Context-related use of GIS relations in life cycle management (GeoFab – GIS2ALCM)

Background:

Technical plants are usually characterised by a large spatial extent with a high number of organisational units involved as well as the presence of heterogeneous plant components (e.g. with regard to age and manufacturer). In addition, large amounts of data are generated during operation.

Many tasks in process plants have a high time, personnel and financial cost, such as the need to set up a scaffolding at great expense for the maintenance of a component. For efficient implementation, it makes sense to consider the entire knowledge base of plant operation, which is formed by the data generated in the life cycle of process plants. In addition to a large amount of data that is generated during the operational process (online data), data that is based on existing documentation, some of which is generated externally (offline data), is also relevant.

Extremely shortened development times and at the same time the demand for a higher degree of innovation require great efficiency in planning and design. This represents one of the decisive key factors for the future success of the company. With a holistic view of data that arise in the life cycle of process plants, the following utilisation advantages can arise in plant operation:

▪ Improved coordination of the various projects, ▪ Reduction of effort and costs of the projects,

▪ Increase in plant safety,

▪ Reduction of malfunctions,

▪ Reduction of errors and rework,

▪ improving the basis for decision-making and ▪ long-term storage of knowledge.

Research objective:

Within the scope of the project, methods of knowledge management are to be transferred to the operation of technical plants and the KMDL (Knowledge Modelling an Description Language) is to be extended. The result forms the basis for the expansion of the cooperation partner's range of functions.