What data should an airborne methane survey provider deliver to the operator?

An airborne methane survey provider should deliver structured geospatial data, a detailed gas indication report, and secure digital access to results, typically within days of the survey flight. The deliverables must allow operators to locate, verify, and act on every gas indication found during the inspection. The sections below break down exactly what to expect across format, content, timing, regulatory compliance, and data access.

What formats should methane survey data be delivered in?

Methane survey data should be delivered in georeferenced geospatial formats, most commonly GIS-compatible files such as shapefiles, KML, or GeoJSON, alongside a structured PDF or digital report. These formats allow operators to load findings directly into their own asset management or mapping systems without manual re-entry of coordinates or indication details.

Raw measurement data from LIDAR-based systems is typically processed and filtered before delivery, so what operators receive is an interpreted dataset rather than unprocessed sensor output. Each gas indication should carry precise GPS coordinates, the measured concentration or leakage rate estimate, flight metadata (altitude, speed, timestamp), and a confidence classification. Some providers also supply raster overlays that visualise methane column concentrations across the surveyed corridor, which are useful for communicating findings to non-technical stakeholders.

Where multiple pipeline segments or sites are inspected in a single campaign, data should be structured so that each segment is queryable independently. This matters for operators managing large, geographically distributed networks who need to prioritise repair work by location or severity rather than reviewing a single undifferentiated dataset.

What does a gas indication report actually contain?

A gas indication report contains a record of every location where the survey detected a methane concentration above the detection threshold, along with supporting evidence to help the operator assess and verify each finding. At minimum, each indication entry should include GPS coordinates, estimated leakage rate, wind conditions at the time of detection, and a classification of confidence level or severity.

Beyond the raw indication data, a well-structured report includes the following elements:

• Survey coverage confirmation: A map or log showing which pipeline sections were successfully flown and at what altitude and speed, so operators can verify that the full contracted scope was covered.
• Detection context: Wind speed and direction at the time of each indication, which affects both the measured concentration and the likely source location relative to the pipeline.
• Photographic or sensor imagery: Where available, visual documentation of the terrain at the indication location to support ground crew verification.
• Leakage rate estimates: Quantified estimates expressed in standard units (litres per hour or equivalent) rather than qualitative descriptors alone.
• Classification or prioritisation flags: A grading that helps maintenance teams decide which indications require immediate ground inspection versus routine follow-up.

A report that delivers only coordinates without this supporting context forces operators to conduct additional investigation before they can act, adding time and cost to the verification process.

How quickly should survey results be delivered after a flight?

Survey results should be delivered within a few business days of the flight, with preliminary findings available sooner for any high-severity indications identified during the mission. Delays beyond one to two weeks are a sign that data processing is not sufficiently automated or that the provider lacks the capacity to handle the volume of data generated.

For aerial pipeline inspection campaigns covering hundreds of kilometres, same-day delivery of final reports is not realistic, data must be processed, quality-checked, and georeferenced before it is useful. However, the provider should have a clear, committed turnaround time in the service agreement, not a vague promise of „results within a few weeks.“

Operators planning maintenance schedules or regulatory reporting benefit most when delivery timelines are predictable. If a survey is conducted in advance of a seasonal maintenance window, late delivery can push repair work into the next available slot, increasing the period during which a potential leak remains unaddressed.

What regulatory data requirements apply to methane survey reports in the EU?

Under the EU Methane Regulation, operators of underground gas infrastructure are required to conduct leak detection and repair (LDAR) surveys using methods that meet defined sensitivity thresholds. For Type 2 equipment, which includes underground components, the regulation requires detection technology capable of identifying leaks at rates that correspond to the sensitivity levels achievable by high-performance LIDAR gas detection systems.

From a data perspective, this means survey reports used to demonstrate regulatory compliance must include:

• Evidence that the detection method meets the required sensitivity threshold for the equipment type being inspected
• Documented survey conditions, including wind speed, which affects detection reliability
• A complete record of the inspected network, confirming full coverage of the regulated asset base
• Quantified leakage estimates where indications are found, not just binary detected/not-detected records
• Timestamps and georeferencing sufficient to link each finding to a specific asset in the operator’s register

Operators should confirm with their survey provider that the delivered data package is structured to support regulatory submissions, not just internal maintenance planning. The format and completeness of the report determine whether it can be used directly as compliance evidence or requires additional processing before submission.

How should operators be able to access and interact with survey results?

Operators should be able to access survey results through a secure, web-based platform that works on both desktop and mobile devices, without requiring specialist GIS software. The platform should allow filtering by indication severity, location, and date, and should support export to common formats for integration with the operator’s own asset management systems.

Static PDF reports alone are no longer sufficient for pipeline operators managing complex networks. Interactive access to georeferenced findings means field teams can pull up indication locations on a mobile device while conducting ground verification, rather than navigating from printed maps or manually entering coordinates into a separate tool.

Key capabilities an operator should expect from a modern survey data platform include:

• Role-based access control: Different users, planners, field engineers, compliance officers, should be able to access the data appropriate to their function without sharing a single login.
• Historical data retention: Results from previous surveys should remain accessible so operators can track whether previously identified indications have been resolved and compare findings across inspection cycles.
• Mobile compatibility: Field verification teams need access in areas with limited connectivity, so the platform should support offline or low-bandwidth use where possible.
• Data export: Findings should be exportable in standard geospatial formats to feed into the operator’s existing GIS or asset management infrastructure.

How ADLARES delivers methane survey data to operators

We provide a complete data delivery package with every airborne methane survey we conduct using our CHARM® LIDAR technology. Our deliverables are designed to meet both operational and regulatory needs, so operators can act on findings immediately and use the data directly for EU Methane Regulation compliance. Here is what we deliver as standard:

• Georeferenced gas indication data in GIS-compatible formats, with precise GPS coordinates, leakage rate estimates, wind conditions, and confidence classifications for every indication found
• Full survey coverage documentation confirming which pipeline sections were flown and under what conditions, so operators have a complete audit trail
• Secure Web GIS platform access on desktop and mobile, allowing operators and field teams to filter, view, and export findings without specialist software
• DVGW-approved methodology, CHARM® is the world’s only DVGW-certified remote gas detection system, which means our reports meet the evidentiary standard required for regulatory submissions under EU Methane Regulation Type 2
• Fast turnaround with committed delivery timelines agreed before the survey campaign begins

If you want to understand exactly what a CHARM® survey deliverable looks like for your network, contact our team to discuss your pipeline inspection requirements and we will walk you through the full data package.