Life Cycle Of Facility Research Articles

BIM technologies in the inspection of buildings and structures

The objective of the research is to investigate the issue of the increase in the efficiency of inspection of buildings and structures with the use of BIM technologies and laser scanning with the subsequent creation of information model of the facility at all the stages of its life cycle. Some examples of the executed inspections of buildings and structures are reviewed. The author set the purpose to develop some practical recommendations on the use of BIM technologies during the inspection of buildings, structures and engineering systems. Such recommendations are presented in the article. The results of approbation of the given technique of carrying out inspection of buildings and structures confirmed its efficiency and high precision. The BIM models of buildings, structures and engineering systems, received within the inspection, can be used during all the stages of the facility life cycle. It is especially relevant for the maintenance stage and reconstruction.

Improving Applicability for Information Model of an IFC-Based Steel Bridge in the Design Phase Using Functional Meanings of Bridge Components

The industry foundation classes (IFC) data model is the most important data schema in ensuring the interoperability of the information generated throughout the lifecycle of facilities. However, because the current IFC model is focused on buildings, there are limitations when this model is applied to bridge structures. This paper proposes a method that enables the information modeling of steel box girder bridges based on the current IFC. To select the required and core items, we classify the components of a steel box girder bridge by the design stage with reference to engineering documents. To generate functional meanings of each bridge component, we develop the rules of the unique identifier and information reassignment, and then apply a semi-automated naming algorithm. The generated bridge information model was used to confirm the functional semantic meanings of individual components, and it was checked whether additional external information, such as carbon emissions, could be linked for specific bridge components. It was observed that information retrieval and extraction for components is possible through a semantic-based query to the generated IFC-based bridge information model.

Enhancing the value of facilities information management (FIM) through BIM integration

PurposeBuilding information modelling (BIM) provides a robust platform for information management in built environment facilities. However, one of the consequences of the limited application of BIM in facilities information management (FIM) is that the potential value gain through the integration of as-built information during the operations management process has had limited exploration in current practice. The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential impact of BIM to enhance the value of FIM.Design/methodology/approachA detailed literature review was undertaken to identify BIM application in a construction context, and to develop a framework to investigate the value of information. An interpretative approach was adopted for data collection and analysis. A total of 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted with construction industry professionals to identify how value of FIM can be enhanced through BIM integration. The interview data were analysed using open and selective coding.FindingsThe findings confirm that information exchange between the construction and facilities management (FM) phases of a project are important in terms of efficient and effective maintenance of a facility as well as optimising the design task. With these promising benefits, BIM is an efficient mechanism to facilitate construction information exchange. However, there is an uncertainty over the optimum level of information that ought to be on a BIM model for FM purposes. The relationship between different aspects of value is a starting point to filter the required information for each individual project. In contrast, limited awareness of value of information exchange and the potential of BIM enabled FIM during construction is noted.Research limitations/implicationsThe information exchange considered within this investigation was limited to two key phases of the facility life cycle, namely, construction and FM (in-use).Practical implicationsThe findings bring insight into an unseen aspect of FM information needs that should be given priority in upcoming BIM developments. Also, it draws attention to how value is concerned in a daily basis beyond monetary terms.Originality/valueThe investigation of value enhancement through BIM integration in particular to FIM and ongoing research with new value dimensions.

Extending Interactive Electronic Maintenance Manual with Web3D Technologies

Rapid developments in Information and Communication Technology have revealed a number of opportunities for supporting a complete product life cycle of the mechanical facilities particularly for maintenance purposes. The complexity of mechanical procedures as well as their perceptions has challenged engineers to create more effective and interactive maintenance manual. Therefore, this paper proposes an advanced electronic maintenance manual with the interactive 3D visualization by using the latest Web3D technologies. The advantage of this method is the visual and three dimensional explanations delivered in the maintenance manuals. This method will extend the traditional work instructions into an interactive electronic maintenance manual. The manual module which involves Cortona3D software is processed by preparation of 3D CAD data format from mechanical facilities. Then this process continues with the addition 3D animation with related texts through the maintenance operations, and converting the modified 3D data into VRML format which enables accessible through Web. The result is an interactive and on-demand electronic maintenance manual which allows users to communicate maintenance problems. The assessment concludes that the 3D maintenance manual will improve an intuitive interface and information retention, encourage visual knowledge and minimize ambiguity .

