Buried PE Pipeline Location Method Based on Double-Tree Complex Wavelet Cross-Correlation Delay

Area of Science:

• Geophysics
• Signal Processing
• Civil Engineering

Background:

• Accurate location of buried polyethylene (PE) pipelines is crucial for infrastructure maintenance and safety.
• Existing pipeline locating techniques face limitations in precision and applicability.
• Advanced signal processing methods are needed to enhance buried utility detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel method for locating buried PE pipelines using signal processing techniques.
• To compare the accuracy of the proposed method with different sensor arrangements (symmetric vs. asymmetric).
• To provide a foundation for improved pipeline positioning technology.

Main Methods:

• Application of dual-tree complex wavelet transform (DTCWT) for signal denoising.
• Utilizing cross-correlation function to extract signal delay times.
• Establishing a simulation model (COMSOL) to analyze time-domain signals and sensor layouts.
• Conducting experimental tests with asymmetric and symmetric sensor configurations and varying excitation points.

Main Results:

• The DTCWT effectively denoises acquired signals for pipeline location.
• Cross-correlation analysis accurately determines signal delay times.
• Simulation and experimental results show high accuracy, with errors <1% for symmetric arrangements and 4.6% for asymmetric.
• Pipeline positioning accuracy increases as the excitation point approaches the sensor.

Conclusions:

• The proposed method offers a significant improvement over existing techniques for buried PE pipeline location.
• Symmetric sensor arrangements provide superior accuracy in pipeline detection.
• The method's reliance on delay time offers a practical approach for pipeline inference.
• This research lays groundwork for advancements in buried pipeline positioning technology.