an operational monitoring system for use in communications , and a method thereof , for operational , systems or integrity management of pipeline infrastructures which operates by broadcasting wireless signals through gas distribution networks and analyzing the traversed signals to assess the operational , systems or integrity of the natural gas pipelines . the operational monitoring system includes a transmitter located at a first location arranged to transmit a wireless signal through natural gas contained within a pipeline infrastructure ; a receiver located at a second location structured to receive the wireless signal transmitted through the natural gas contained within the pipeline infrastructure ; and a device to analyze the received wireless signal indications of operational changes in the natural gas pipeline infrastructure .