A method for facility layout optimisation including stochastic risk assessment

Abstract Facility siting and layout configuration are essential factors during design and expansion of any industrial installation. In the recent past, cost-driven layout arrangements and the proximity of chemical facilities to densely populated areas, among other factors, have also contributed to the severity and propagation of various chemical incidents. Although several studies have been reported to address such problems, there is still a need for incorporating safety into the facility layout problem (FLP); especially for a method combining quantitative risk assessment (QRA) and layout reformulation. Based on that, the objective of this study is to develop a framework integrating layout formulation with a quantitative risk assessment method to support risk-based decisions throughout the lifecycle of process facilities. The proposed methodology is divided into three steps: risk calculation, determination of safety distances, and layout optimisation. In the first stage, an in-house code has been developed to quantify risks associated with loss of human life and structural damage stochastically. Subsequently, minimum separation distances between process units are obtained to prevent escalation events. In the last stage, risk maps and safety distances are accounted in a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) for layout optimisation. The application of the proposed methodology is demonstrated through a case study. Sensitivity analysis is performed by varying risk values, safe distances, and risk acceptance criteria. Even though different layout options are generated, a trend is observed towards placing the equipment by its type.

The procedural approach to reliability of objects of the raised level of responsibility

The hypothesis of non-compliance presented in the regulatory methodology was grounded for building operations with the actual facility life of the facilities and buildings under the conditions of time lag. Briefly, the tasks for strategic development of the construction are presented in the following form: quality-reliability-safety-functionality-aesthetic qualities-amenities-economy. It is set that the listed tasks are multiplicative and require the systematic solution not only at the multidisciplinary but also at the transdisciplinary level. A comprehensive system “human-facility-technology-equipment-environment” is formed. It is established that the factor mutual interference of the elemental composition provides a possibility to implement the variable process approach of multi-modular modeling with component rating on the characteristic of marginality and accentuating. It is found that the absence of the single technical guidance on technical support of construction facilities of the increased level of responsibility at various stages of life-cycle. A structural model for technical support is prepared for construction of the increased level of responsibility. It is defined that the prognosis models for a 100-year–period functioning cannot be non-specific, they require the formation of the unique apparatus for evaluation of the initial characteristics of the facility that is adapting to changes of social-ecological-economic and technical paradigms during different time lags. A scheme is provided for categorizing the limit state of construction facilities, taking into account the factor impact and the responsibility of possible changes. The possibility of applying the combinatorial law towards the construction facilities is justified as to the comprehensive structured system with a functionally consistent and interdependent element base of a given finite set. Criteria maximum of the complexity profile in the existing structured system of construction facilities of the increased level of responsibility is proposed to consider parametric efficiency. The process approach to the development of research and development support for construction facilities of the I level of responsibility is based on the principle of anticipatory reflection of the validity of the safety parameter, the creation of an infographic model of a system with multiparameter characteristics of the life cycle stages. A mathematical model is developed for the change in the safety index of construction facilities of the increased level of responsibility as a system represented by an extended structure of components, with various impact factors at risk-rejection in a random segment of the operation period, and the concept of a "time lag" is introduced. Empirical indicator of the minimum value of the hazard severity is established and a proportionality coefficient having the dimension of the damaging factor is justified. It is proposed to apply the developed methodology as an addition to the development of research and development support programs, a model for verification by the level of responsibility and structured monitoring systems for different stages of the life cycle of construction facilities of the I level of responsibility.

The distributed systems of engineering supervision of permanent structures

This article explores the benefits of engineering analysis distributed systems for the purposes of analysis of depreciation and restoration cost of permanent buildings and structures. We propose the methodology for the study of complex automated systems of industrial and residential facilities life cycle control which is based on an integrated approach. We also propose the methodology for using the benefits of decomposition and proposed approach to analyze the events occurring during the production process using machine learning. The brief review of methods of calculation of depreciation of construction objects is presented. The choice of task examination of technical condition of a building or structure is indicated. Investigated the importance of the comprehensive analysis of geometrical parameters, instrumental studies, the determination of the actual characteristics of materials of the basic bearing structures and their elements, the measurement of the operational environment and operating loads, etc. Considered the models implementing machine learning for the classification of life cycle events. Descriptors of the internal production network data were used for training and testing of applied models. k-Nearest Neighbors and Random forest methods were used to illustrate and analyze proposed solution. The proposed methods allow to analyze causes of defects and damages in structures. The result of this work showed the possibility of successful application of the statistical approach for data analysis in construction, demonstrate the effectiveness of the implementation of such systems. The result makes possible to detect problems at an early stage and simplify the task of life cycle management of buildings and structures.

