Abstract: A portable multispectral data acquisition system for use on a vehicle such as an aircraft comprises a plurality of gyroscope-stabilized remote sensing devices synchronized to simultaneously capture images of a common spatial area in both visible and invisible bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, a computer and digital recorder to record and correlate the captured images with temporospatial reference information, image processing software to stack or layer the images and to extract and compare the images in order to identify and filter hidden or subsurface anomalies that are invisible to the naked eye, and additional image processing software to orthorectify the images to a three-dimensional digital terrain map and to stitch adjacent images together into a mosaic. Methods for using the portable multispectral data acquisition system are also provided.

Abstract: Infrared scanning equipment and video cameras are used in an airborne survey of a pipeline while recordings are made of the information collected. Simultaneously, information is recorded to identify the locations of the collected information. The recorded IR tapes are then examined for portions containing temperatures which exceed established threshold temperatures. These extrathreshold temperature areas are then examined in the comparable visual tapes for reasons other than pipeline leaks to account for the anomalies. Other available information pertaining to the pipeline may also be referred to for posible explanations. Those areas for which analysis provides no explanation are then visited to repair leaks or find nonleak explanations. A record is made for future use which identifies all areas having explained anomalies in order to avoid the need for future repeat visits to these areas.