First steps in developing an automated aerial surveillance approach

Partners in emerging risk representative application (ERRA) A3 'Emerging risks related to the industrial use of automated and un-manned surveillance of industrial infrastructure' develop a set of new technologies to automate aerial surveillance by collecting images with a drone and automatically processing them to identify threats to buried oil and gas transmission pipelines. Progress on two aspects is presented, on one hand, technology development, and on the other hand, dealing with the emerging risks associated with these new technologies. Technology development covers three functions assembled in a workflow: • Image collection via a light drone with an autonomous navigation system and image geographical positioning system (GPS) referencing capabilities. • Image automated pre-processing: image assembly and georeferencing. • Threat detection: image analysis by change detection is performed using Definiens software for identifying external interferences like construction work and excavations threatening the pipeline. This set of technologies is perceived as an emerging risk that is appraised from several points of view: • Technology: unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), image georeferencing and assembly, change detection for threat identification. • Human and Organisational and Communication: investigate the acceptance of this technology by the population and local authorities. • Regulatory: check conditions that will ensure acceptance of operational use of light drones in some European countries. • This general approach is needed to ensure both technology optimisation and the shortest path to reliable practical applications.