSS), and offers expanded client deliverable offerings.

Results

MSI, Inc. owns and operates three Phoenix LiDAR systems: the MiniRANGER-1, RANGER-LR, and RANGER-XL. Their best collection windows are early spring and late fall, so they try to group as many sites together as possible to map consecutively during two sizeable RANGER-XL helicopter campaigns each year. They deploy the UAS-based miniRANGER to supplement sites between those two collection windows. This keeps the cost of helicopter operations down and still enables MSI to collect sites on demand, if needed, rather than waiting for the two seasonal windows. The decision process for which Phoenix system to deploy varies site by site – depending on time of year, project scope, and strictness of deliverable timelines.

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MiniRANGER-3 LITE | Rail

Point Density: 473 points per m^2
Height: 60 m AGL (approx.)
Speed: 6 m/s
Data Acquisition Time: 8 minutes

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ERHA Engineering Interview on Mini-Ranger LiDAR System
Behind the Success of EHRA’s Urban Projects: The Mini-Ranger LIDAR System

Discover the revolutionary impact of LiDAR technology in urban development with EHRA’s utilization of the Mini-Ranger LiDAR system. In this video, learn how EHRA, a leading engineering firm, leverages drone LiDAR for advanced urban planning and project management. 

The Mini-Ranger system is celebrated for its precision in terrain and vegetation mapping, facilitating rapid and accurate data collection that drives efficient, cost-effective project outcomes.

Join Aaron Kelsey, EHRA’s Senior Survey CAD Tech and Drone Program Manager, as he discusses the system’s transformative effects on large-scale surveying—reducing both time and labor costs significantly. He also highlights its crucial role in flood prevention by providing detailed elevation data for effective drainage and water flow management.

The video also explores the evolution of surveying from traditional methods to cutting-edge GPS and LiDAR technologies, enhancing the reliability of data collection. With Phoenix LiDAR’s support, EHRA continues to push boundaries in urban engineering, making significant strides in project accuracy and efficiency.

Discover the groundbreaking impact of LIDAR technology in urban development with EHRA’s innovative use of the Mini-Ranger LIDAR system. In this insightful video, we delve into how EHRA, a leading engineering firm, leverages the power of Drone LIDAR and the MiniRanger system to revolutionize urban planning and project management.

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How the MiniRanger Drone Revolutionizes LiDAR Data Collection in Difficult Terrain

In the ever-evolving world of technology, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) has emerged as a groundbreaking tool, especially in the realm of natural disaster research. The RAPID Facility, an integral part of the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NERI) network, has been at the forefront of harnessing this technology. Their mission? To support researchers in collecting invaluable data on natural disasters, offering insights that were previously unimaginable.

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LiDAR selection guide
LiDAR Selection Guide

Discover the comprehensive guide to selecting the right LiDAR system with our detailed LiDAR Selection Guide. This article covers everything from the basics of LiDAR technology to in-depth comparisons of current scanners. Learn about the technical specifications, platform configurations, and software considerations essential for optimizing your LiDAR mapping projects.

Whether you are in forestry, construction, or surveying, our guide provides the insights needed to choose the best LiDAR solution for your needs. Read on to understand the advantages of UAV LiDAR, the components that make up a LiDAR system, and how to achieve high precision and accuracy in your mapping endeavors.

Phoenix LiDAR System offers survey-grade LiDAR systems for a variety of industries and applications.

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Snow surface mapping with lidar
LiDAR Snow Surface Mapping for the NASA SnowEX Program

The December 2021 Phoenix LiDAR Systems webinar focused on LiDAR snow surface mapping for NASA’s SnowEx program. Jeff Rizza from DJ&A detailed a 2021 snow surface mapping project using high-resolution drone LiDAR to capture data in Montana’s prairie biome. Highlighting his experience with UAVs and LiDAR, Jeff discussed DJ&A’s collaboration with NASA and Montana State University to improve snow data collection methods.

The webinar covered Phoenix’s LiDAR systems, cold-weather challenges, and innovative survey methods for accurate snow surface mapping. Jeff showcased data insights on snow dynamics influenced by wind and vegetation and discussed processing challenges using Phoenix’s SpatialExplorer and Terascan software. The Q&A session addressed equipment, data processing, and unique SnowEx project aspects. Jeff also previewed an upcoming white paper comparing LiDAR and photogrammetry, highlighting LiDAR’s advantages in vegetation-dense areas.

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Advanced Imaging Solutions
Advanced Imaging Solutions

Join the Phoenix LiDAR Systems webinar on advanced imaging systems, held on April 21, 2021. Hosted by Conrad Conterno, Head of Post-Processing, and Justin Wyatt, VP of Sales at Phoenix LiDAR Systems, along with Nick Nelio, Inspection Sales Manager for Phase One, this session dives into how Phoenix LiDAR’s data collection tools integrate with Phase One’s cutting-edge imaging systems to enhance remote sensing capabilities.

Conrad Conterno opens with an overview of Phoenix LiDAR’s custom mapping solutions, emphasizing LiDAR sensor integration for superior data acquisition and analysis. He introduces various advanced camera options, including the lightweight custom A6K Light for UAV-based mapping, dual oblique cameras for enhanced colorization, multispectral solutions for detailed vegetation analysis, thermal mapping cameras for environmental monitoring, and hyperspectral sensors for precise spectral analysis.

Nick Nelio then showcases Phase One’s high-resolution, medium-format cameras, focusing on the 4-band solution that combines RGB and near-infrared imagery, ideal for crop analysis and environmental monitoring. He also presents the Phase One P3 payload for inspection applications and the IX Mach 5 controller designed for efficient geospatial missions.

Throughout the webinar, the benefits of direct geo-referencing and the seamless integration of multiple sensors into single payloads are highlighted. The hosts address audience questions on the accuracy of dual-camera systems, post-processing challenges, and the applications of hyperspectral imaging.

The session concludes with Justin Wyatt and Nick Nelio emphasizing their collaborative approach to delivering tailored solutions and inviting viewers to contact them for personalized consultations.

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LiDAR sensor calibration test
Dewberry – Airfield Obstruction Survey – Calibration Test Reporting

This whitepaper details the calibration testing conducted under task order G17PD01249: Alaska Critical Infrastructure UAV Airfield Obstruction Survey. The Dewberry team, in collaboration with Compass Data and Phoenix LiDAR, performed LiDAR sensor tests for the Kiana and Nulato Airfields. The testing involved the acquisition and post-processing of LiDAR data using two sensors, each flown at two different heights above ground.

The study aimed to assess the sensors’ ability to meet project specifications, including data formatting, LAS point cloud data, smooth surface repeatability, relative accuracy, and intensity values. Additionally, the tests evaluated LiDAR density to determine the optimal sensor and flying height for identifying obstructions, geometric calibration for measurement accuracy and repeatability, radiometric testing for detecting small or low-reflectance obstructions, and measurement consistency across multiple flights.

The findings of this comprehensive testing are documented in this report, providing valuable insights into the performance and reliability of UAV-based LiDAR systems for airfield obstruction surveys.

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