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF THE HYDROGEN ENERGY FACILITY BY CRITERION FOR MAXIMUM LOAD FREQUENCY

The paper deals with the issue of providing the Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) by the base load in the nighttime offpeak load hours. In order to search a solution to this issue, we analyze the energy storage technologies including the hydroelectric power stations. Since the construction of this station is associated with various risks (technical, environmental, seismic, etc.), and their deployment in the immediate vicinity of Near Nuclear Power Plants is unacceptable. This implies the tariffs for the power supply from the grid transmission system may exceed the nuclear generating costs 3 or 4 times, and significantly affect the cost for the produced peak energy and competitive advantages of these stations. As more competitive technology of electric energy storage, the paper reviews the system based on utilizing hydrogen energy facilities with hydrogen and oxygen produced by water electrolysis due to excess power from nuclear power plants in the nighttime. The key advantage of these facilities is location in the vicinity of NPPs with the possibility of charging at the cost of the NPP energy. At the same time, hydrogen and oxygen production and their further utilization in the NPP steam cycle has the recurrent nature and connected with the daily startup and shutdown procedures of the main facilities. Thus, the aim of this research is to determine the life cycle of the main hydrogen energy facility under cyclic loads. The fatigue fracture theory is applied to analyze the performance of startup/shutdown cycles in the main hydrogen energy facility in combination with the NPP. We have conducted the estimation of fatigue crack growth depending on the load frequency for the critical components of electrolysis plants, compressors, metal hydrogen and oxygen storage tanks, as well as hydrogen-oxygen combustion chambers. The paper focuses on the impact of hydrogen corrosion on the rate of fatigue crack growth and proposes criterion defining the number of cycles occurred prior to the fracture extension process. Based on the criterion of maximum cycles prior to the fraction extension process, we have defined the boundaries for effective performance of the main hydrogen energy facility.

Требования к системе информационного сопровождения жизненного цикла морских нефтегазовых сооружений

Требования к системе информационного сопровождения жизненного цикла морских нефтегазовых сооружений

Application of decision support technology at various stages of the life cycle of space facilities in assembly with the information system of technical condition and reliability

The paper presents an approach to assessing structural states of space vehicles (complex organizational and technical objects) with support of taking decisions on their life cycle control. The analysis of the subject area showed the need to apply the new intellectual information technology presented in the article to the design of both the information system of a complex organizational and technical object, and the related systems for monitoring structural states and decision support as part of such an information system. We consider a version of a generalized computational model as a theoretical basis of this technology. The version discussed is a unified knowledge representation model that integrates a number of methods and approaches of the Artificial Intelligence theory and makes it possible to construct imitation-analytical polymodel complexes for monitoring states and controlling complex organizational and technical objects. The article shows that applying this technology allows comprehensive assessment of the technical state and reliability of the monitored object. The article also provides a brief overview of the software complex that solves the problems of estimating the structural states of space vehicles. The software complex is implemented on the basis of the examined intellectual information technology.

Application of Information Technologies at the Final Stage of the Lifecycle of Reactor Facilities

The information technologies used at the final lifecycle stage of reactor facilities are reviewed for the purpose of increasing the safety and efficiency of their decommissioning. Databases on decommissioning and radwaste management, computer-aided design systems, multidimensional models, interactive simulation models, knowledge control systems, and communication systems are examined.

MATHEMATICAL МODELLING OF SELECTING INFORMATIVE FEATURES FOR ANALYZING THE LIFE CYCLE PROCESSES OF RADIO-ELECTRONIC MEANS

