Urban Gas Pipeline, Hong Kong
Project Background
As urban gas pipeline networks continue expanding, traditional manual inspection methods are facing increasing challenges in efficiency, operational cost, and safety management.
In densely populated urban environments, gas pipeline inspection requires high-frequency operations, rapid response capability, wide-area coverage, and digitalized management systems. For long-distance pipeline infrastructure, conventional inspection methods often involve:
Long inspection cycles
High labor requirements
Difficult access across complex terrain
Increased workload after severe weather conditions
Limited data traceability and management capability
To improve urban gas infrastructure safety management, a major gas utility operator in Hong Kong deployed a UAV-based methane inspection solution provided by BLV Technology together with the DJI Dock 3 automated drone station platform.
The project focused on validating automated methane inspection operations across approximately 14 kilometers of urban gas pipeline infrastructure.
Solution Overview
Automated Inspection System
The project adopted a fully integrated inspection solution combining:
DJI industrial drone platform
DJI Dock 3 automated drone station
BL-CH4 MINI 3 Pro UAV-mounted laser methane detector
Digital inspection data management platform
Core Detection Technology
TheBL-CH4 MINI 3 Pro is based on TDLAS (Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy) technology and provides:
Long-range non-contact methane detection
Millisecond-level response speed
Real-time in-flight methane monitoring
Dynamic data transmission
Rapid leak localization
Automated inspection data management
The UAV system supports flight speeds of 9–25 km/h while continuously performing methane detection during flight operations.
Project Implementation
Field Demonstration
The project began with a live field demonstration along an approved urban gas pipeline section.
The UAV automatically performed methane inspection operations across approximately 500 meters of gas pipeline infrastructure following predefined flight routes.
Compared with traditional manual inspection methods:
Manual inspection required approximately 2 hoursVS UAV inspection required only several minutes
During flight operations, the system continuously transmitted methane concentration data in real time and supported rapid verification of abnormal areas through hover-based reinspection.
Technical Training
Following the field demonstration, a dedicated technical training session was conducted for the customer’s engineering team, covering：
1. TDLAS methane detection principles
2. UAV inspection workflows
3. Equipment operation and mission configuration
4. Data platform usage
5. Flight route planning and anomaly analysis
6. Digitalized inspection management systems
The combination of theoretical instruction and practical operation helped engineers better understand the deployment of UAV methane inspection technology in urban gas infrastructure scenarios.
Project Results
Significantly Improved Inspection Efficiency
Traditional inspection of the 14 km pipeline network typically required:
4 personnel over 2 daysor 8 personnel over 1 day
The UAV automated inspection system significantly reduced operational time while enabling higher-frequency inspections.
Reduced Labor Requirements & Safety Risks
The UAV solution minimized personnel exposure to hazardous environments and reduced field workload after severe weather events.
Enhanced Digitalized Management Capability
The system supports:
Real-time methane data transmission
Cloud-based data storage
Automated analysis
Inspection traceability
This enables the transition from experience-based inspection toward data-driven safety management.
Higher-Frequency Routine Inspection Capability
The automated inspection system provides the foundation for upgrading from periodic inspections toward more frequent routine safety monitoring.
Customer Feedback
The customer’s engineering team positively evaluated the operational efficiency of the UAV methane inspection system for long-distance pipeline inspection applications.
Compared with conventional manual inspection methods, the solution significantly improved inspection coverage efficiency while reducing labor intensity and operational workload.
According to the customer, the integration of UAV platforms with laser methane sensing technology provides an important new direction for future urban gas infrastructure inspection systems.
Project Value
This urban gas pipeline inspection project in Hong Kong demonstrated the practical value of integrating UAV platforms, automated drone stations, and TDLAS methane remote sensing technology within complex urban environments.
By combining UAV systems, automated docking infrastructure, and the BL-CH4 MINI 3 Pro, BLV Technology provides the urban gas industry with a safer, smarter, and more efficient unmanned inspection solution.
The solution is expected to see broader adoption across urban gas pipeline networks, long-distance transmission pipelines, and other energy infrastructure applications worldwide.
