An inspection data management system (IDMS) is a software designed to collect, store, manage and analyze data generated from the inspection and testing of equipment or assets. These systems are essential in asset-intensive industries such as oil and gas, power generation, and renewables, where regular inspections and maintenance are critical for ensuring safety, compliance, and operational efficiency. IDMS solutions help operators track the condition of equipment, schedule inspections, and document maintenance activities – providing a structured approach to asset integrity management.
While IDMS solutions are valuable tools for managing asset data, not all are created equal. Many traditional IDMS platforms lack advanced visualization capabilities, such as digital twin technology, which is transformative for modern asset management.
What is Digital Twin?
A digital twin is a dynamic, digital replica of a physical asset or facility. It uses data captured via sensors, laser mapping, or other technologies that are attached to the source object or reference material. It reflects real-time, dynamic information on an asset, including historical, current, and changes as they occur. It can mirror the behavior, performance, and characteristics of the asset in real time.
This technology enables operators to visualize asset conditions, remotely monitor them, and predict potential failures before they occur. It integrates all sources of data on an asset – historical and current – and contextualizes them into one visualization. By simply clicking on an asset within the digital twin, users can access detailed information about its condition, history, and maintenance requirements.
In mechanical integrity, a digital twin is fed by all sources of data on an asset, converging them into a holistic picture for a single version of the truth.
Instead of wasting time searching for relevant information, operators can visually see what is occurring throughout their plant in real-time and from any remote location. Without digital twin, existing IDMS solutions may fall short in providing a comprehensive view of asset health — leading to inefficiencies, increased risk, and higher maintenance costs.
Connecting Digital Twin to an Existing IDMS
What if a company already has an IDMS, but it lacks the digital twin component? Is it necessary to change the whole system?
There is a myriad of reasons why a company might not yet be able to change IDMS systems in order to adopt one with digital twin. Often, the existing system is mandated across sites and replacing it isn’t an option.
The good news is that operators do not necessarily need to replace their existing IDMS to gain the benefits of digital twin. Instead, another option exists: connect a digital twin solution to the IDMS they already have. This approach allows organizations to maintain existing systems while adding a layer of advanced visualization and predictive analytics.
How?
With Antea Core.
Antea Core is a comprehensive digital asset library that integrates various data sources into a digital twin framework. It can connect with all major IDMS platforms on the market, as well as other legacy systems, including Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), Enterprise Asset Management (EAM), and so on.
It converges data from these systems with operational technology (OT) including live data from the asset itself, via remote sensors, NDT, computer vision, and data reported by humans at the asset. By consolidating data from these diverse sources into one holistic platform, Antea Core enables the creation of a dynamic, highly accurate and real-time digital representation of physical assets, providing operators with a complete view of their asset health and performance.
Smart P&IDs for Enhanced Decision-Making
Antea Core is the only asset library with digital twin that utilizes geospatial indexing and Smart Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs). Rather than simply depict the layout of systems, Smart P&IDs are intelligent, data-driven tools that provide real-time insights into your operations. In a Smart P&ID, users can click on an asset location on the P&ID directly to retrieve asset data. Icons are superimposed for visual indicators of upcoming or overdue schedules, inspection and maintenance activities, follow up recommendations, and more. The Smart P&ID in Antea Core is linked with live data, making it easier to troubleshoot issues, manage compliance, and ensure safety. This capability also applies to plot plans, Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Google Maps, and other 2D schematics.
Geospatial indexing is unique to Antea Core. It uses specific coordinates in a geo-referenced space to allow operators to pull up data based on where the asset exists within a facility — rather than having to locate it on an itemized list. With this feature, information from a given asset or component can be related visually to that item. The inverse also applies; for example, displaying temperature directly on a space in the digital twin. An example of how this can be used is in maintenance planning, for example, where it is possible to overlay the position of proposed scaffolding within the inspection schedule.
Simplicity of Integration
One of the key advantages of Antea Core is its ease of integration. Designed to work with any existing IDMS, it allows organizations to enhance their asset management capabilities without the need for extensive system overhauls or disruptions. The platform’s flexible architecture ensures a smooth integration process, enabling operators to efficiently implement digital twin technology and start realizing the benefits of advanced asset visualization and predictive analytics.
Integrating Antea Core with an existing IDMS offers several benefits:
- Contextualized Data. The twin visually contextualizes mass amounts of data on each asset and component, both historical and real-time.
- Predictive analytics. Data is trended, analyzed. This enables predictive analytics to inform preventive maintenance strategies. Predict failures and identify potential issues early.
- Operational Efficiency. Time to find data is reduced to seconds.
- Remote Monitoring, Remote Collaboration. Access real-time access conditions visually and monitor them continuously with IoT sensors. Via wearable technology and/or mobile devices.
- Time and Cost Savings. The more you know, the more you understand your own level of uncertainty. Mass data contextualized in the digital twin enables smarter inspection and maintenance planning, reducing wasted expenditure on unnecessary events.
- Reduce unplanned downtime. Real-time access to critical insights enable data-driven decision making to prevent catastrophic issues before they occur.
- Single version of the truth. Antea Core’s ability to consolidate data from multiple systems helps eliminate information silos, ensuring that all relevant data is accessible and actionable in one place.
The ability to integrate multiple systems into a single, cohesive platform is more than just a technical achievement — it’s a strategic advantage. By bringing together the strengths of various IDMS, ERPs, Data Historians, DCS, PLC, SCADA and remote sensors, operators can unlock new levels of efficiency, safety, and reliability in their mechanical integrity programs.
Ready to learn more?
View Antea Core’s digital twin and holistic asset registry first-hand. Experience the power of digital twin to elevate your existing IDMS systems – without having to replace them. Book a demo today.
Additional Resources
To learn about Antea’s globally trusted IDMS software with digital twin built-in, visit: Antea IDMS (Inspection Data Management System) Software
To learn more about Antea Core, visit: Antea Core – Asset Library with Digital Twin
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About the Author
Floyd Baker is executive-level asset integrity management (AIM) and digital strategies advisor and technology driver who specializes in helping operators of asset-intensive plants and facilities achieve digital transformation. An executive with over 40 years of experience, Floyd provides valuable insight and perspective on industrial internet of things (IIoT) technologies for risk based inspection (RBI), asset integrity management, and digital twin — and is a global keynote speaker on these topics.
After starting his career at the ground level, Floyd fulfilled a variety of roles throughout his career — technician, to Chief Inspector, to Executive – all spent dedicated in the field of mechanical integrity, RBI and AIM. His educational background is focused on emerging technologies in inspection, mechanical engineering, and materials science.
