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Intelligent 3D Portal
2
Communications
a report by
&
Marc de Buyl and Hans Van den Wijngaert
VRcontext
IT
In a previous article entitled ‘Intelligent 3D Portal
1
’,
1
the authors issues; providing a spatial view to inaccessible systems (e.g. subsea);
advocated for large oil and gas operators to implement an intelligent 3D simulating through human avatars the execution of critical operating
portal as a key contributor to systematically increasing the operational and maintenance tasks (see Figure 1); and developing bi-directional
efficiency of large industrial assets. In summary, the Intelligent 3D links with custom-made process simulation models of the asset,
Portal – developed by VRcontext – provides all plant stakeholders with a enabling simulation of new control strategies and alternative
unique way to access and manage the vast knowledge base connected material flows, and with realtime sensors to continuously monitor
to a production asset. This approach – a new paradigm – uses the 3D process and asset performance and to identify and report pending
model as the primary interface through which the plant stakeholders are problems to local operators and remote experts.
able to quickly access and update engineering, maintenance and
operational data, as well as to plan and simulate work activities in an Functional Tree – Driving the Virtual Plant
exact replication of the real work environment. In this second article, we Of course, to support these needs the virtual asset has to be
will focus on some important aspects to be considered in the comprehensive, accurate and flexible. This consolidation is a continuous
implementation and use of this approach. We will more specifically process while personnel develop their skills, procedures are refined,
discuss the organisation of the data from a plant structure perspective systems are adjusted and various products are produced and validated.
and the management and update of the 3D virtual models through an
enterprise web server. By linking this enterprise web server to information The information ‘hidden’ behind equipment can be categorised as:
embedded in operational web-based applications, this enterprise portal functional – what the equipment is designed to do within its
ensures that everyone shares the same, always updated model, thereby limitations or constraints; design – the characteristics of the
enabling full and effective collaboration between members of the same equipment that allow it to meet its functional requirements;
discipline, as well as between user-communities, such as Operations, procedural – the installation, assembly procedure, testing and use of
Maintenance and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Engineers and the asset in a safe manner; commercial – the costs, agreements or
Asset Managers. By placing the Intelligent 3D Portal on the desktops of warranties associated with the asset; status – the current status of the
operations, maintenance and engineering staff, owners and operators asset, including performance and equipment status; and historical –
can federate information across a broad range of user-communities the records of all project, operating and maintenance activities
focused on specific aspects of the plant operation. Finally, the benefit of performed on the asset. The virtual plant represents a very valuable
an operator training system (OTS) based on the exact replication of the set of information owned by an asset-intensive organisation, yet it is
real work environment will be presented. the least appreciated ‘value’ in most asset management programmes.
Virtual Plant The ‘asset structure’ connected to the 3D visualisation of a plant
Operating assets are more than just the physical equipment: the must reflect the specific functional requirements of the various
information lying ‘hidden’ behind the equipment is critical to its applications linked to the 3D model. Nowadays, the computer-aided
operation and must be constantly synchronised throughout the life- design (CAD) hierarchy tree is typically connected to the 3D virtual
cycle of the asset in order to achieve operational efficiency. In model, reflecting the way in which CAD designers assemble the
industries such as refining, the design of a physical plant is a long asset structures and substructures. This assembly tree does not
and complex process as most of the process equipment and its necessarily meet the needs of the various disciplines interested in
supporting structures are custom-designed. using the 3D virtual model in operations.
The ‘virtual plant’ is the combination of the 3D visualisation of There is therefore a need to attach to an existing 3D virtual model
the plant – established using the information gathered during the one or several functional tree group structures (of the parent–child
creation of the plant and maintained during the operation of type) next to the original CAD hierarchy tree. Operational Managers
the asset – with the information technology (IT) solutions needed to will want to use specific functional trees where they can make
collect, store, manage and distribute this information. For many appropriate queries in the 3D virtual model. Therefore, the 3D
people, the virtual plant is their only interaction with the physical visualisation tool must include the ability to define/import such a
assets. In helping to understand how equipment operates, to ‘custom’ functional hierarchy and allow grouping of geometrical 3D
diagnose problems and to improve physical asset performance, the objects belonging to a specific ‘node’ of this custom functional
virtual plant is a key support in: creating procedures and training hierarchy. A simple example is a ‘line’, whereby different piping
materials; providing a spatial view for engineers who have only sections, elbows, valves, etc. have to be grouped into a ‘one-line’
remote access to the facility; delivering a collaboration environment node. This custom functional hierarchy then has to be linked to the
between geographically dispersed teams when solving technical corresponding custom database. Search functionality, highlight
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