ESRI announced it has joined the PODS Association, Inc., a nonprofit pipeline trade organization serving members around the world. By becoming a PODS member, ESRI will be able to better serve its users who are members of PODS as well as provide the association with insight from its GIS experience.
“The PODS Association has a proven track record for innovation, and its data model is widely used,” says Rob Brook, pipeline industry manager, ESRI. “ESRI is excited about joining the association to support the needs of PODS GIS users and to provide our GIS expertise. This gives ESRI the opportunity to help the pipeline industry develop standards, to continue building strong industry relationships, and to gain additional insight into the details of pipeline operations.”
The PODS Association’s mandate is to develop and maintain pipeline data standards and data interchange standards for the pipeline industry. These standards primarily include pipeline operations, facilities, integrity management, and regulatory compliance. The association also manages and maintains the PODS data model.
In addition to becoming a member, ESRI recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the PODS Association and the ArcGIS Pipeline Data Model (APDM) Steering Committee that sets forth a framework for a close working relationship. Each organization will maintain its autonomy but will work together to create the PODS ESRI geodatabase, which is a spatially enabled version of PODS.
ESRI will also contribute to the development and content of association activities and data standards. As part of ESRI’s membership duties, Brook will chair a new working group on new construction and survey data exchange standards. The goals of this group will be to define a best practice and associated standard for exchanging data between engineers, pipeline construction companies, and pipeline operators.
“ESRI would like to provide PODS with another venue for communication and knowledge transfer,” adds Bill Meehan, utility solutions manager, ESRI. “This should provide users with a data model that will better integrate with ESRI software. In addition, we want to play an active role in the development of standards and best practices. We are excited to be a part of the organization, and we are eager to help in any way that PODS sees fit.”