Digital transformation of industrial construction TADetails

As digitalization changed construction

Once all stages of construction – from design before commissioning — were purely paper history. Once is at all not a decade ago, and even still at the very end of zero. Modern technologies dictate the terms, giving at the same time the new chance. Final sense of digitalization — in acceleration of each stage that, eventually, also superiority over competitors makes for more profit.

The market developed violently — in 2007 it represented generally design institutes — the CEO of AVEVA company Alexey Lebedev remembers. — At worst they used a drawing table, and in the best — solutions for flat drawing. In 3D as ideology they had no modeling though in the world it was actively used.

The new ideology to Russia was brought by the western companies. On an extent of 6-8 years there was a transition from 2D to 3D.

How to transfer all layer of works to "digital rails"

The industrial facility has two main vital phases. It is a phase of construction of CAPEX (CAPital EXpenditure is capital costs) and the phase OPEX (OPerating EXpenses is operating costs). The solution portfolio eventually consists of software for CAPEX and software for OPEX.

Digitalization of construction means development of requirements and determination of methodology and also regulations of interaction of all participants of process. At the same time competently developed requirements for data collection allow different departments to work in different solutions.

The digital asset in construction, in modern understanding of this term, is a set of means which help at the stage CAPEX when the project only still thinks, to create requirements of collection of information and data which will be demanded at the stage OPEX — Alexey Lebedev explains.

If to tell about specific solutions, then in the first phase it design tools and managements of engineering data which allow from 2D to pass to 3D. And in the second — a set of solutions of level MES- and SCADA- systems, the settlement systems, means of predictive analytics, analytics of the data obtained by means of Internet of Things, for example, of sensors on production and also solutions which help to estimate efficiency of both separate production mechanisms, and all enterprise in general. Roughly speaking, it solutions which help to build processes in such a way that information from sensors, for example, allows the top officials of the companies to make specific decisions.

Household example: when you plan the apartment or office, you say where you need sockets. So understanding as you will use an object as you will manage it, you make to it demands. Next: a set of technical means which will allow to describe structure of these requirements is necessary. On their basis there are also engineering data. But in itself they are a liability until become checked and reliable. So, we receive one more step — check of data retrieveds according to initial requirements — Alexey Lebedev tells.

What is the integrated design

The integrated design helps specialists of a different profile and disciplines to see and control all happening changes. At the same time, clear, it is observed not in a paper format, and therefore becomes rather operational. The solutions existing in the market help to freeze a part of the project which contains changes and to continue work with the rest. Including — with calculations of cost of supplies or terms of construction.

The most critical element is seamless integration of project applications and data transmission between disciplines is imperceptible for participants of design process. So if technologists change something at themselves, assemblers have information that something changed. To the contrary, if something changes in different sections of three-dimensional modeling, then specialists from related subjects should see it. Including those who are connected with 3D - modeling indirectly — Alexey Lebedev specifies.

How to create a common information space for all project participants?

First of all it is necessary to understand what should give to business uniform digital space. At this stage requirements to it and the correct tool kit form. If to speak about operation of an object, then experts find logical approach at which maximizing product qualities at minimization of cost of its production is regarded as of paramount importance.

Let's say I want to make a certain difficult petrochemical product. The digital asset and a set of technologies should provide me, for example, an opportunity to react quickly to changes of the market situation. What for this purpose is necessary? Including — predictive analytics that means existence 300, 400, and even 1000 parameters which are read out by sensors. And when I put this logic in the project and in building, I receive a set of tools which to me allows to reduce, say, production volumes depending on a situation in the market or to come into the most energy efficient operation mode of installation. All it want — to receive a maximum at the minimum costs — Alexey Lebedev concludes.

What is the time it will be required on digitalization

After determination of standards on the project and developments of specific methodology, the correct tools for collecting and verification of information are selected. The portfolio consists of two components — solutions for CAPEX and solutions for OPEX.

In practice primary deployment of applications takes from two months to one year depending on type and volumes of construction. At this time there is a start of a product, training of specialists and also establishing work and remedial action. Some more months will occupy deployment of solutions for an operational phase.

What digitalization of project, engineering and construction works gives to business

The main pluses — reduction of terms at design stages and construction of the facility, its fastest commissioning. It allows to get profit as soon as possible. However, experts from the industry are annoyed because so far in it not all necessary standards are developed. And uncontested use of data — for example, drawings — on digital mediums is not provided at all. Both designers, and builders, and supervisory authorities work only paper which duplicates all digital information. When it is possible to get rid of it — project, engineering and construction works will begin to make even more profit

See Also

• Alexey Lebedev, AVEVA: A digital asset of the client – a live organism