pl, Author at 3Deling - Experts in 3D Laser Scanning and Point Cloud Processing

Reducing Costs of Technical Infrastructure

pl — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:40:06 +0000

Modernization of technical infrastructure is a critical task for organizations across various sectors, especially including energy, petrochemical, chemical, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and many more. Whether it’s updating aging facilities, improving transportation networks, or enhancing utility systems, the goal is to optimize performance, safety, and efficiency. One powerful tool that can significantly impact infrastructure modernization is 3D scanning and the utilization of point cloud software. In this extended article, we’ll explore how these technologies can help decrease costs while improving modernisation project outcomes.

Understanding why 3D Scanning and Point Clouds means so much for modernisation projects.

You can ask, what really are a point clouds and why it can be so impactful ? Point clouds are dense sets of 3D data points that represent the surfaces of physical objects or environments. These data points are generated by 3D laser scanners, drones, or photogrammetry techniques. Each point in the cloud corresponds to a specific location in 3D space.

Main benefits of using point clouds of technical infrastructure like piping, valves, pumps, tanks and other objects are: accurate representation which means that point clouds provide a precise representation of the scanned object or area, capturing intricate details. They include complex geometries, surface irregularities, and structural features. Scanning doesn’t require physical contact with the object, minimizing disruption during data collection. Point clouds serve various purposes, from visualization and analysis to design validation.

Reducing costs through point cloud sharing software:

Efficient Data Sharing and Processing through dedicated software tools and services allows reduce time spent by company technical, procurement and maintenance teams on non-value added activities related to preparation for modernisation project, especially:

Reducing project site survey time and mobilization for contractors
Reducing the time spent on site surveys for company technical, production, and maintenance team

Webpano, is a great example a custom web-based service by 3Deling, streamlines point cloud processing, visualization, and sharing. It allows users to view 360-degree panoramic images and scan data. Unique features include the ability to take measurements and pick 3D coordinate values.

WebPano also enables viewing 3D models along with their attributes. Designed for communication between managers and engineers, it eliminates unnecessary site visits. “When we spent 2 hours / visit with supplier it means that during the year we can save even 200 hours and it is only one example of many” – says project engineer from chemical company.

Collaborative Workflows for improvement and project safety

Dedicated tool facilitates collaboration among project stakeholders.
Managers and engineers can add comments or highlight areas of interest.

The entire team can view, check, and discuss site situations remotely. In means streamline informed choices, very well known as:

Facilitate effective decision making.

Picture 1. Maintenance information for quick decisions– powered by Webpano from 3Deling

This also means that Inexperienced users benefit from 3D laser scanning technology without physical presence. Managers can make faster and more accurate decisions based on panorama view and graphical interpretation and simulation of planned objects on technical infrastructure.

It is very helpful to visualize where new object ned to be placed, what are potential problems occurred and discuss that with construction design and contractor companies.

Picture 2. New object place simulation – powered by Webpano from 3Deling

Risk Analysis and Asset Inventory

How does risk analysis during modernization projects can be better assisted? By visualizing potential risks that threaten operational continuity. Engineers can indicate areas and objects requiring special care and procedures. Having all geometrical data, shared with designers and contractors it can be easily recognized and possibility of any geometrical clashes can be avoided. Some clients named it also as Engineering design accuracy and elimination of re-work.

When modernization is complete and new technical infrastructure has been implemented and launched, and then asset Inventory becomes increasingly important. It allows for easy linking of facility devices and objects to geolocation and documentation. Advanced users can say about Building a knowledge base accessible to new employees facilitates efficient adaptation.

Process maintenance and improvement

There are many places in industry environment which requires special permissions and safety issues to get in. Webpano allows remote access to field locations through 360-degree panoramic images. Personnel can virtually inspect equipment, pipelines, and facilities without physically being present on-site. This reduces the need for frequent field visits, minimizing exposure to hazardous environments. Because of that we can Improve process safety by minimizing personnel presence in the field. This Virtual plant tour for new commers and guests is also can be an important from safety and time saving point of view.

Picture 3. Highlighting an dangerous place / tank that need to be replaced – powered by Webpano from 3Deling

A lack of reliable data often leads to improper preventive measures and unplanned maintenance.

Implement a digital platform that allows maintenance teams to log and sort historical data for assets. Having an overview of maintenance activities for an asset’s entire life enables managers and technicians to fine-tune their approach to preventive maintenance. Effective triggers and prominent issue flagging can increase asset efficiency and reduce downtime from breakdowns. It can also be helpful to plan a maintenance check route effectively for maintenance team. Quick information about locations and devices that need to be verified is a helpful to save its preparation time and check time by finding the optimal route. We can say generally about Reducing a Maintenance Team time to plan for activities.

