The approach
Introducing AI-powered digital twins
Since 2016, WRPS has been working with Royal HaskoningDHV Digital to introduce AI on top of their predictive simulation process. This adds a crucial layer of intelligence and real-time, real-world data to its models that feeds into digital twins of key assets and processes within their operations.
“Our objective has been to bring reality into the models, providing consistent insight into how scenarios affect mission life – and therefore cost,” says Douglas.
“We needed the ability to analyse ideas and what-if scenarios, so we could understand the facilities, personnel, environmental impact, spares and instrumentation needed to achieve our mission in the shortest time possible.”
Using the WITNESS Horizon solution from Royal HaskoningDHV Digital, WRPS now has twins of thousands of components throughout the site, each using data from multiple sources to model different scenarios for the operation.
To boost the efficiency of its models, WRPS created a cloud-based app which uses Royal HaskoningDHV’s compute resources to test different scenarios simultaneously. This approach isn’t just faster – it’s also scalable and flexible, which means WRPS can adapt the platform as its digital twin requirements continue to grow.
Each simulation the app runs produces real-time log data – just like a real production process – which feeds an algorithm that identifies bottlenecks within WRPS’s system. The team can also dig into the algorithm to understand how it makes predictions, which helps highlight which factors influence optimum output.
This new ecosystem of digital twins, consisting of numerous simulations and constantly-improving algorithms is providing more detailed, accurate insight and speeding up critical decision making for the WRPS team.