Following the last post
While the construction of the platform or refinery is being done, the management should already start thinking about training the operators that will be running the plant in the future. Nowadays it’s very difficult to start the training before the plant is completely finished in an environment that could really reflect the daily work that these field operators and control room operators may need to do. This issue is basically solved if the 3D model can be used to train these people.
In addition to the mentioned SW tools that enable the 3D visualization, there other tools that can also be integrated in order to complete a whole Operation Training System (OTS) where the control room operators can really interact with the field operators in order to reproduce virtually real problems that may need to be solved in the future plant. Of course, there is no need to say that these operators will be able to meet and learn the structure of the plant before this is built, which can be a very important factor in order to save time (and money) during the start up of the plant.
The next step after the construction and the training of the plant operators would be the start up of the plant itself. This is a very important moment in the plant life because is the moment where it really starts to function. Although the 3D model may not be critical during this phase, it’s also true that can help to remotely understand what is being done as, if the 3D model is well integrated in the SCADA system of the plant it can reflect any change during the start up.
After the start up phase, we enter in the production phase where the 3D model as built can again take a very important relevance. During the production phase there are many departments that could use the 3D model.
It’s very important that the 3D model is well integrated with the SCADA system and all the internal document management systems, why? Because once the 3D model is integrated with these two important systems, basically anyone who is using these, will be able to take advantage of the 3D model, saving time and money when decisions are taken.
Finally I would like to mention that the 3D models can also be used for safety simulation where different scenarios can be built in order to see how the attendants to the simulation react on different difficult situations.