The long pipeline sector has fuelled hundreds of technological breakthroughs - from the rise of the automobile, to sending humans into space. Despite being a key driver of innovation and the most popular form of fluid transport, the pipeline industry itself has witnessed comparatively few technological transformations throughout its history. Since the introduction of steel welded joints in the 1920s and the subsequent construction of leakproof, high-pressure, large-diameter pipelines, the underlying physical infrastructure of the industry has remained virtually unchanged. The explanation for this continuity is simple - the existing technology works. Equipped with such a solid foundation, pipeline engineers have been able to focus their attention on innovations beyond the pipeline itself. Such developments include reducing internal pipe corrosion by incorporating drag-reducing polymers into petrochemical products prior to transport. In recent years though, the rise of smart technology, coupled with increasing public and government scrutiny, suggests that the pipeline industry is due for a major technological shake-up. Getting smart: the implications of Industry 4.0. The digital revolution has transformed the daily operations of hundreds of industries, including food production, building management and chemical processing.
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