Remember, successful modernization involves not only technology adoption but also effective change management. By harnessing point cloud software like WebPano, organizations can optimize processes, enhance collaboration, and ultimately reduce costs. So, let’s scan, visualize, and transform our infrastructure for a brighter future!

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Technical trainings for employees

pl — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 13:18:41 +0000

The development of digital plant models based on laser scanning data opens up new perspectives for employee training. Panorama View, which is a three-dimensional visualization of industrial objects, serves not only as a diagnostic tool but also as an effective training method for personnel. The high-density scanning allows for the creation of point clouds, which can be used to generate various 3D models and their 2D projections. This technology has significant potential in fields such as engineering and crisis management.

Introduction

The complexity of installations makes introducing new employees to their tasks a time-consuming process. Mastering knowledge about individual installation components and the entire infrastructure of a selected area within the facility is no small challenge and often takes several months. Linking sometimes incomplete documentation with the relevant devices and equipment, as well as overseeing and properly using it, is time-consuming, especially when the installation covers an extensive area. Any errors can prove costly. Explaining details for scattered objects throughout different parts of the facility consumes valuable time for employees, without allowing for comments or Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) instructions for specific devices and infrastructure elements.

Any changes introduced in the architecture of industrial installations should be supported by appropriate training for employees. Nothing can replace on-site training directly at the location of a modernization or new installation. However, the use of digital plant models based on laser scanning data is invaluable for effective employee training. Panorama View, which is a three-dimensional visualization of industrial objects, serves not only as a diagnostic tool but also as an effective training method for personnel. Thanks to it, we can create instructional videos for operating installations, demonstrating specific devices on the model along with their relevant documentation. Technologists or individuals conducting technical training can utilize the online version of the plant panorama without the need to leave the training room.

Training Possibilities for Staff on the plant digital view – Webpano Visual Plant

Observed benefits of the digital version in employee trainings are:

Interactivity and Collaboration:

Panorama View offers an interactive learning approach, allowing employees to explore specific areas of the facility, examine structures in fine detail, and gain a better understanding of potential hazards. It also promotes collaboration across different departments.

Enhanced Safety:

Training on the digital plant model enables safe exploration of potentially hazardous areas, which is particularly crucial for high-risk facilities. Employees can gain experience without exposing themselves to real-world dangers.

Quick and Efficient Access to Documentation:

Documentation related to relevant devices and installation components allows for rapid and precise access to the necessary and up-to-date documents. This documentation can be linked to the existing document management system through hyperlinks.

Figure 1: An example of linking documentation to a specific location and device within the facility as part of employee training Using Webpano – Visual Factory from 3Deling

Realistic Simulations and 3D Walkthroughs:

Through digital plant models, employees can participate in real-world simulations based on laser scanning data. This allows training for various scenarios, such as emergencies, safety procedures, or design changes, without the need to interfere with actual objects.

Training on the digital plant model using Panorama View is a crucial element in implementing laser scanning in the industry, contributing to improved efficiency, safety, and innovation.

An essential aspect is knowledge retention within the organization. Experienced employees retire, taking valuable information about each installation component with them. A digital scan of the facility or its specific area can serve as a key safeguard against knowledge loss. Updated documentation visually linked to each infrastructure element, complete with notes, instructions, and approvals, enables management to confidently plan for the future while ensuring operational continuity.

In summary

3D scanning of the plant infrastructure, combined with point cloud data and panoramic views, significantly enhances its utilization. From the outset of the digitization process, it provides benefits, particularly in knowledge management and support for young professionals navigating the digital environment. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a panoramic view with integrated documentation multiplies that effect, creating a tool that truly expands the potential for building competent teams

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Laser scanning and factory visualisation

pl — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 14:31:56 +0000

Introduction:

The article introduces the area of laser scanning and its impact on process improvement in an industrial environment. We will focus on the latest innovations in this field and consider how precision laser scanning solutions are contributing to improvement in the field of industrial facilities.

The role of laser scanning in industry:

3D laser scanning is becoming a key tool in analysing the structure of industrial facilities, enabling their accurate measurement and creation of complete three-dimensional models for the purpose of its maintenance, modernisation, and development.

Precision on a new level:

Modern laser scanning solutions offer precision at an unprecedented level compared to classic methods. Having an available point cloud and Digital View allows us to make the necessary measurements for selected objects and infrastructure elements almost immediately. The best thing is that we do not need an expensive intelligent model created in dedicated software for this purpose. We can measure installation elements, like tanks, pipes, valves or other objects ourselves from behind a computer desk using the available cloud and the so-called digital view in the online Webpano -Visual Factory (digital twin). Thanks to this, a design engineer, technologist or engineering services supplier who is planning the modernization of installations, is able to make precise measurements for the needs of their project remotely, without the need for a local visit on site.

