The pipeline industry is under more pressure than ever to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant operations—and data is at the heart of it all. In a compelling episode of the Pipeline Technology Podcast, Jackie Smith, president of PODS and a GIS IT Architect for Williams. Connect with Jackie on LinkedIn, dives into how PODS (Pipeline Open Data Standard) plays a foundational role in organizing and leveraging pipeline data across the lifecycle of assets.
Why PODS Matters More Than Ever
As regulations evolve and the industry continues its digital transformation, the ability to standardize pipeline data becomes critical. PODS provides a common language and data model that allows operators to:
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Streamline data management across departments and tools
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Enhance the accuracy and speed of reporting and analysis
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Support integrity management programs with trustworthy data
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Integrate geographic information system (GIS) data for more insightful decision-making
Jackie shares insights into how PODS is not just a database schema—it’s a community-driven initiative helping operators future-proof their data infrastructure.
What’s Changing in PODS
The latest evolution of PODS embraces modern database platforms and is designed to support today’s real-world needs—like inline inspection data, pipeline attributes, and traceability. Jackie emphasizes that the model’s flexibility and scalability are key for supporting everything from compliance workflows to AI-based analytics.
The Power of Collaboration
Another theme in the episode is the strength of industry collaboration. The PODS community includes operators, vendors, regulators, and service providers, all working together to ensure the standard stays relevant and impactful. Whether you’re just beginning to implement PODS or are an active contributor to its development, there’s value in being connected.
🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: Introduction to PODS with Jackie Smith
Discover how PODS is empowering the pipeline industry to move from siloed data to smarter, safer systems.