Surveillance of the oil and gas shipping pipelines

Citation
Petru, J., & Octav, D. (2011). Pipeline Infrastructure Monitoring Using Wireless Sensor Networks. Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti Bulletin, Technical Series, 63(2).
Summary
Petru and Octav (2011) in their research submit various outcomes of their systematic doctoral study concerning the surveillance of the oil as well as gas shipping pipelines through the utilization of wireless sensors networks (WSN). The researchers argue the matters as well as problems encountered by the utilization of this novel as well as extremely promising technology within the safeguard as well as surveillance of the crucial and important pipeline infrastructures for the transportation of petroleum products such as gas and oil or other vital supplies. Petru and Octav (2011) further discuss the topological and architectural paradigm which may be utilized to offer this surveillance as well as control operations. This paradigm comprises an outline of networking as well as routing procedures which may be utilized to offer the essential communications. Besides, the authors of the research report offer discussions as well as suggestions regarding the WSN dependability and the application of various wireless sensor technologies.
Petru and Octav (2011) argue that an energy disaster influences the increased speed of advancement in several investments within the petroleum sector. They assert that the investments within the WSN signify an important realm in the entire series for the supply of oil as well as gas.

They state that the oil and gas transport is customarily achieved via the use of pipelines that pass through areas with harsh climatic conditions. These climatic conditions always make it hard for the stakeholders to verify the state of the transportation pipe channels down the path of many kilometers.
Petru and Octav (2011) further assert that the interest given to the investments within surveillance of the pipelines carrying oil products as well as gas is established by the risks which these products poses to the environment and the neighboring population. The pipelines may suffer accidental leaks to the natural environment as well as accidental fire leading to massive loss of lives of animals and human beings. Moreover, these pipelines may be the targeted by criminals who vandalize, interrupt or attacked by terrorists. Petru and Octav (2011) explain that during warfare, these oil pipelines are always targeted by the armed forces that attack and destroy the pipelines resulting in a serious disruption of the opponent’s logistics.
Petru and Octav (2011) offer a solution to these challenges. They explain that the possibility of these challenges or accidents may be considerably decreased via the surveillance and stringent regulation of the condition of the pipeline system infrastructure as well as its process parameters. They aver that the transportation security relies mainly on the safety surveillance as well as the control structure. Considering all these challenges as well as the possible benefits of the WSN, the authors’ study on the surveillance of the oil as well as gas shipping pipelines through the utilization of WSN is justified. This justification is since the WSN positively impacts the working safety of the whole sensor net structure for the surveillance of the oil and natural gas pipelines transportation structures from mining locations to the storage facilities or processing plants.
Petru and Octav (2011) also discuss the benefits of the WSN in the safeguard of the oil and gas pipeline channels. They state that cost is significantly decreased because of there is no cost for laying down networks that require expensive cabling and is also greatly involving to connect and needs specialized knowledge. Secondly, the WSN repairs workers require very minimal knowledge, as well as they, must not have particular engineering or computer programming competencies; this also decreases the labor expenditure which is needed. Lastly, the WSN is a flexible network, and several security measures may be added to additionally improve its safety as well as strength against several kinds of possible attacks.
Relation to Criminal Justice Components
The American criminal justice system is divided into various components that are having a distinct focus on the application of the law, and they also handle suspected criminals as well as convicted offenders differently at different phases of their engagement with the system. These components relate to the Petru and Octav’s (2011) research in the following aspects.
Law Enforcement component
It is the initial constituent comprising mainly of the police who normally make initial contact with offenders. The police have been given the duty to keep the law, investigate offenses as well as make arrests of the suspected people who may be responsible for doing particular offenses. In their article, Petru and Octav (2011) explain that the oil pipeline has suffered the problem vandalism. This is an offense since it involves the destruction of public property. The police are responsible for arresting these suspected vandals which are easy through the surveillance of the pipeline using the WSN.
Prosecution
This component is composed of prosecutors who act for the government in courts against the suspected criminals. The suspected vandals of the oil pipeline after their arrest by the police must be presented to the court and prosecuted by the state through the state prosecutors. The WSN enable the police to monitor the pipeline and catch the suspected criminals. The reports of the WSN may be used by the prosecutors to prove the case against the accused.
The Courts
This component comprises mainly of the judges, the defense attorneys as well as the jury. The judge and the jury listen to the case presented by both sides (the prosecution and the accused) on the alleged offense of vandalism of the oil pipeline. The court may rely on the WSN report as investigated by the police. The jury and the judge shall then make a decision on whether to convict or acquit the accused. The defense attorney presents the accused case.
Corrections
The convicted criminal of vandalism of the oil pipeline, as detected by the WSN, is to be held in the prisons.
Opinion and further topic of exploration
In conclusion, in my opinion, the article offers good background information into the challenges facing the oil pipeline system. It builds the background using better historical examples of these problems from various countries, and this brings a better appreciation of these problems to the study audience. This further, makes their study justified. However, I think the authors have not adequately discussed the benefits of WSN that makes them suitable for the surveillance of the oil pipelines. Whereas the researchers focus lightly on the advantages of the WSN, these networks have disadvantages that may prove them unreliable for the use for pipeline surveillance. For example, Tiwari et al. (2015) explain that these networks have low speed when contrasted to wired networks and they are less safe since a hacker’s laptop may function as an Access Point. Further, they are affected by the environment such as walls that block them, interference by the microwave ovens and attenuation due to far distance. This research raises the issue of vandalism as a challenge facing the oil pipeline sector. I would like to explore this challenge of vandalism to establish ways in which oil pipelines are vandalized; arrests, prosecutions and court convictions if any to deter such crimes within the US.
References
Petru, J., & Octav, D. (2011). Pipeline Infrastructure Monitoring Using Wireless Sensor Networks. Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti Bulletin, Technical Series, 63(2).
Tiwari, P., Saxena, V. P., Mishra, R. G., & Bhavsar, D. (2015). Wireless Sensor Networks: Introduction. Advantages, Applications and Research Challenges, HCTL Open International Journal of Technology Innovations and Research (IJTIR), 14, 2321-1814. http://ijtir.hctl.org/vol14/IJTIR_Article_201504011.pdf