Towards Accurate Underground Pipeline Visualization: Integrating Augmented Reality, Geospatial Databases, and Kilometer Markers

Pipeline field operators traditionally rely on physical kilometer (KM) markers to locate and identify underground pipelines for inspection and maintenance activities. However, this approach is often inefficient due to marker degradation, limited size of marker plates, and the lack of precise spatial information about buried assets. Augmented Reality (AR) has emerged as a promising technology that enables the visualization of virtual objects onto real-world scenes using mobile devices equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors and cameras. This paper proposes an alternative approach that integrates AR technology with a geospatial database and existing KM markers to improve the visualization and localization of underground pipelines. The proposed method leverages KM markers as fiducial anchors within the AR environment, enhancing the positional accuracy of virtual pipeline overlays displayed on the live camera view. By using these physical reference points, the system mitigates inaccuracies associated with mobile GPS measurements and camera intrinsic parameters. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed AR-based approach improves the accuracy of underground pipeline localization compared to conventional GIS-based visualization methods. The study concludes that the proposed method is an effective and practical solution for accurately identifying and locating hidden underground facilities and assets in field operations.