IMU Data: A Gusher of Insights for Pipeline Geohazard Management

Ready to drill down into some game-changing insights about pipeline geohazards? We’re about to explore how Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) data is becoming the powerhouse technology keeping pipelines secure from slope failures, ground movements, and other geotechnical risks.

Caroline Scheevel, an Engineering Geologist at BGC Engineering, along with the Cambio Earth team have developed an innovative method for managing IMU data for pipeline geohazard monitoring. Their new approach was unveiled at PPIM 2025 on January 31^st and lays the foundation for easily pulling insights from IMU data (for example, more than 50% of BGC’s “critical intervention” sites in 2022 were identified from IMU data).

The Data Avalanche Challenge

IMU is shaping up to become a true MVP for pipeline geohazard management. For example, previous research by Senior Geotechnical Engineer Joel Van Hove has shown that more than 50% of critical intervention sites were identified for action because of their IMU signatures. But its value doesn’t come without challenges – especially when faced with the tidal wave of data it produces. Over 90% of detected pipeline strains have nothing to do with landslides, leaving operators sifting through mountains of noise to uncover the real risks.

Imagine this: millions of rows of strain data, spanning thousands of miles of pipeline, piling up and overflowing. Managing all this data—particularly tracking changes between repeat surveys—feels like an overwhelming task.

The Art of Strain Interpretation

Here’s where things get slippery. Interpreting IMU bending strains requires high confidence in the location of the strain on a map, correlating the strain position to geomorphology (is this a landslide?), checking the pipeline orientation on the slope, and then combining those things with the strain pattern to finally decide whether the pipeline is (or is not) bent in the same way that a hazard would deform it. According to Scheevel, even with multiple screens (she prefers three!), compiling the complete picture is a painstaking process.

Now imagine you’ve received new data that re-reports that same strain location you previously analyzed—after all, the pipe is still bent at that location. But this time, instead of reporting a 300-foot long strain, it’s 275 feet. Is it the same feature? Does the analysis need to be re-done? Without proper tools, wrangling the ever-growing data and historic analyses feels like unmanageable chaos.

Cracking the Code: A Framework for Success

Fortunately, Scheevel’s work offers a solution: a rock-solid, five-layer framework for managing IMU data effectively:

1. Pipeline attributes – The bedrock of information about the pipeline itself.
2. ILI run information – Critical details about when, where, and how data was collected.
3. Strain reports – Vendor-processed results, ready for analysis.
4. Strain features – Pinpointed locations of interest along the pipeline.
5. Strain inspections – Expert interpretation of the strain patterns to identify where geohazards have deformed a pipeline.

This structured approach works like a well-organized library – everything in its place, ready to extract insights when you need them.

Cambio: Where IMU Data Strikes Oil

Enter Cambio, the earth science cloud platform designed to revolutionize the way pipeline operators handle IMU and other geohazard datasets. Think of it as your digital control center, supercharged to integrate multiple streams of geospatial and temporal data into one seamless platform. With Cambio, you can:

• Visualize strain data geospatially (ditch the multi-monitor chaos).
• Track strain history over time with pinpoint accuracy.
• Link strain features directly to ground movement hazards, unlocking actionable insights.
• Analyze data from multiple perspectives, giving you the complete picture.
• Prioritize interventions with confidence, allocating resources to the riskiest sites.

Cambio transforms complexity into clarity, helping operators make faster, better-informed decisions that protect pipeline integrity. That’s what we call striking oil in the data game!

The Future is Steady

The future of pipeline geohazard management is shaping up to be smoother than ever, thanks to advancing technologies and tools like Cambio. Looking ahead, we can expect:

• Automated screening tools tailored to specific terrain challenges.
• More efficient interpretation that saves time and money.
• Seamless integration of historical and real-time data for holistic analysis.
• Smarter decision-making tools to prioritize high-risk sites.
• Enhanced ability to prioritize intervention sites based on comprehensive data analysis.

For pipeline operators and geotechnical specialists, the takeaway is clear: IMU data isn’t just another data stream. It’s a critical asset, capable of preventing costly failures and ensuring the long-term safety of your infrastructure.

Don’t Let Valuable Data Get Buried

IMU technology has the potential to transform pipeline geohazard management – but only if it’s managed effectively. Cambio is here to help you uncover the insights buried in your datasets, turning challenges into opportunities and risks into solutions.