Skip to main content

A Semi-Automated Software Framework Using GEOBIA and GIS for Delineating Oil and Well Pad Footprints in Alberta, Canada

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
  • 941 Accesses

Part of the book series: Advances in Geographic Information Science ((AGIS))

Abstract

Anthropogenic footprints are required by land use managers and policy makers as it provides information on the human impact. The current method of mapping these features requires extensive manual interpretation and requires assumptions based on typical or average areas, consequently impacting the accuracy of current products. The objective of this study is to create a method to efficiently and accurately map the well pad and gas plant footprint in Alberta and to integrate this method into a semi-automated software solution for the production of anthropogenic footprint map layers. The proposed methodology uses a unique combination of geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA) and geographic information system (GIS) algorithms in an intelligent mapping system. The system has two components: Feature Extraction System and Automated Quality Control System. The Feature Extraction System is designed specifically for SPOT 2.5 m panchromatic image data. The automated quality control system checks the resultant objects using predefined rules and certain criteria to find the best possible footprint for the well sites. The results show that the produced well pads have more than 80% accuracy. This study addresses current issues in mapping accuracy and developed a processing framework that allows timely automated production of well site and gas plant footprint.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Leu M, Hanser SE, Knick ST (2008) The human footprint in the west: a large-scale analysis of anthropogenic impacts. Ecol Appl 18(5):1119–1139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Weller C, Thomson J, Morton P, Aplet G (2009) Fragmenting our lands: the ecological footprint from oil and gas development. http://wilderness.org/resource/fragmenting-our-lands-ecological-footprint-oil-and-gas-development. Accessed 15 Aug 2013

  3. Pasher J, Seed E, Duffe J (2013) Development of boreal ecosystem anthropogenic disturbance layers for Canada based on 2008 to 2010 Landsat imagery. Can J Remote Sens 39(1):42–58. doi:10.5589/m13-007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Castillejo-González IL, López-Granados F, García-Ferrer A, Peña-Barragán JM, Jurado-Expósito M, de la Orden MS, González-Audicana M (2009) Object- and pixel-based analysis for mapping crops and their agro-environmental associated measures using QuickBird imagery. Comput Electron Agric 68(2):207–215. doi:10.1016/j.compag.2009.06.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Chen Z, Jefferies B, Adlakha P, Salehi B, Power D (2014) Monitoring linear disturbance footprint based on dense time series Landsat imagery. Can J Remote Sens 40(5):348–361. doi:10.1080/07038992.2014.987375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Martha TR, Kerle N, van Westen CJ, Jetten V, Vinod Kumar K (2012) Object-oriented analysis of multi-temporal panchromatic images for creation of historical landslide inventories. ISPRS J Photogramm Remote Sens 67:105–119. doi:10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2011.11.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Hay G, Castilla G (2008) Geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA): a new name for a new discipline. In: Blaschke T, Lang S, Hay G (eds) Object-based image analysis spatial concepts for knowledge-driven remote sensing applications. Springer, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Blaschke T, Lang S, Hay G, SpringerLink (Online service) (2008) Object-based image analysis spatial concepts for knowledge-driven remote sensing applications Lecture notes in geoinformation and cartography

    Google Scholar 

  9. Powers RP, Hay GJ, Chen G (2012) How wetland type and area differ through scale: a GEOBIA case study in Alberta’s Boreal plains. Remote Sens Environ 117:135–145. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2011.07.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Duro DC, Franklin SE, Dubé MG (2012) A comparison of pixel-based and object-based image analysis with selected machine learning algorithms for the classification of agricultural landscapes using SPOT-5 HRG imagery. Remote Sens Environ 118:259–272. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2011.11.020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Jobin B, Labrecque S, Grenier M, Falardeau G (2008) Object-based classification as an alternative approach to the traditional pixel-based classification to identify potential habitat of the grasshopper sparrow. Environ Manag 41(1):20–31. doi:10.1007/s00267-007-9031-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. AlbertaEnergy (2013a) Natural gas facts. http://www.energy.alberta.ca/NaturalGas/726.asp. Accessed 15 Aug 2013

  13. AlbertaEnvironment (2013) Oil and gas. http://environment.alberta.ca/02242.html. Accessed 15 Aug 2013

  14. AlbertaEnergy (2013b) Regional plans. http://www.energy.alberta.ca/Initiatives/3433.asp. Accessed 15 Aug 2013

  15. Gonzalez RC, Woods RE (2008) Digital image processing, 3rd edn. Pearson/Prentice Hall, Harlow

    Google Scholar 

  16. Vincent L, Soille P (1991) Watershed in digital spaces: an efficient algorithm based on immersion simulations. IEEE Trans Pattern Anal Mach Intell 13(6):583–598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Zuiderveld K (1994) Contrast limited adaptive histograph equalization. Graphic Gems 4:474–485

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Duda RO, Hart PE (1972) Use of the Hough transformation to detect lines and curves in pictures. Commun ACM 15(1):11–15. doi:10.1145/361237.361242

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author is thankful to The National Research Council-Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) of Canada and Alberta Innovates Technology Futures for the financial support of this study. Alberta Department of Energy has provided some of the spatial data used in this study. The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Tom Churchill for his expertise on energy activities and well pads in Alberta.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Verda Kocabas .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kocabas, V. (2018). A Semi-Automated Software Framework Using GEOBIA and GIS for Delineating Oil and Well Pad Footprints in Alberta, Canada. In: Thill, JC., Dragicevic, S. (eds) GeoComputational Analysis and Modeling of Regional Systems. Advances in Geographic Information Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59511-5_13

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics