TYLER CAMPBELL, Editor-in-Chief

Pipeline infrastructure is often overlooked because, when everything operates as intended, it remains largely invisible to the public. Behind that reliability are extensive integrity management programs, routine maintenance, inline inspection (ILI), leak detection, corrosion prevention and a workforce trained to respond when problems arise.

These subjects have long been central to Pipeline & Gas Journal. Nearly every issue features articles on leak detection, corrosion control, integrity management, ILI, workforce training, and maintenance, reliability and inspection.

The breadth of these topics underscores their importance. Keeping pipelines operating safely and reliably requires continuous attention to each of these disciplines. When the public rarely notices pipeline infrastructure, it is often because operators have successfully invested in the systems and processes that prevent failures before they occur.

Innovation in pipeline integrity rarely makes front-page headlines, but it plays a critical role in maintaining the infrastructure that supports modern life.

One recent example came in July 2026, when the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) proposed the first major update to federal pipeline repair regulations in more than 20 yrs.

If adopted, the proposal would provide operators with greater flexibility in selecting repair methods while allowing broader use of advanced engineering models, modern inline inspection (ILI) technologies and improved material property analyses when evaluating pipeline integrity.¹

The Growing Importance of Digital Technologies

Many of the industry's latest advances are centered on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). One example is KROHNE's PipePatrol NEO platform, which incorporates its Neural Engine Pipeline Monitoring (NEPM) technology to combine AI with real-time flow measurements for leak detection and localization.

AI and ML are also being applied across a growing range of operational activities, from predictive maintenance and integrity management to capital planning and asset optimization. Several articles in this issue explore how these technologies are helping operators make more informed decisions and improve long-term system reliability.

The public may never see the innovation taking place behind the scenes—and perhaps that is the point. The most effective technologies are often those that quietly help keep critical infrastructure operating safely, efficiently and without interruption.

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_{1. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Pipeline Safety: Repair Criteria for Hazardous Liquid and Gas Transmission Pipelines, July 2026. Online: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2026-07/PHMSA%20Pipeline%20Repair%20Criteria%20NPRM.pdf}