SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING ACTIVITY AND/OR ENVIRONMENT CONDITIONS OF AN AREA SURROUNDING A PIPELINE

Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses and methods configured to monitoring activity and/or environmental conditions of an area surrounding a pipeline. Such systems and methods can utilize fiber optic sensors for monitoring vibrations and other signals in elongated tubular members making up the pipeline. Such fiber optic sensors can be strategically placed at a plurality of locations along a length of the pipeline thereby allowing monitoring of critical operating conditions such as strain, temperature and pressure of the pipeline and other signals indicative of adverse product flow conditions and pipeline operating conditions. Furthermore, one or more drones can be used for using one or more sensors thereof for monitoring and assessing activity within an area adjacent to the respective one of the drones (e.g., the area surrounding the pipeline) and environmental conditions of the area adjacent to the respective one of the drones.