Throughout the lifespan of technical equipment and installations, companies accumulate vast amounts of operating and process data, as well as other product parameters, along with photos, videos, and maintenance or inspection records. Managing this digital information is a major challenge for many companies, as they often have a large number of buildings and technical installations in their portfolio. A reliable visual asset management (VAM) system can provide significant value in the operation of these assets.
Classic VAM systems rely on images that are only suitable for viewing objects in virtual tours. This approach is often insufficient for an effective VAM system, as such models do not behave dimensionally accurate, and the information is usually tied to the specific images on which it is located. As a result, when the images are updated, the collected information is also lost, and specialists still need to travel to the site to properly assess the situation.
This is where FRAMENCE comes in, taking VAM to the next level: with a photorealistic digital twin of the respective plant, you can not only get a sense of the surroundings, but also perform various tasks remotely, such as taking precise measurements. In the following, we’ll walk you through some examples of the advantages a digital twin can offer as a VAM system.
Central Information Platform
In our digital twins, all information regarding an asset is not stored in the images themselves, but in a 3D coordinate system, which means that the information remains even if the photo of the asset changes, for example due to modernization. This means that all information is easily accessible at the push of a button, regardless of the images that are currently in use.
Furthermore, the digital twin can be fed not only with images, but also with any other file formats such as point clouds or 3D models. These are also linked to the coordinate system, ensuring that the collected information is preserved. It is also easy to add only individual areas or plants after modernizations, using all file formats that are common in the market. You thus have a central information platform on which you can combine and use all the data available for an asset.
Time Travel
The integrated timeline allows you to easily revisit retrofits over time, along with their corresponding information as needed. All information about the asset remains in the same place in the coordinate system and does not disappear when the image is replaced with a more recent one. The images are only used to visually represent the environment. This allows you to document your buildings and assets throughout the entire construction phase, including modifications and modernizations, and view all changes on the time axis.
Absolute Dimensional Accuracy
Thanks to the coordinate system, the digital twin also behaves with absolute dimensional accuracy. As a result, specialists no longer need to be on site to take precise measurements, leading to a significant increase in the productivity of individual employees. The measurement function also makes the planning of modernizations much more cost-effective, as the team can also plan directly in the digital twin from the comfort of their home office.
Maintenance and Servicing
Maintenance and downtime costs make up a significant portion of the project budget. With the digital twin providing instant access to all drawings, maintenance procedures, spare parts lists, and manuals of the assets, the time it takes to perform maintenance and servicing work can be reduced, resulting in significant cost savings.
Thanks to interfaces, current measurement and sensor values or even information on previous tasks can also be displayed directly in the image model. Notes from colleagues, instructions, and drawings can also be located directly on the asset. Videos of routine maintenance work can also be located in the twin at the corresponding systems to further reduce maintenance times and costs.
Whether you are part of a large corporation looking to reduce costs by using your assets more efficiently and minimizing downtime, or you simply want to provide your employees with a tool to do their jobs more effectively, VAM has many benefits for companies across all industries when used correctly. The best way to do this is with the help of a digital twin, in which all information is linked together in a geometrically and temporally accurate manner. Only then can VAM fulfill its goal of managing assets remotely, significantly reducing travel and personnel costs.
Are you looking to streamline the way you handle your assets? Photorealistic digital twins can help you digitize, manage, and access your assets with ease, all while increasing efficiency. Don’t miss out on the chance to transform the way you work. Contact us now at +49 6251 584 0 or send us an email at info@framence.com to schedule a free consultation and discover a solution that’s perfect for you.
