Meet the Finalists of the 2026 Hermann Rosen Award for Pipeline Innovation
ROSEN Group and ASME Foundation are proud to announce the finalists for the 2026 Hermann Rosen Award for Pipeline Innovation.
Established in honor of ROSEN founder Hermann Rosen, the award recognizes students, researchers, start-ups, and early-career professionals whose ideas advance pipeline integrity and energy transportation. The award supports emerging talent, promotes industry awareness, and provides a platform for innovative solutions to industry challenges.
Following an evaluation by an industry panel consisting of representatives from ROSEN and the ASME Pipeline Systems Division, three finalists have been selected for their innovative approaches to pipeline integrity, monitoring, and decision-making. Together, the finalist projects address some of the industry's most pressing challenges, from climate resilience and digitalization to the protection of critical infrastructure.
Meet the 2026 Finalists
Allison Gabriel (Nigeria)
PIPEGUARD AI – Autonomous Pipeline Threat Detection and Leak Monitoring System
Allison Gabriel designed PIPEGUARD AI, an intelligent monitoring solution, to detect leaks, illegal tapping, and abnormal pipeline activities in real time, particularly in remote and difficult-to-access environments. Combining distributed IoT sensors, artificial intelligence, and autonomous power generation, the system offers an affordable and scalable approach to improving pipeline safety, reducing environmental impact, and protecting critical infrastructure in remote environments.
Collins Kubu (Kenya)
PipelineGPT – A Retrieval-Augmented Natural Language Interface for Pipeline Integrity Data
With PipelineGPT, Collins Kubu applies artificial intelligence to transform complex pipeline integrity and compliance information into accessible, source-grounded insights. By allowing users to interact with technical documents through natural-language queries while maintaining transparency and human oversight, the solution helps integrity professionals navigate growing volumes of operational and regulatory data more effectively.
Dr. Kshama Roy, Subashish Kundu Sunny and Abdullah Muhammad Asif (Canada)
PIPEGEO: An Integrated Pipeline Integrity Assessment Platform for Evolving Ground Deformation
As climate impacts and geohazards increasingly affect critical infrastructure, the PIPEGEO team developed a platform that helps pipeline operators better understand and manage ground movement risks before they threaten pipeline integrity. By combining satellite-based monitoring, engineering models, and advanced analytical tools, the project provides a scalable framework for assessing climate-related geohazard impacts on pipelines.
Looking Ahead to IPCE 2026
The three finalists will be recognized during the ASME Award Ceremony at the International Pipeline Conference & Expo (IPCE) on September 22, 2026, where the winner of the 2026 Hermann Rosen Award for Pipeline Innovation will be announced.
As the award enters its second year, it continues to highlight the role emerging innovators play in shaping the future of pipeline and energy transportation. Through their ideas, expertise, and willingness to challenge established approaches, this year's finalists reflect the spirit that inspired the creation of the award.