Why was PODS formed?
In 1998, a small number of application developers were asked by the Gas Research Institute (GRI) to help speed the development of an expanded ISAT data model. These individuals (the GRI Working Group) generously donated their companies’ time, expertise and intellectual property to extend the original ISAT data model by adding important functionality and significantly expanding the original scope of ISAT. The effort has taken a very pragmatic approach with the goal of developing data model standards in the pipeline industry with an emphasis in the area of geospatial GIS technology.
The main objective of the initial effort – called Pipeline Open Data Standard or PODS (ISAT 2.0) – was to stimulate discussion and:
- support the need to form a self funding organization, consisting of both pipelines and all the various applications developers, data vendors and service providers representing more than just GIS platforms,
- suggest the adoption of a formal not-for-profit trade association with bylaws, various types of memberships, and membership fees supported by an annual budget,
- suggest an initial slate of officers as interim Board members,
- publish a timetable to promote discussion towards initiating the Association
- publish a “White Paper” report to present new ideas and accelerate any technical discussions