Digital Twin

Asset-intensive industries in fast-paced, industrial environments are grappling with the growing challenge of managing vast amounts of data while maintaining operational efficiency and safety. As they strive to stay ahead, companies are realizing that to continue to do so, they must adopt and leverage the latest technology to forge a more sophisticated, intelligent and efficient approach to information management (IM). 

Historically, Hexagon has offered a breadth of approaches to data acquisition. While these methods were all highly efficient, they required an initial commitment to configuration and certain level of technical expertise to manage. With HxGN SDx2, these barriers to entry are significantly reduced by capitalizing on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) advancements. 

This blog explores how HxGN SDx2 enables organizations to harness the power of their own data, enhancing decision-making, compliance and overall operational efficiency. 

The Persistent Challenge: Brownfield and 
Project Data Take-on 

The industrial sector is awash with data, ranging from detailed engineering schematics and vendor documentation to real-time operational information. However, the real value lies not in its sheer volume, but in how it is captured, organized and leveraged. 

Despite the availability of intelligent data-capture solutions for more than a decade, managing structured and unstructured assets remains complex. This complexity is evident at most brownfield sites with existing industrial installations, where there’s still no effective means to access the vast amounts of aggregated data and information. 
 
Consider legacy documentation scattered across decades; extracting meaningful insights from such chaos is like the proverbial “finding a needle in a haystack.” Traditional data management systems often struggle with the intricacy and diversity, leading to inefficiencies and missed opportunities. The key challenge lies in effectively harnessing the data and information from these brownfield facilities and making it useful and actionable. 

Project Data Take-on and Handover 

Even in greenfield projects, data arrives in diverse formats (e.g., paper, scanned images, digital files). The transition from analog to digital isn’t seamless. So how do we bridge this gap? 

HxGN SDx2 streamlines the transition. By providing robust tools for data capture and management, it enables organizations to effectively handle diverse data formats and transform them into actionable intelligence. 

Democratizing Data Management: A Closer Look at
Data Take-on Capability 

HxGN SDx2 provides a robust, end-to-end workflow for capturing, contextualizing, integrating and managing structured and unstructured data. This approach enhances efficiency by making all relevant data accessible and organized, enabling quicker, more informed decisions and improving overall operational performance. 

End-to-End Workflow 

HxGN SDx2 data take-on capability is part of an integrated workflow that encompasses every stage of data management – from capture to contextualization. It’s not just about extraction; it’s about smartification – the art of making data work smarter. 

 
_{Fig. 1 – Comprehensive Overview of Content Extraction Across Multiple P&ID Documents for Efficient Review and Validation} 

No Upfront Rule Configuration 

Unlike its predecessors, HxGN SDx2 doesn’t demand a rulebook before starting. Just dive in, observe the results and adjust as needed. This approach saves significant time and resources that would otherwise be spent on establishing complex rules, therefore enabling teams to apply their focus on capturing and utilizing data more efficiently. 

However, if your tag naming standards are complex, you can still define rules that act as gentle nudges to the system without hindering progress. This flexibility improves user experience, reduces delays and ultimately improves productivity. 

Review and React 

Users assess smartification outputs, gaining confidence levels per document and extracted tags —critical intel at your fingertips that enables more informed decision-making and timely actions. By understanding the reliability of the data and information, users can better prioritize, proactively address potential issues and enhance overall operational efficiency. 

 
_{Fig. 2 – Efficiently Review and Validate Extracted Tags from Engineering Documents} 

Contextualizing Drawings and Documents 

HxGN SDx2 makes drawings and documents more useable by contextualizing them, which allows users to easily tag hot spots and off-page connectors. This creates an interactive navigation experience, enabling users to quickly locate relevant information and understand its relationships within a broader context. As a result, teams make faster, better-informed decisions, reduce search time and improve overall operational efficiency. 

Transforming Data into Intelligence 

Capturing information is only the first step. HxGN SDx2’s true power lies in its ability to transform this data into actionable intelligence. This empowers organizations to make more informed decisions, anticipate potential issues and optimize their operations. By turning raw data into strategic intelligence, organizations improve their responsiveness, streamline processes and drive better outcomes across their operations. 

Mixing Sophistication Levels 

HxGN SDx2’s data take-on extends beyond unstructured drawings and documents to include various critical types of data. This flexibility allows organizations to effectively manage structured and unstructured information and gain a comprehensive view of their assets. By integrating diverse data formats, HxGN SDx2 improves decision-making and collaboration across teams. 

Capturing and Contextualizing 3D Models 

Beyond flat drawings, HxGN SDx2 provides a streamlined process to capture and contextualize 3D models, providing a clearer visualization of physical assets. This enhances analysis and insights, improves design accuracy and streamlines maintenance planning; ultimately leading to better operational efficiency. 

Loading Tag Registers and Structured Lists 

HxGN SDx2 data take-on also provides the ability to validate and load structured lists and tag registers. This integration improves data integrity and accessibility, allowing organizations to manage diverse information sources more effectively, resulting in better decision-making and even greater operational efficiency. 
 

 
_{Fig. 3 – Streamline Tag Validation from P&ID Documents for Accurate Equipment and Component Identification} 

Conclusion: The Future of Intelligent IM 

When data and information are critical assets, the ability to manage and leverage them intelligently is a key differentiator. HxGN SDx2 stands at the forefront of this transformation, providing tools and workflows that enable asset-intensive industries to optimize operations, enhance safety and make better, more informed decisions. By integrating cutting-edge technologies, like AI/ML, HxGN SDx2 addresses current IM challenges and paves a path for future innovations. 

As industries continue to evolve, the demand for IM is only growing. Organizations embracing these technologies will be better positioned to navigate the complexities of tomorrow’s business landscape, ensuring their continued success and competitiveness in the market.