This blog looks at virtual reality for engineering asset management mainly chemical process facilities such as production, refining and manufacturing plants.
Although I am intrigued by Second Life, I am not yet 100% sold on the concept for day-to-day interaction. I still think that if you want to talk to your family or neighbor you should just call or stop by, not a big fan of unnecessary social media no matter how good the cellphone package.
That said their are benefits to virtual communication. In fact my blog (this one) is dedicated to the benefits of virtual reality as it relates to process engineering.
So here is an interesting video with a cute kid voice boasting all of the benefits of 2nd Life from commerce to learning a new language.
One of the hindrances to take up of 3d virtual reality solutions for asset management is the sheer amount of graphical data. Depending on the value proposition users may opt to break down the model and visualized components or systems rather than the entire asset. It is important to consider an application that permits the user to access entire asset view. In this post I will talk about the benefits of visualizing the entire asset for training, work flow optimization and data access. 1. Training 1.1. Familiarization Although there is a benefit to training operators on systems and even individual equipment it should not negate the benefits of training an operator on the facility. The asset view can be used to train users on evacuation routes, standard procedures, team dependent procedures as well as multi-system duties. Additionally, a comprehensive view permits operators to understand how systems interact with each other. An example of this is the affect of radiant heat transfer between neighboring equipment. 1.2. Multi-user training Using the entire model users can simulate plant wide evacuations during a standard operations procedure by coaching users on corresponding huddle points, evacuation routes and alarming protocols. 2. Workflow optimization 2.1. Time savings The time required to break down the model and manage versions for separate files makes virtual solutions for asset management prohibitive. The process and resources required to intelligently break down a facility may take months and resource from the end user, this timeline is not practical for model updates. 3. Data Access 3.1. User queries Streamlining data access by using the 3D virtual world as a portal to data is diminished when the model is broken into parts. This concept assumes that the end user already knows which system contains the attributes they are searching for. When building decision support tools this reduces access forcing organizations to add a layer of training before introducing the technology. 3.2. No –one to-one If the information system does not have a corresponding bread down of information; this information will have to be mapped or even added to the information system increasing the chance for error and null values. The process may also required more time and resources. Conclusions Using the entire asset 3D view, when incorporating interactive 3D solutions for life cycle asset management, reduces time and improves overall value.
The benefits gained from using a server based application have been vetted since before this millennium. For those of you who need a refresher some of the benefits include: 1) Centralized access 2) User management 3) Data integrity/ quality 4) Minimizing data loss 5) Reduce time to find information There are a host of other benefits ranging from interoperability, to streamlined deployment and etc. An interested article written in 2001 by Paul Graham, on the future of software from desktop to server based, outlines the drivers for server based applications. At the time Graham called this the “Road Ahead”, but today many of these observations are for the most part obvious. http://www.paulgraham.com/road.htmlSide note: Although I do not focus on the design in my blog, but rather how to continually leverage the 3D design data throughout the asset lifecycle; even CAD designers would benefit from server based solutions especially to resolve some of the version management problems. What are the benefits to virtual reality solutions for asset management? Now that you have the 3D virtual world of the process facility the fundamentals of data management stand- true- and- firm. 1) Keeping the model green However you chose to update the model, I hope we can agree that deploying the model to the end user community is shortened through centralized server based solutions. Having an expensive technical person run around with a DVD to transfer data within the organization should be save for hazing interns and not as an actual expected workflow. 2) Version management Servers allow you to manage versions, back up data and access past versions incase a mistake is made. Confusion and mistakes related to inaccurate versions are not only a financial sink; but a potential liability in time-dependant projects. 3) Time savings There are many was to distribute data to a user group. Typically 3D data is too large to email and requires delivery on mass media devices such as USBs or DVDs (see my reference to intern hazing above). The other option is to upload the files to an FTP location where users download the model to access it. Again, with these larger data sets this could take a couple of hours to complete. Conclusions: In this new millennium server based technology is no long a nice to have, but a must have. We have already eaten the red pill and it is too late to go back to old bad habits no matter how tempting.
New technology needs a quick, easy and relatively painful win in an organization for take up. Prior to this quick win, it needs a mildly strong prove-able business value.
A few years ago I put an effort into learning the fundamentals of Six Sigma. I recall at the time having a colleague that was in the middle of evaluating an engineering information management project. The idea was to start from scratch and reevaluate how the organization looked at engineering data. At the time “intelligent” design and information management were all the buzz. For 3 years this team ran a Six Sigma evaluation only to identify the business value and “low hanging fruit” project they could implement to prove the business proposition. Although it took over 3 years to complete the “study” it took less than a year to prove the technology get buy-in and deploy a selected technology.
My simple conclusion: Although the technology had many strong benefits, it was the ONE practical benefit that drove uptake.
To answer my previous post, it doesn’t so much matter what all of the value props are, of which there are many, it is more important to identify the ONE that works for the organization.
Next time I will provide a generic list of value propositions for interactive 3D.
I was in a meeting this week were the business development head of a service company simply stated, “this is interesting and visualization has a known value add,” then he added, “ but what is the compelling business value of virtual reality solutions for large assets?”
At first glance this sounds like a simple enough question. In the next few paragraphs I will dissect this question for the real questions behind it, which is the very sensitive and frankly complex underlying question common to most new technologies, which is, “ What does this technology have that will make people use/buy it over others?”
Laying the ground work Over the last 6 years or so I have been lucky enough to work on what most would call “new concepts”, in the form of new technologies or new ideas on existing technologies. Some might say I am lucky while other say I am a glutton for punishment. Nonetheless, there are some observations I have made that are commonplace as it relates to introducing new ideas to a marketplace and the belly of the beast are the emotions around convincing a person/group that is surviving with their current strategy to change mindsets and take on a new strategy.
For example ---> from easy to difficult 1) Why should I use a database if we have a library? 2) Why should I use an integration information management system if we have databases and emails 3) Why should I use interactive visualization if we have 3D visualization?
In both 1 and 2 we change workflows and culture with technology. Also common to both 1 and 2 is the obvious industry direction. Independent of the technologies used the industry as a whole saw the preverbal writing on the wall. Customers are convinced that these are requirements. In conclusion the debate with the customer is not whether or not you need the technology, but which technology to implement.
Now to question #3 Have we as an industry seen the writing on the wall for interactive 3D solutions and if so what are the compelling value propositions?
In this new decade we have new technologies. Using VR on laser scan is one of them. You may already be merging laser scan with CAD drawings for expansions, comparisons and etcetera. Doing this merging in VR permits additional flexibility. Here is a short list:
For the dreamers with some configuration there are more sophisticated capabilities with laser scan including: 1) Collision/ gravity (not to be confuse with clash) This for avatar walkthroughs, accessibility, CFD visualization. 2) Training/ familiarization 3) Management of change 4) Safety planning/ optimization 5) File size management and rendering --> manipulated VR formats versus CAD and scan sometimes significantly improves large model rendering.
To help conceptualize how laser scan is enhanced with VR here is a CFD video. I will try to get a laser scan video up soon.
