Our History

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 geo-spatial GIS technology.

The main objective of the initial effort - called Pipeline Open Data Standard or PODS (ISAT 2.0) - was:

• support the need to form a self funding organization, consisting of both pipeline operating companies, 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.

As the PODS Data Model has grown in acceptance and adoption across the pipeline industry and around the world, the Association's membership has also grown to today include more than 100 member companies.  PODS membership includes small, medium, and large oil and gas companies, service and software providers to the pipeline industry, industry associations, and government agencies.  The PODS Data Model is used by some of the the world's largest oil & gas companies and stores millions of records for hundred of thousands of miles of pipelines.

Expansion of the Data Model

Since its inception, the PODS Association has supported continued development of the PODS Data Model in order to meet the needs of the pipeline industry.  Government regulation and technological advancement of integrity and risk management applications have driven much of this progress. Below is a brief overview of how the PODS Data Model has been adapted to meet these needs.

¹Reduced because ID columns were dropped.