The Benefits of Cyrax Laser Scanning and Modelling
Rapid, accurate, complete measurements combined with the easy-to-use Cyclone and CloudWorx software allow the designer to create truly accurate as-builts quickly and easily and/or create new designs that are interference-free. The result is reduced cycle time, reduced engineering effort, lower project cost and on-time construction completion. The areas that laser scanning has impacted over the past number of years are many.
Elimination of Rework
This is an obvious and well-documented benefit. Through the increased accuracy achieved by laser scanning, construction contractors are finding that piping spools and prefabricated structural elements fit right the first time. Reports of ‘zero rework’ are common. This, in turn, means no downtime while trying to make corrections, no expensive standby time for lifting equipment and no delays in plant start-up due to ‘field adjustments’. Interferences have been eliminated in advance.
Lower Cost Design
When laser scanning is used during the design phase, fewer field trips are required in order to obtain geometric data. In essence, the point cloud data brings the ‘3-D field reality’ right to the designer’s desktop. Rather than relying on surveyor notes and a few point measurements, the designer can now ‘virtually’ navigate through the facility, view, measure and design based on complete data. Direct measurements from the point clouds can be taken quickly and utilised for the design. This not only reduces costly and time-consuming field trips to collect missing information, but also increases the confidence in the design, thus allowing for fewer field welds. In one small project alone, over 40 field welds were eliminated after laser scanning data was incorporated into the design process.
Another major saving in the design phase is the ability of multiple disciplines to share the same 3- D point cloud information. Rather than each group (electrical, piping, structural, etc.) collecting and using their own field data, a single set of point cloud data can be utilised. This not only saves money (and time) in the data collection phase, but ensures consistency of the information being used for the design. Since everyone can view the same data, numerous potential conflicts can be avoided in advance.
Reduced Cycle Time
Due to the rapid collection of field data and minimal ‘post processing’, a reduction in project design cycle time can be achieved. Since each laser point is already a 3-D measurement, the raw point clouds can be used directly for design once they are registered and tied to the appropriate co-ordinate system. No interpretation or translation of field notes is required and there is no need to process 2-D drawings into 3-D.
Improved Safety
Rather than climb ladders and piping or deal with lifting devices and safety harnesses, a Cyrax laser scanner allows the data to be collected remotely from a distance of up to 50 metres. This also enables the field crew to obtain accurate measurements safely and quickly even in inaccessible or otherwise hazardous locations.
Flexible Work Flow
A full suite of software products allows the user to select the work flow that is appropriate for the project. If a basic geometry model is required for use within computer-aided design (CAD), the Cyclone software can be used to create and export the required model quickly. In addition, if desired, object intelligence can be added through the use of a ‘Piping Mode’, which incorporates Alias SKEYs terminology. Once the piping is created with the SKEYs, it can be output into the Alias pcf format and then translated into AutoPLANT, PDS and PDMS formats using Alias products.
An accurate, intelligent as-built can also be created directly by combining a 3-D design system such as AutoPLANT with CloudWorx for AutoCAD application. CloudWorx 2.0 Pro automatically fits point clouds to pipe centrelines directly in the CAD environment, thus enabling the designer to model existing piping elements quickly and accurately using familiar tools.
Figure 3: CloudWorx with AutoPLANT
If the objective is simply a new, interference-free design, CloudWorx can be used within the CAD environment to view the raw points and create the new design around them.
Since the plant modelling tools are typically familiar to the designer, and the learning curve for CloudWorx is minimal, high-level production can be achieved quickly. In addition, very little ‘organisational resistance’ is typically encountered since no-one is being asked to make a major change in work practices and deliverables. Now, instead of reviewing surveyor notes, they simply pull the point data directly into their CAD station.
Where/How Cyrax Laser Scanning is Being Used
Service providers who own laser scanners and software are often contracted to provide sets of registered point clouds or as-built drawings and models. Laser scanners and software can also be purchased or rented and some owner/operators have gone this route as well. Today, the technology is available worldwide. Typical costs for services are comparable to costs of as-builts done manually (sometimes less), but the results are far more accurate and complete and the deliverables are available sooner. Cyrax laser scanning and software are being used in the offshore and onshore petrochemical industries and manufacturing facilities of many types. Initially considered a tool for only large-scale projects, it has evolved rapidly to prove cost-effective for small-scale modifications to major revamps. Projects ranging from several hundred million dollars to a few hundred thousand dollars have all been able to reap the benefits of 3-D laser scanning technology.
3-D laser scanning technology was originally focused on the design phase, but it has also proven beneficial during the construction phase. Plants under construction have been scanned (and sometimes modelled) for use in developing crane placements and 3-D rigging plans. Construction verification and deviation analysis (quality control) are additional areas that have benefited from this technology. In some cases, contractors have been able to resolve difficult field issues more quickly by having the 3-D point cloud data available to them.
As this tool becomes more familiar to design companies, construction companies and owner operators, the number and variety of uses seem to be limited only by the human imagination.
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