Using Instrumentation and Monitoring to Track Pipeline Strain

Subsurface geohazards can pose significant risks to buried pipelines. Geosyntec's Debora Martogi discusses how operators can better understand changing subsurface conditions and obtain the data needed to assess risk before problems arise.

Meet Debora at the 2026 International Pipeline Conference and Expo (IPCE) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on September 21 through 25.

Geohazards: Buried Pipelines, Hidden Risks

Of the approximately 3.8 million miles of oil and gas pipelines in the United States and Canada, the vast majority are buried and, therefore, are exposed to geohazards like landslides and earthquakes. To understand how these hazards influence pipeline strain and stress, operators need specialized monitoring technologies and experienced practitioners, like Debora.

"We can identify hazards in the field and through desktop, but what we see at the surface might not explain what is happening below ground."

Using IMU and Strain Gauges Together to Collect the Right Data

Debora explains two common tools used to measure pipeline strain: an in-line inspection (ILI) tool known as an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and strain gauges.

"IMU gives operators a general understanding of where bending strain may be occurring along hundreds to thousands of miles of pipeline at a given point in time, helping operators identify and prioritize locations of concern. Operators can then install strain gauges at those locations to continuously monitor changes in strain at a location of concern. This allows operators to decide whether a pipeline that crosses a hazard is likely being affected by it as the hazard moves and take precautionary measures."

Turning Site-Specific Data Into Mitigation and Monitoring Projects

The data collected from strain gauges helps operators understand what is happening below the ground at their sites.

"IMU and strain gauges tell different stories. At sites that have not yet been mitigated, strain gauges play an important role in tracking strain accumulation along the pipeline. Every pipeline has limits on the amount of strain it can handle, and these measurements help operators know if strain levels are within an acceptable range or not."

Building the Full Picture with Long-Term Geohazard Monitoring

Many operators review strain data at intervals ranging from weekly to annually, depending on site risk, with higher-priority sites being reviewed more often. Debora notes, "A monitoring program is built on years of data. IMU assessments, strain gauges, and other types of monitoring and inspections all feed data into the story of a site."

She adds that IMU assessments and strain gauges, combined with pipeline inspection records, LiDAR data, field assessments, and site history, are crucial to monitoring programs.

"You have to integrate all these data. Looking at a strain gauge by itself, without additional information, won't make sense."

"When we combine data from our different assessment and monitoring efforts, it tells the story of a site, a story that can help operators decide where to conduct immediate intervention and mitigation and where continued monitoring makes sense." Each operator has a different decision matrix and process; each prioritizes sites differently. We provide an expert opinion on the data collected to help the operator make informed decisions about their sites."

About our Geohazards Practitioner at IPCE

Debora Martogi, PhD, is an Engineer based in Texas. She focuses on construction materials testing and geotechnical consulting, including geohazard monitoring and mitigation for pipeline and infrastructure projects. Her work often involves geohazard instrumentation, data management and analytics, pipeline strain monitoring, and evaluation of geohazards and pipeline integrity. Debora will present "Combining Strain Data from IMU and Strain Gauges Using Strain Gauge Module" at IPCE on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.