Figure 1. Example of spatial measurement in the site digital view, in the Webpano -Visual Factory (digital twin) service by 3Deling.

Webpano is a technological innovation by 3Deling, which brings many other improvements for technical services of production plants. Including, it enables obtaining accurate data even in the most demanding industrial conditions and in places with limited access.

Applications in diagnosing abnormalities:

Laser scanning can play an important role in diagnosing faults and failures in industrial facilities. One of the most important aspects is the ability of laser scanning to precisely map the surface of objects, which allows the detection of material deformations, mechanical damage or damage caused by corrosion.

Laser scanning delivers immediate results, allowing you to quickly identify areas that need attention. This allows technologists and maintenance services to focus on specific areas, eliminating the need for long-term and costly site inspections. This technology allows not only to locate damage, but also to perform detailed structural analysis through a 3D model of the object, enabling engineers to more precisely understand the structure and relationships between various components.

Figure 2: Example of adding comments to a Webpano - Digital View and communicating with other plant technical services.

Laser scanning can also be used to monitor changes over time, allowing early detection of parameters are getting worse. This is crucial in the case of objects subjected to various loads or environmental changes and their impact on geometric dimensions.

Thanks to the precise data provided by laser scanning, the process of diagnosing failures can be shortened, leading to reduced down-time and minimized production disruptions.

Laser scanning allows you to create accurate reports that not only describe identified problems, but also help you develop effective remediation strategies. This, in turn, contributes to increasing the efficiency of maintenance activities.

Support for planning production processes:

By focusing on the role of laser scanning in production processes, we observe the possibilities of faster planning and testing of a new layout of the production area. With a 3D model (digital twin) at our disposal, we can more precisely plan the arrangement of the new production line and individual machines, communication routes, storage areas, electrical installations, compressed air and other media.

In the food, chemical, petrochemical and energy industries, laser scanning and providing a point cloud with a digital view is the first and most important step in creating an intelligent model based on dedicated design software. The intelligent model is just one step away from quickly and precisely planning the modernization of installations, testing them in a 3D environment, including diagnosing and eliminating collisions, and ending with the preparation of P&ID documentation for installers and contractors.

Digitizing the technical infrastructure and building an intelligent model is a milestone for production plants as part of digital transformation and deriving long-term benefits from it, such as planning plant expansion, collision analysis, accurate investment costing, as-built inventory and checking the quality of workmanship compared to the design.

Figure 3: Preliminary planning of the layout of the new installation in Webpano – Visual Plant.

Training using Digital View on Webpano on-line tool:

Any changes introduced in the architecture of industrial installations should be supported by appropriate training for employees. Nothing can replace on-site training, directly on the site of the modernization or new installation. However, the use of digital plant models based on laser scanning data to prepare effective employee training is invaluable. Digital View, i.e. three-dimensional visualization of industrial facilities, becomes not only a diagnostic tool, but also an effective training tool for staff. Thanks to it, we can prepare instructional videos on how to operate the installation, showing specific devices on the model along with connecting the appropriate documentation to them. Technologists or people conducting technical training can use the online version of the plant digital view based on Webpano -Visual Factory (digital twin) to, without leaving the training room.

Summary

3D scanning of the plant infrastructure with the use of a point cloud and a digital view of the plant combined with a panorama tool allows it to be used much better and more widely and to benefit from it already at the beginning of the digitization process.

An aspect that cannot be ignored is building knowledge in the organization. Experienced workers retire and take with them valuable information about each element of the installation. A digital scan of a plant or its selected area may become a key element in protecting the organization against knowledge loss. Updated documentation visually connected to each infrastructure element with notes, instructions and approvals allows management to look confidently into the future while ensuring business continuity.

PS. The material uses images of the Webpano -Visual Factory (digital twin) application from 3Deling.

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Digitalization process

pl — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 10:22:02 +0000

In this blog, we embark on a journey through the intricate technicalities of the digitalization process. Our aim is to demystify the complexities surrounding laser scanning and showcase the transformative power it holds for industries. Whether you’re a seasoned professional seeking in-depth knowledge or a newcomer curious about the possibilities, our articles will guide you through the nuances of digitalization with clarity and precision.

Stay tuned for expert insights, case studies, and industry trends that shed light on the pivotal role 3deling plays in reshaping the future of manufacturing. Join us as we explore the intersection of technology and industry, and discover how 3deling is pioneering the way forward in the realm of laser scanning and factory digitalization. Welcome to the 3deling community – where innovation meets implementation!

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