The subject of the study are methods and models for extracting information about the processes of the life cycle of radio electronic means at the design, production and operation stages. The goal is to develop the fundamentals of the theory of holistic monitoring of the life cycle of radio electronic means at the stages of their design, production and operation, in particular the development of information models for monitoring life cycle indicators in the production of radio electronic means. The attainment of this goal is achieved by solving such problems: research and development of a methodology for solving the problems of selecting informative features characterizing the state of the life cycle of radio electronic means; choice of informative features characterizing the state of the life cycle processes of radio electronic means; identification of the state of the life cycle processes of radio electronic means. To solve these problems, general scientific methods were used: the main provisions of functional analysis, nonequilibrium thermodynamics, estimation and prediction of random processes, optimization methods, pattern recognition. The following results are obtained. Methods for solving the problems of selecting informative features for monitoring the life cycle of radioelectronic facilities are developed by classifying the states of radioelectronic means and the processes of LC in the space of characteristics, each of which has a certain significance, which allowed finding a complex criterion and formalizing the selection procedures. When the number of a priori data is insufficient for a correct classification, heuristic methods of selection according to the criteria for using basic prototypes and information priorities are proposed. Conclusions. The solution of the problem of mathematical modeling of the efficiency functions of the processes of the life cycle of radioelectronic facilities and the choice of informative features for monitoring the life cycle of radio electronic means is presented, by classifying the states of radioelectronic means and life cycle processes in the space of characteristics, each of which has a certain significance, which allowed finding a complex criterion and formalize the selection procedure. The solution of the task of identifying the life cycle of radio electronic means involves the creation of rules that determine the state of radio electronic means. The cases of insufficient for a correct classification of the number of a priori data are considered, approximate methods of selection according to criteria for using basic prototypes and information priorities are proposed. The application of a function for dividing sets in parameter space and formulating rules that regulate the correspondence between sets of parameters and values of performance indicators makes it possible to provide identification of states in the process of monitoring the life cycle of radio electronic means.

DESIGN FOR SAFETY KNOWLEDGE-BASED BIM-INTEGRATED RISK REGISTER SYSTEM

Safety is a major challenge in the Construction industry. Researchers have shown that many construction fatalities could have been avoided with proper design considerations. Design for safety (DfS) knowledge helps designers to identify how their design may pose a risk during the life cycle of a building facility. Hence, designers can use DfS knowledge to address these safety issues in the design phase. Nevertheless, identified risk and required mitigation of the risk must be noted in a risk register. Moreover, all the risks cannot be addressed or eliminated during design. Hence, residual risks must be addressed during actual construction, operation and maintenance. This study proposes a DfS knowledge-based risk register system that registers design deficient risk with mitigation action and the residual risks that must be addressed during actual construction. The risk register is integrated with the BIM so that the residual risks can be easily visualized in BIM compliant 3D model for further action in later phases. A structure of risk identification procedure incorporating DfS knowledge is described. Identified risks are stored in a database. Mitigation action along with residual risks and responsible persons/parties for a design element are linked with the BIM model. Such early identification of hazard would be very useful to be prepared for any potential risk in advance which can save significant time and cost for the constructor.

Assessment of the Environmental Efficiency of the Life Cycles of Energy Facilities Based on Renewable Energy Sources

There was considered Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) used in foreign practice to assess the negative effects during the life cycle of energy facilities (power plants) on the environment. There were presented results of calculations of pollutants emissions in the environment during life cycle of traditional and renewable energy. More detailed considered the application of the life cycle analysis tool for assessing the environmental efficiency of energy facilities based on renewable energy sources, in particular wind power plants and solar photovoltaic power plants.

Complex Network Model for Characterizing Hazards and Risks Associated with Mine-tailings Facility

If not well-managed, a mine-tailings facility may become a major source of risks, endangering the community and environment, and damaging the reputation of the minerals industry regarding sustainability. Identifying, characterizing, and mitigating the hazards and risks associated with tailings facilities have been critical to the maintenance of community-safe and environmentally sound mine-tailings facilities. Herein, a complex network model for characterizing the hazards and risks associated with the lifecycle of tailings facilities is presented. In this approach, the hazards are modeled as vertices of the complex network, and the interactions among the hazards are modeled as edges of the complex network. The complex network for modeling the hazard and risk spreading of mine-tailings impoundments is analyzed and characterized by using network metrics such as the network density, geometrical characteristics, characteristic path length, network efficiency, and clustering coefficient. The degree distribution of the network obeys a power-law distribution, indicating that the network for characterizing the risk spreading associated with a tailings facility is scale-free. According to the results of calculations and existing research results, the network is ultrasmall-world. By analyzing the change of the global network efficiency under four kinds of different methods to remove network nodes and edges, network nodes with higher between centrality (BC) are identified as critical. The removal of those critical nodes helps mitigate risks associated with a tailings facility and reveals the vulnerabilities to BC attacks.

