Discover, Why the Right Time for Integration is Just Now

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? At Hannover Fair 2013, Bentley and Siemens announced data of a bi-directional interface from comos to OpenPlant. What specific approaches do you have in this regard?

Walters: Our development teams continue to work on the bi-directional interface. Bentley’s i-model technology (for conveying AECO deliverables) is being deployed, along with the native ISO 15926 data model within Open Plant.

? Are there already pilot projects?

Walters: Yes, and we hope we can make these public soon.

? With regards to your interoperability approaches, you focus on ISO 15926 interface. What are the benefits of the ISO standard for clients?

Walters: ISO15926 is an international data standard for sharing information across the whole lifecycle of a process plant that vastly simplifies – and accelerates – data sharing. This standard is the culmination of many hundreds of years of experience and knowledge sharing by owners, contractors and software vendors, who all benefit from its use. The website www.iringtoday.com summarizes the benefits for these different groups. For our clients we see the following benefits:

Delivering on the interoperability and lifecycle value of ISO 15926 and iRING as globally recognized standards for data integration

Building on existing workflows for easy adoption and maximum productivity;

Supporting better decisions that reduce risk for engineering and operations to deliver safer and more efficient process plants;

Protecting investment by reusing legacy engineering data and extending the longevity of information for the plant lifecycle.

Additional Information

The Big Picture

So What Are The Global Initiatives Behind ISO 15926?

The idea of sharing non-proprietary and software-neutral data using a standardized interface has been occupying the minds of data managers in the processing industry since as far back as the 1990s. Based on its predecessor STEP, ISO 15926 Part 2 was the first to evolve, followed by the Reference Data Library that became ISO 15926 Part 4, forming the basis of a “plant model exchange” industry. Several organizations have now embraced the subject:

SO/TC 184/SC4 — Within the ISO, the certification process is being driven forward by Subcommittee SC4 (Industrial Data) of the Technical Committee TC184 (Industrial automation systems and integration).

POSC Caesar Association (PCA) — PCA is a non-profitmaking organization whose main sponsors are in the oil and gas industries. The aim of the PCA is to set standards that promote the interoperability of lifecycle data. PCA and Fiatech are the main driving force behind ISO 15926.

FIATECH — The aim of Fiatech is to identify and promote the advancement of data integration. Together with PCA, projects are initiated to further ISO 15926. One of the results of the Camelot Project was iRINGTools – the iRING User Group is tasked with the ongoing development of iRINGTools and providing support for the existing software packages. Problems relating to both programs and models are discussed at the iRING User Group Forum.

iRING — the iRING User Group is tasked with the ongoing development of iRINGTools and providing support for the existing software packages. The iRING User Group Forum discusses problems relating to both programs and models.

DEXPI — Stands for Data Exchange in the Process Industry. Its aim is to be able to share data in an open and non-proprietary manner over the entire lifecycle using an ISO 15926 interface. On the operator side, the project is driven by BASF, Bayer Technology Services, Evonik Industrie, Thyssen Krupp Uhde and Fluor, who are concerned with the coexistence of different software tools in companies, since each tool has its own strengths and weaknesses specific to the various disciplines. In practice, interoperability should reduce time and costs for designers, contractors, owner/operators and site services and turn the aim of the digital plant into reality. The software partners involved in the initiative are Aveva, Aucotec, Autodesk, Bentley Systems, Intergraph, Siemens and X-Visual.

? In Germany, the topic of interoperability between different software providers is promoted by the Process Net Working Group Dexpi. Why was it necessary to go ahead in this direction?

Walters: Dexpi also supports the ISO 15926 standard to promote data sharing, and we are fully supportive of this group. By partnering, Siemens and Bentley are accelerating interoperability between 2D and 3D models, which is an area that the standards groups are still working on. Bentley is an active participant in this standards work and is sharing what we learn from this collaboration.

COMOS’ graphic showing holistic approach between all disciplines across the complete plant lifecycle (Source: Siemens)

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Discover, Why the Right Time for Integration is Just Now