Dave Furry proves the axiom that necessity is the mother of invention. After seeing firsthand the threat of leaking gas, Dave Furry brainstormed to develop groundbreaking new technology that could detect gas-line leaks in fewer steps—literally. As a municipal gas system operator, Furry monitored gas lines for leaks and because there wasn’t a more effective method, sometimes he and his crew walked the entire pipeline system—nearly 45 miles!

  Furry knew that if he could invent a camera that could “see” the invisible, leaking natural gas, it would save time and money. Over a 12-year period, he developed what’s now known as the Hawk Leak Detection System. This new monitoring device uses a cryogenically cooled infrared camera that shows leaking gas in real time. With the infrared camera mounted on a remotely controlled platform of a helicopter, workers fly at about 500 feet over the span of pipelines and quickly discover leaks. Inspections that used to take months to perform now take weeks.

  In addition, businesses can use the Hawk System to detect volatile organic compound (VOC) leaks, which helps the environment through reduced emissions. Just as important, it helps cut labor costs incurred in complying with EPA and TCEQ regulations by reducing the time it takes to scan for leaks.

  This success has led businesses and environmental agencies across the United States as well as several countries to purchase the Hawk System, including the TCEQ, which currently operates three of the portable camera systems. The EPA launched its own study on the effectiveness of Hawk technology, and this year will facilitate the use of optical imaging by the regulated community. In the end, one man’s desire to shorten his walk has ended up changing the way businesses around the world monitor for emissions.