Summary
Aerial LiDAR methane detection is an increasingly popular alternative to traditional ground-based detection methods. It detects more total emissions from fewer leaks compared to OGI scans, offers complete spatial coverage, fast data turnaround, and more detailed insight into each leak source with pinpointed locations and quantified emission rates. Successful adoption of aerial LiDAR starts with defining program scope and needs, including identifying assets, survey frequency, data users, flexibility, and workflow integration. Keeping the long-term emissions reduction strategy in mind ensures programs can evolve from “find and fix” to “predict and prevent” approaches, leveraging analytics to strategically reduce emissions. Transitioning to aerial LiDAR can be a seamless and highly impactful step in modern methane management. This guide outlines the steps involved so operators can make the transition confidently and effectively.
Key Takeaways
- Aerial LiDAR detection offers faster, complete spatial coverage compared to ground-based methods
- Defining program goals, and operational needs across departments early in the conversation helps ensure a smooth migration
- Migrating to a more efficient technology is part of a long-term emissions management strategy to improve operational efficiency and generate meaningful insights that can be used across your organization
- Shift from “find and fix” to “predict and prevent” for long-term emissions reduction
Why Migrate to Aerial LiDAR Methane Detection?
Operators migrate to aerial LiDAR methane detection for a few core reasons: continuous spatial coverage, more insightful data, faster scan times, and more efficient use of field resources with reduced windshield time. While ground-based methods work well in some scenarios, like following-up on leaks detected by a remote sensing technology, they can fall short in key areas, including:
- Speed of coverage, including for large asset bases
- Detecting emissions from elevated and/or hot sources, like tanks, flares, and compressors
Aerial LiDAR methane detection provides:
- Fast, complete spatial coverage across large areas or remote asset bases
- Detailed data collection of emissions, including those that are difficult to detect using ground-based sensors
- Repeatable scans that enable benchmarking and tracking emissions reduction progress
As you begin thinking about your transition to aerial LiDAR monitoring, start by evaluating your existing detection workflows and identifying pain points like extensive windshield time, poor data quality, or lacking the ability to quantify and benchmark emissions. These are often the first indicators that your program is ready for a more comprehensive solution.
Step 1: Define the Scope of Your Program
Not all methane detection programs look the same. Some operators use aerial LiDAR for quarterly (or more frequent) scans, while others layer them into ongoing compliance workflows or use them to validate mitigation after a high-emitter alert.
Start by answering a few key questions:
- What areas or asset types need to be covered?
- Who needs to use the data (e.g., compliance teams, field crews, ESG leads)?
- Will the data be used for compliance or reporting (e.g. EPA, PHMSA, OGMP 2.0)?
This information will help guide the conversation with your new emissions detection provider based on the needed capabilities, like customizable scan sensitivity and frequency, data delivery formats, and integration with your existing workflows.
Step 2: Determine Your Needs
At Bridger Photonics, we use Gas Mapping LiDAR® (GML) to provide aerial methane detection that’s fast, accurate, and reliable. GML detects and quantifies emissions with pinpoint, equipment-level accuracy and quantified leak rates, with notably fewer down days than competitors, so your data is collected and returned faster. It can also be deployed on short notice, making it ideal for urgent repair verification or super emitter investigations.
While there are other aerial detection methods available, GML balances sensitivity, speed, and flexibility.
Bridger offers flexible options that work with operators and offer a path to grow from less to more sensitive over time as emissions detection programs mature. Decision-making is in the operator’s hands depending on their needs.
Here are a few key considerations: :
- What emission rate detection sensitivity, from 1-15 kg/hr, is best for our needs right now?
- What data formats are needed?
- Do we need direct integration into our existing workflows?
- What scan frequency is best for our operations right now?
If usability across teams is a key priority, take a look at Emissions Data You Can Act On: Why It’s Non-Negotiable.
Step 3: Establish a Long-Term Strategy
Migrating to aerial LiDAR detection is a fundamental shift in how you manage methane long term. Your program is bound to evolve, and the flexibility of aerial LIDAR means it can grow with you by adapting to different scan interval needs over time, transitioning to a better detection sensitivity, or conducting repeat scans for benchmarking and showing emissions reduction progress.
As emissions detection programs progress, many operators shift from a “find and fix” approach for LDAR, to using advanced analytics for insights on emission sources, trends, equipment types, and repair or upgrade effectiveness. These insights allow operators to “predict and prevent” future emissions, and strategically reduce emissions over the long term.
If you're comparing with other types of aerial providers, make sure you’re thinking ahead to your future needs. See How to Evaluate a Methane Detection Partner (Plus a Checklist You Can Use) to ensure your bases are covered. And check out 7 Questions to Ask New Emissions Vendors for specifics that reveal the difference between vendors who are just compliant and those who are built for scale.
A Smoother Path to Modern Monitoring
Making the switch to a new methane detection method can feel like a heavy lift. But if you’re careful about changing your methane detection provider and you make the transition with a clear roadmap, migrating to aerial LiDAR methane detection can be one of the most impactful decisions your team makes.
Want to see how Bridger supports smoother transitions and smarter methane monitoring? Schedule a demo. We’d be happy to walk you through it.
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