The Pipeline Open Data Standard (PODS) data model provides the database architecture pipeline operators need to submit regulatory reports (PHMSA & NPMS), store critical information, analyze pipeline systems data, and manage geospatial data in a linear-referenced database which can be visualized in any GIS platform. The PODS Pipeline Data Model houses the attribute, asset information, construction, inspection, integrity management, regulatory compliance, risk analysis, history, and operational data that pipeline companies have deemed mission-critical to successfully managing natural gas and hazardous liquids pipelines.

The PODS data model is the industry standard used by pipeline operators to provide a single master source of information and eliminate localized silos of often unconnected information. As the US and other parts of the world increase their focus on pipeline integrity management (PIM), the importance of data integration should not be overlooked. Referencing and integrating data within a spatial context can help to provide pipeline operators with a definitive view of their pipeline assets. The PODS data model provides guidelines for the tedious process of reconciling “as-built” data with operational and inspection data in one single source.

Because PODS is designed to rigid standards by the thought leaders in the pipeline industry, including operators and service providers, PODS can be accessed and used by multiple vendors and software platforms.  PODS is already an extensive pipeline data model for storing a comprehensive set of critical features and attributes necessary to support PIM. PODS is GIS‐platform independent, meaning it can work with Esri, Intergraph, or any other GIS software. It is available as either a relational database (Oracle and SQL Server are currently supported) or an Esri geodatabase.