About A3D
With our 30 years’ engineering experience, A3D realised that the process industry was due for a major change in how site data is recorded and stored. Currently, sites are still storing paper copies which are updated using traditional methods, meaning highly skilled personnel are having to walk your site to check any modifications that have taken place. This is time-consuming and doesn’t offer anywhere near the same level of accuracy as laser technology. And that’s why A3D’s services are proving so popular within the process industry, for companies who want to digitise their assets and save money whilst at the same time, attain super-accurate data.
For Project Managers and their teams tasked with checking that their P&ID’s are correct in readiness for their next HSE inspection, having a site completely resurveyed by the new contracting company is time-consuming and not cost-effective when all that needs to be done is an update! Clients are finding consistency issues throughout all site documents where the drawings have been passed on by different survey companies
A3D offer laser surveying services where the data is gathered in a matter of days. It is an extremely cost-effective way to obtain site data, traditional methods would have entailed a surveyor to manually walk the lines, to cover an entire site, which would have taken many months even years to complete. Laser scanners have an accuracy of up to +/- 1mm – this level of accuracy enables our team to create a precise 3D model.
A3Ds Services
Using scan data, A3D produce a 3D Spec driven model. The model produces a number of different inspection documents which can be interlinked through the asset management software. By having this available it enables the clients’ on-site documents to be more accessible throughout the organisation.
A3Ds New Software
A3D has come up with a software solution called 4D LIZARD which can completely digitise Tank Storage Terminal sites. Feedback from established clients has always provided the inspiration for A3Ds development of new products and services using the 3D laser technologies. On completion and handover of our 3D technology projects, forward-thinking clients always ask the question:
“How else can we utilise the 3D model or P&ID?”
This feedback brought about the decision to adopt the Autodesk Smart P&ID product for all new projects, allowing cross-validation of our 3D process model files and to facilitate linking of client’s asset systems as an easy to use graphical interface for engineers.
The client requirement is that the graphical user interface (GUI) must be easily maintained without the need for a specialised resource or training. Linking to clients’ existing asset management software, our 3D model file can be used to identify a field asset even when the current asset number is unknown, without the need for specialised/additional expensive software.
How A3D connect with existing systems
A3D extended the graphical 3D model interface option to include A3D’s Smart P&ID file, heralding the introduction of 4D Lizard.
Built by Engineers for Engineers!
From our research, the client’s asset management systems are accounting biased. 4D Lizard provides an engineering biased extension, purpose-built specifically for the process industry. 4D Lizard uses cloud-based technology allowing seamless collaboration with all current asset systems. For those clients who do not have an established asset database, 4D Lizard has the ability to run its own database to provide the engineering functionality.
Asset, Document & Maintenance Management system
4D Lizard allows client held asset information including service, make, model, serial no, asset owner, work orders, scheduled tasks and test results to be linked to A3Ds models and P&IDs. Being process industry-specific, each asset category will be built with equipment specific fields, easily selectable as information, for example, a tank record will not have the same data fields required for a valve or process line. Keeping on top of scheduled maintenance is time-consuming. Interrogating database held records to prepare scheduled inspection records all adds to your workload, especially as you need to know where every line and valve are on-site merely by its unique asset number.
4D Lizard links to your systems to export colour-coded schedules. Each colour correlates to maintenance due dates, where it can be viewed on the 3D process model, P&ID or as a simple report. Even though we are in the 21st century, clients still store records and drawings as paper copies, often in multiple locations creating the high probability of out-of-date information being used. 4D lizard not only allows you to easily file documentation to an asset or an area, but also allows you to file against a specific process category i.e. DSEAR, COSHH, P&ID, Risk Assessment etc with a clear document history, avoiding the use of dated records.
Advanced 3D Laser Solutions Group recently invited one of our UK clients to review the software, please see his comments below.
“Client Testimonial – Tank Inspection Engineer”
“4D Lizard is a fantastic system which will improve efficiency, reduce cost and revolutionise maintenance for the tank storage industry. Actively monitor equipment and plan for future inspections or repairs using the 3D model as an interface, then by assigning values to assets this tool enables greater cost forecasting and analysis. 4D Lizard has the ability to slingshot petrochemical and storage tank maintenance management into the modern-day”.
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