교통류 모형을 이용한 도로 점용공사 구간의 지체비용 산정방안

이용자 비용은 SOC 시설물의 효율적 자산관리를 위한 LCCA에서 시설물의 생애주기, 관리자 비용 그리고 할인율과 함께 반드시 고려되어야 하는 주요한 분석 항목이다. 특히, 도로분야에서는 청소 및 유지보수 등의 공사구간(Work zone)으로 인해 이용자들에게 막대한 지체비용이 발생되는 경우가 많으며, 이와 같은 경우 관리자는 보다 합리적인 의사결정을 위해 관리자비용 뿐만아니라 이용자비용까지도 고려해야만 한다. 그러나 최근까지도 대부분의 의사결정 단계에서 이용자 비용은 고려되지 않고 있으며, 이에 관한 연구들도 활발하지 못한 실정이다. 본 연구에서는 교통류 모형과 교통시설 투자 평가 지침의 직접편익 산정 모델을 이용하여 의사결정 단계에서 필요한 이용자 비용 및 지체비용을 산정 하는 방법론을 제안한다. 그리고 2014년 실제 유지보수가 시행되었던 국도 4개구간에 대해 VISSIM을 이용하여 교통류 모형을 추정하고 제안된 방법론을 토대로 이용자 비용 및 지체비용을 산정하였다. 분석결과, AADT 약 3만대의 A구간은 공사구간 발생 전 평균 17,569천원/<TEX>$km{\times}day$</TEX>의 이용자 비용이 발생하는 것으로 분석되었으며, 유지보수로 인해 1차로를 차단 할 경우 추가적으로 평균 10,193천원/<TEX>$km{\times}day$</TEX>(158%)의 지체비용이 발생하는 것으로 분석 되었다. AADT 약 2만대의 B구간과 D구간에서는 각각 1,507천원/<TEX>$km{\times}day$</TEX>(115%), 1,985천원/<TEX>$km{\times}day$</TEX>(119%)의 지체비용이 발생되는 것으로 분석되었으며, AADT 약 1만대의 C구간에서는 262천원/<TEX>$km{\times}day$</TEX>(105%)의 지체 비용이 발생하는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구의 결과는 교통류 모형을 시뮬레이션 기반으로 추정함으로서 실제 적용에는 한계가 있다. 향후 실제 관측 자료를 이용한 적정성 높은 모형의 개발과 시뮬레이션 검증을 통해 적용 가능성을 높이는 연구가 필요할 것으로 판단된다. The user cost is an important analysis item which should be considered together with life-cycle of facility, administrator cost and discount rate in LCCA for efficient asset management of SOC facilities. Especially, a significant delay cost occurs often for users in the road field due to a work zone for cleaning and maintenance, and in such case, the administrator should consider the administrator cost as well as the user cost for more rational decision making. However, the user cost has not been considered in most decision making steps until recently and relevant studies also have not been carried out actively. In this study, the methodology to estimate the user cost and delay cost required in the decision making step using the traffic flow model and the direct benefit estimation model in the traffic facility investment evaluation guideline is suggested. And, the traffic flow model was estimated on 4 national highway sections where maintenance was actually carried out in 2014 using VISSIM and, the user cost and the delay cost were estimated based on the suggested methodology. The analysis result showed that the average user cost of <TEX>$17,569,000KRW/km{\times}day$</TEX> occurred on Section A with approximately 30,000 AADT before a work zone occurred, and in case the first lane was blocked for maintenance, the delay cost of <TEX>$10,193,000KRW/km{\times}day$</TEX> (158%) on average occurred additionally. The delay cost of <TEX>$1,507,000KRW/km{\times}day$</TEX> (115%) and <TEX>$1,985,000KRW/km{\times}day$</TEX> (119%) occurred on Sections B and D with approximately 20,000 AADT respectively and the delay cost of <TEX>$26</TEX><TEX>2,000KRW/km{\times}day$</TEX> (105%) occurred on Section C with approximately 10,000 AADT. This result of this study was estimated based on the simulation of traffic flow model so that there is a limitation in its actual application. A study ot develop a highly appropriate model using actual observation data and improve the possibility to apply it through the verification using the simulation will be necessary in future.

