Pipeline security systems: The underground sensors secure pipelines against: >Theft >Terrorism >3rd party intervention Additional applications: Data transfer highways: >Either through its own RF wireless connections,or >It can use existing telecom installations like SCADA, or >SCADA system can utilize the information highway provided.

Our proposed solution is to provide wireless communication corridor above the pipeline with sensors installed every 300 meters with geophones and motion sensors able to detect any earth movement or uncertified activity with a 99% accuracy within 100 meters radius. As it can be seen in figure 2, the sensors communicate in a daisy chain and sends information down the line to the command center. Any disruptions in the communications in the chain the information is sent the other direction. Each underground sensor is equipped with batteries and a collection of sensors depending on client requirements.

Sensor coverage area:
Below figure 3 shows the covering area of one seismic sensor and the covering area of several seismic sensors operating from 1 SU. (Seismic sensors are used for surface & sub-surface explosions, digging.

Pipeline security Concept of operation:

Focused on the mission of damage prevention, the system is designed to raise an alarm to the operator (in the control room or in a patrol vehicle at the pipeline site) – only when a real and concrete threat is identified. The definition of a "real threat" or "threat of interest" can be defined by the operator, in conjunction with several other parameters like sensitivity, level of confidence etc. In order to filter out the activities, which are excluded from the operator definition, a seismic signal analysis process is conducted continuously, where only the "recognized" signals would set the flag that will end up as an alarm. Along the pipe, at a depth which is in between the pipe and the surface of the ground, either over the pipe or within offset boundaries of up to 10 meters, sensing units (S.U.) are installed at a distance of about 100 - 300 meters max. apart. Each unit is an autonomous entity with a different ID, carrying all that is required in order to conduct the activity along its section, from sensing the raw seismic signals to the transmission of the alarming message.

The S.U.s are a fully software based component, and can therefore be updated with new parameters and version additions with time. In order to securely transfer the alarm message from the sensing unit to the operator, the system offers several options, as derived from the characteristics of the pipe area. The common and best method is by using an RF medium, by which each S.U. transmits the condensed message to its neighbors on either side of the line, and from there along the chain to both edges of the line section where it is integrated into the SCADA infrastructure. In those cases where using a small exposed antenna is not feasible (usually due to the possibility of water contact or agriculture activity in the location) – a communication wire is routed between the units, carrying the information along the chain using the same protocol and logic.