Regional Scale Airborne Lidar Change Detection

BGC has been working with Pembina Pipeline to manage risks posed by geohazards to the safe operation of their pipeline network in the Swan Hills region of Alberta. The geotechnically challenging terrain in this area presents a significant inventory of geohazards including deep-seated landslides in bedrock, shallow to moderate depth slides and slumps within surficial soils, and stream bank erosion. ​

BGC utilized multi-temporal Airborne Lidar Scanning data to perform topographical change detection analyses for sixty areas within a 4,800 square kilometer area of interest, covering 481 previously identified geotechnical hazards. To perform the change detection, we employ sophisticated 3-dimensional processing methods that maximize the information gained from the analysis and accurately quantify the reliability of the results. BGC used the results of this study as input to a screening process to prioritize sites for detailed field inspection, and as an immediate response tool to develop mitigation strategies for a pipe that had become exposed to an active landslide.​

BGC has performed similar analyses for a variety of pipeline clients ranging from site-specific to network-scale studies and has delivered the results in various formats ranging from technical drawings to online interactive maps and 3D viewers.