Industrial maintenance and facility management require visibility. Older installations, in particular, find it difficult to centralize information. Documentation on machinery, piping, electrical equipment, and past renovations is often stored on dislocated pieces of paper. Sometimes this information is only stored in the memory of a few experienced employees. The lack of accessibility of the data can be nightmarish for planning and maintenance teams.
Point clouds, 3D models and laser readings are a simple way to capture, store and view detailed 3D information about an environment. They are now used proactively in construction, renovation and maintenance projects. If however you have not yet acquired a 3D laser scanner, ATIS invites you to refer to the SLAM mobile laser scanners and more particularly the PX-80 laser scanner distributed by the company CYDIS.
3D laser scanning is the key to detailed capture and storage
The 3D laser point cloud survey can allow you to obtain a detailed view of your assets which will serve as a basis for the 3D modeling phase “as built”. This allows managers of older installations to model mock-ups comparable to those of modern facility managers with access to BIM (Building Information Modeling) data.
These models can be easily updated during renovations. Information can be added directly to models, often using the same software needed to view them. If the machines are replaced, the zones can be isolated, reanalyzed and updated in the central database.
3D models are easy to use, intuitive, and provide an excellent platform for storing and viewing detailed machine information. Model numbers, installation data, current operational costs, information on maintenance cycles can all be included and viewed easily. 3D modeling provides facility managers with an ideal point of view from which they can visualize their responsibilities in their facilities and obtain precise details.
3D models help maintenance teams
The accessibility of the information provided by 3D models improves long-term management and helps in the event of a crisis. Managers can analyze their installation in 3D models and filter the information presented to reflect certain categories of machines or infrastructure. If there is an electrical fault, for example, a manager can examine only the electrical capabilities in this area and use this model to lead the maintenance teams. Obstacles or dangers, such as water pipes, can be identified and relayed to ground crews so that everyone has prior knowledge of the environment they will be traveling through.
Point cloud data can be used for advanced predictive maintenance technologies
The use of a 3D model of its installation allows centralized storage of maintenance information. This makes it easier for machines at full capacity. In addition, this information can be combined with other technologies to allow predictive maintenance using aerial sound analysis, thermal video analysis or X-ray cameras.
Thermal and radiological analyzes are often actively undertaken. 3D models provide the information necessary to direct these actions, in the same way that this information can inform maintenance teams.
Airborne noise analysis, also known as acoustic condition monitoring, is a passive technology that assesses the health of machines by constantly monitoring the sounds they produce. Programs can detect tiny frequency variations caused by loosening screws or deteriorating gears – allowing managers to be alerted before problems arise.
This approach has the potential to fundamentally change the way industrial maintenance is undertaken. The elimination of the need to actively monitor the machines makes it possible to extend maintenance cycles as cheaply as possible, while avoiding downtime. Buffer periods are no longer necessary to avoid a fault and machines can run at full capacity longer, allowing factories to get the most out of their investments.
However, the ability to take advantage of this type of technology requires a digital diagram of your environment. Sound analysis programs need to know what they are listening to. Managers also need a medium on which information on faults can be relayed. The coupling of these two technologies makes it possible to provide predictive maintenance analysis data down to the smallest detail, allowing teams to take immediate and precise measures.
Summary: 3D modeling based on point clouds provides visibility and clarity to facility managers and allows predictive maintenance
3D models are a powerful tool for storing and providing accurate information. This is exactly what facility managers need to maintain their facilities and create a safe working environment. This information can be combined with predictive maintenance techniques to further improve plant quality control and improve productivity.
The ability to scan a factory and then create a 3D installation model was made possible by the lower costs that occurred as the market matured. Advances in vector spherical alignments of adjacent point clouds using machine learning have automated “recording” and reduced processing time from 40% to 90%. This allowed facility managers to enter the modern world at an affordable price by creating an “as built” design model and to give themselves the visibility they need to carry out their maintenance operations efficiently.
Discover the hyper accessibility of 3D data from your installations thanks to the PX-80 laser scanner and the ATIS Cloud to improve your maintenance operations and the efficiency of your workflows.
