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About PODS

Our passion is pipeline safety and bringing value to our members and community.

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About Us

Since 1998, the PODS Data Model has been increasing the safety and integrity of pipelines worldwide by providing pipeline operators with an enterprise database architecture that is comprehensive, open, vendor-neutral, highly-scalable, and proven. Our passion is pipeline safety and bringing value to our members and community. PODS supports the growing and changing needs of the pipeline industry through ongoing development and maintenance of the Data Model and Standards. This is led by the Technical Committee on Governance, responsible for the strategic technical direction of the PODS Association. The work, including debate, deliberation, and resulting recommendations, is conducted through the assigned Project Teams and Work Groups. Beyond our community and sharing innovation, the PODS Standard is an effective starting point for implementing a GIS and data management program and it’s scalable, supporting the entire asset lifecycle for established programs.

Now more than ever, visibility and optimization of in-ground assets are vital to our industry. The rising cost of failure, the public’s focus on pipelines and the energy future, the need for data transparency and accuracy to meet new regulations, ESG initiatives, and methane reduction…everything is changing, so PODS will too! 

We plan to engage more, be faster, more relevant, and bring value to operators and the service companies that support them. We invite you to join our community even if your company is not an active member to get information on user group meetings, PUG Chapter meetings, networking events, or one of our PODSCasts. 

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Strategic and Tactical Plan for PODS

Now more than ever, visibility and optimization of in-ground assets are vital to our industry. The rising cost of failure, the public’s focus on pipelines and the energy future, the need for data transparency and accuracy to meet new regulations, ESG initiatives, and methane reduction…everything is changing, so PODS will too! 

Our focus is the future of asset integrity, data management, and GIS with brand new strategic goals. The PODS Association is not just for GIS roles but for the entire pipeline integrity community.

Our Stategic Goals

Goal 1
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stablish a single logical data model capable of generating multiple physical data models that are vendorneutral and tested in accordance withPODS Testing plan. The result is a welldocumented pipeline data model that meets current and future pipeline industry needs.

Goal 2
Provide robust communications to member organizations and stakeholders to advance understanding.

Goal 3
Offer clear and complete standards implementation guidance and PODS training services education on PODS fundamentals (PODS orientation vs handson training).

Goal 4
Retain, sustain and grow membership based upon solid value proposition to member organizations. Successfully engage members as volunteers for PODS committees.

Three Reasons to Choose PODS

1. Budget, Safety, & Planning
PODS lowers the risk, cost, and time required to implement a pipeline GIS. Maintaining a single pipeline data repository helps Pipeline Operators improve managed pipeline information quality, quantity, and timeliness. PODS is an Open Standard, so do not have to be tied to a single vendor’s proprietary data model. Multiple vendors develop software products that interact with the PODS database so you can choose software applications based on features, cost, and usability best suited for your company. 


2. Industry Standards Workflow Efficiency
PODS promotes better business processes and workflow. You will experience reduced data transfer between software applications and multiple databases; clear, concise definitions; plus the ability to clearly delineate data ownership.

3. Community and Resources
PODS Association membership leverages a broad knowledge base. As a PODS Member, you immediately become part of a global network of over 170 companies, associations, and agencies to access a wealth of technical knowledge and experience. Members work collaboratively to develop and refine the PODS Pipeline Data Model.

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Membership

PODS Association membersinclude large and small pipelineoperators worldwide and the suppliers, developers, and vendors that support them. Government agencies are also members. In fact, PHMSA uses the PODS model for its baseline in loading into the NPMS system.

PODS Association includes100+ member companies and 3,300+ individual members. The volunteer members who operate the Association and create the data models are the industry’s thought leaders.The member industry service providers (software developers, GIS, integrity engineers, surveyors, etc.) support the entire asset lifecycle from conceptual design through abandonment. Become part of this dynamic community by joining PODS Association today!

Large Operator

$8,500
Price of Membership
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Large Operator

Large companies that own and/or operate large pipeline systems with thousands of miles of pipelines and the stations, facilities and tanks that connect them.

Small Operator

$3,250
Price of Membership
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Small Operator

Smaller companies that own and/or operate pipeline systems with hundreds of miles of pipelines and the stations/facilities that connect them.

Micro Operator

$1,000
Price of Membership
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Micro Operator

PODS is excited to support a new classification of operators. Micro Operators own/operate less than 100 miles of pipeline infrastructure and/or facilities. We are an inclusive community providing value through a foundational data model for basic operations as well as many resources such as education and training. Pipelines are safer and more valuable when you have a digital representation from the field and what is around them to empower quality decision making.

Service Provider

$3,500
Price of Membership
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Service Provider

Vendors, suppliers, developers, consultants, technology companies, EPCs, and any other company that supports pipeline operators in the safe construction, operation, integrity and maintenance of their systems.

Government & Trade Associations

$1,000
Price of Membership
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Government & Trade Associations

PODS has many partners in pipeline safety such as national, state and local government agencies tasked with regulation of pipeline infrastructure as well as the many industry and trade associations that support innovation and collaboration. We are all better together!

Our passion is pipeline safety and bringing value to our members and community. PODS supports the growing pipeline industry, regulation, and energy transitions.