Connecting IT with Operational & Engineering Technology for Asset Performance Modelling

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As operations technology (OT)  leverages the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)  with sensors on operating equipment and assets producing an enormous volume of big data, there is a need for improved security, information sharing and data management

By Bhupinder Singh, Chief Product Officer, Bentley Systems and Anne-Marie Walters, Global Marketing Director, Bentley Systems

As operations technology (OT)  leverages the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)  with sensors on operating equipment and assets producing an enormous volume of big data, there is a need for improved security, information sharing and data management. This, in turn, is driving an unprecedented convergence with IT. However, organizations are struggling to make use of the data from their OT and IT systems, causing them to miss opportunities to improve asset performance. This is due, in part, to the fact that the digital engineering models developed during the engineering phase of capital projects, are typically not playing a role in operations.

What if owner-operators could use these models in operations? Imagine how a digital engineering model—the engineering technology or ET of an asset—could help operations and maintenance people forecast problems, do better planning, and improve performance. It is now possible for companies to converge their IT, OT and ET – and seamlessly integrate process and information flows between them – to enable asset performance modeling to deliver actionable intelligence for decision support through an immersive environment for visual operations.

The Digital Engineering Model

Figure 1: Digital engineering models bring together critical information in a virtual 3D environment.
Figure 1: Digital engineering models bring together critical information in a virtual 3D environment.

For many years, engineering departments have been using advanced modeling and simulation applications that focus on the process of design and construction of an infrastructure asset – a plant, bridge, highway, railway or utility network – in a way that improves project delivery and asset performance. Better project delivery enables companies to optimize CAPEX – through both the depth of information modelling and the breadth of information mobility for collaboration during design and construction. There’s a staggering amount of information related to assets– detailed component specifications, precise geo-location, configuration management, fabrication details, cost information, predicted lifetimes, recommended maintenance and repair information. Today’s engineering technology makes it possible to bring all of this information together within the federated digital engineering model,  making it possible to track, access, and share with others collaborating on the project (see Figure 1). The technology also enables engineers to model projects in a 3D virtual setting for design integration and construction work packaging, so that when the project is actually constructed in the real world, the project teams and stakeholders are able to minimize unforeseen situations and keep the project on track.

The Beginning of IT/ET/OT Convergence

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is driving a convergence between operational technology and information technology.  Digital engineering models can accelerate this convergence and add the visual representation of the real world needed to aid decision making; this can have far-reaching impacts on the safety, productivity, efficiency and operations of industries worldwide.

Figure 2: Asset performance monitoring brings together IT and OT with big data analytics.
Figure 2: Asset performance monitoring brings together IT and OT with big data analytics.

For example, consider how South Australia Water is currently using predictive and real-time operational analytics to forecast water demand and improve customer service while reducing operational costs. To create a demand forecasting tool, they needed to pull information from both the operational and IT sides of the organization in real time. Bentley’s predictive analytics software was chosen as the operational intelligence platform due to its real-time ability to connect and capture data from a wide variety of sources, ability to perform complicated calculations and analysis, and its impressive visualization capabilities.

Figure 3: Asset performance modeling integrates 3D models with IT and OT systems used to model asset performance.
Figure 3: Asset performance modeling integrates 3D models with IT and OT systems used to model asset performance.

Real-time monitored sensor data is brought in from the reservoirs, water treatment plants, valves, flowmeters, and pumps spread across the extensive pipeline network. This operational data is combined in real time with climate, energy, cost, and population data and is displayed on dashboards. Bringing these data sources together has resulted in huge benefits, including improved performance, enhanced understanding of interrelationships, and better decision-making and more accurate predictions of short- and long-term demand. Tying together IT, OT, and ET also allows the company to take advantage of lower forward market pricing for electricity.

They can use an energy portfolio management spot-market power price tool to determine the optimal timing for pump operations on five pipelines, as well as when to purchase power in highly volatile markets. The impact on OPEX can be significant – a savings of AUD 3 million per year.

Bhupinder Singh- Chief Product Officer, Bentley Systems

Bhupinder joined Bentley in 1994 and was appointed to chief product officer in 2016. His team is responsible for the development, sales, and user success of Bentley’s industry-leading software solutions for advancing infrastructure. His prior roles at Bentley include senior vice president of Bentley Software, senior vice president of the Platform Products Group, and managing director of sales for Bentley South Asia. Prior to Bentley, Bhupinder held various software engineering positions at Montgomery Watson Hazra (now Stantec-MWH), Bell Labs, and Intergraph Corporation. Bhupinder holds a master’s degree in computer science from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in structural engineering from Vanderbilt University. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, and a certificate in management from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Anne-Marie Walters- Global Marketing Director, Bentley Systems

Anne-Marie Walters joined Bentley in 2004 as a global marketing director. In this capacity she is responsible for the marketing and positioning of Bentley’s solutions and products that address the needs of the Process, Power, and Enterprise arena. Ms. Walters, who is a chartered chemical engineer, represents Bentley on the board of the Construction Industry Institute and is also heavily engaged in the activities of FIATECH. She sat on the board of the Engineering Contractors and Constructors Association between 2005 and 2010 and was the Chair in 2009. In addition, she is a founding member of the Process Industries STEP Consortium (PISTEP) committee and has served on the boards of CIMsteel and the United Kingdom’s chapter of the International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI). She is frequently a guest speaker at industry events sponsored by these and other organizations.

For more information
Web: www.bentley.com

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