This article was taken from the November 2014 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by ...

Since the advent of miniature cameras, plant and utility personnel have used them to assess pipe condition and troubleshoot problems. Over the years, new delivery mechanisms have emerged to carry ...

The line’s structural integrity could be assessed using pipeline inspection gauges, or “pigs,” which are cleaning devices— smart pigs have sensors—that are inserted into an oversized section of pipe, ...