Beyond Buildability: Operability and Commissioning of Industrial Facilities

Industrial projects are growing bigger and more complex, producing new challenges for their completion. As such, project management, and the perception of project success, must be aligned with a new paradigm: the plant's completion is not enough. It is necessary to deliver the benefits envisaged during the project formulation, including successful commercial operation. This new paradigm requires new processes and behaviors related not only to engineering best practices but also to new managerial approaches. Closure is pivotal throughout the life cycle when the facility transitions from plant completion to start-up, followed by the ramping up of operations. To deliver what was previously planned, three main drivers must be in place: quality of the scope definition; alignment of the business strategy; and operability of the asset delivered. Traditionally, commissioning has been considered an activity that is executed just before the operations take over from the start-up systems. Increasingly, it has become a comprehensive and systematic process to verify and document the systems of a new or remodeled plant functioning as designed to meet the owner's requirements. Thoroughly planned and executed commissioning has become critical to allow the facility to operate as intended. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that a focus on operability and the commissioning of new or refurbished facilities represent opportunities for owners and operators to eliminate and mitigate exposure to numerous risks and increase the chance of success for the facility life cycle and the likelihood of satisfying the operational needs and requirements.

Improvement of efficiency through an energy management program as a sustainable practice in schools

Educational sector is growing drastically as a result of upward trend of population. These schools require tremendous quantities of energy units to be generated and consumed. As a result, this will impact negatively on the environment by increasing the carbon emissions and depletion of non-renewable energy resources. Moreover, the harsh climate condition contributes substantially to increase the energy consumption in various weather zones in the world. Therefore, several energy efficiency plans have been developed to improve the energy performance of the schools facilities globally. Hence, this paper discusses the energy management program as a sustainable strategy that applicable on the schools. This program is designed for the schools to improve the energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality and adopting the best management practices during the operating stages. This research has developed a customized energy management program for one of the schools in UAE. It has concluded the findings by using computerized hourly thermal modeling. The energy model has evaluated the proposed energy conservation measures and the best practices that were generated by the energy management program steps. This case shows that the energy performance could be improved substantially by 35%. Thus, the energy use index of the audited school that adopted the energy management program has reduced from 438 kWh/m2/year to 285 kWh/m2/year. The proposed energy management program has been articulated in this study as a consecutive and linear progression. This methodology presents several steps to mitigate the carbon emission by addressing the sustainability dimensions; economic, environment and social aspects. This study discusses the steps and the work flow of developing the energy management program and the anticipated outcomes for the school's buildings. The program considers practical ECMs along with the students and teachers participation and interaction. Furthermore, it highlights the success criteria that assure the sustainability of the energy efficiency at the operating life cycle of school's facilities.

Novel Design of Heterogeneous Automation Controller Based on Real-Time Data Distribution Service Middleware to Avoid Obsolescence Challenges

Oil and gas processing facilities utilize various process automation systems with proprietary controllers. As the systems age; older technologies become obsolete resulting in frequent premature capital investments to sustain their operation. This paper presents a new design of automation controller to provide inherent mechanisms for upgrades and/or partial replacement of any obsolete components without obligation for a complete system replacement throughout the expected life cycle of the processing facilities. The input/output racks are physically and logically decoupled from the controller by converting them into distributed autonomous process interface systems. The proprietary input/output communication between the conventional controller CPU and the associated input/output racks is replaced with standard real-time data distribution service middleware for providing seamless cross-vendor interoperable communication between the controller and the distributed autonomous process interface systems. The objective of this change is to allow flexibility of supply for all controller’s subcomponents from multiple vendors to safeguard against premature automation obsolescence challenges. Detailed performance analysis was conducted to evaluate the viability of using the standard real-time data distribution service middleware technology in the design of automation controller to replace the proprietary input/output communication. The key simulation measurements to demonstrate its performance sustainability while growing in controller’s size based on the number of input/output signals are communication latency, variation in packets delays, and communication throughput. The overall performance results confirm the viability of the new proposal as the basis for designing cost effective evergreen process automation solutions that would result in optimum total cost of ownership capital investment throughout the systems’ life span. The only limiting factor is the selected network infrastructure.

Accident Frequency Evaluation to Support Dynamic Risk Studies

The safety enhancement of Oil&Gas offshore operations asks for improvements in the currently applied tools for risk estimation and evaluation. The present contribution is addressed at the development of a method for the dynamic evaluation of hydrocarbon leaks frequency from process equipment and piping. Specific indicators were scored in order to obtain modification factors aimed at tailorizing the frequency values. The method is suitable for the implementation in dynamic risk assessment, in order to provide an updating mechanisms that allow revising the accident frequency during the lifecycle of the facility. The potentialities of the method were tested with a demonstration case study. Results highlighted the importance of technical and managerial aspects in the estimation of accident likelihood and risk.