Wireline Issue 46 - Autumn 2019

Augmented reality uplifts offshore workers

Martin MacRae, Technical Director for R2S, part of James Fisher Asset Information Services (AIS), speaks with Wireline about the R2S AR application which aims to bring augmented reality technology offshore.

A berdeen-based James Fisher Asset Information Systems (AIS), the digital arm of James Fisher and Sons plc, has enlisted the expertise of mobile application specialist Mozenix to bring immersive technology solutions to the oil and gas industry. The R2S Augmented Reality (AR) product will enable users onsite to access valuable real-time operational data, overlaidon any image, like themaintenance history of a piece of equipment, or its engineering drawings. Through this app, users will be able to coordinate activities more efficiently and immediately identify equipment and access detailed asset information. “Theenterprise applicationof immersive technologies was an area that sparked our interest early on; and an area oil and gas was significantly trailing in when we embarked upon this journey in 2016. Our peers in, for example, the aerospace and automotive industries had already begun to realise value of immersive applications like AR and VR in multiple phases of operation,” R2S technical director Martin MacRae tells Wireline . The R2S AR app is all about accessibility. With pressure on increasing skills and flexibility, software like this can play a major role in digitally empowering offshore workers. R2S AR puts relevant information in the hands of personnel, reducing time that would be spent searching for it and providing on site assurance. This is particularly helpful for those unfamiliar with a site, and provides access to records and equipment in real-time. “[We are] bringing a system to industry that has immediate application and return on investment,” MacRae continues. R2S has supported the oil and gas industry globally by photogrammetrically capturing and building over 150 assets (from platforms to FPSOs and refineries) into R2S software. The software produces high quality 360˚ spherical images which join to create a walk-through environment for the user. “We recognised the value of these assets to users and wanted to extend this value to workers offshore by enabling remote access to assets,” MacRae explains. Such software has created time and cost efficiencies for companies and enhanced collaboration. R2S concluded that developing an augmented reality dimension would be the next step that would extend the benefits of the software to users, quickly. “One of the many challenges in the development of immersive technologies is the generation of content. We had the content; from the navigable photogrammetric

interface of R2S, to the layers of data accessible both in and from the software. By developing an AR application as opposed to its more immersive VR sibling, we could deliver immediate value to our users — maximising access to and use of their data,” MacRae continues. Content being a non-issue, the next challenge for R2S was safety. AR technology is typically consumed through large headsets, however this is not practical for offshore workers. “Our research was telling us that that the use of onsite headsets or goggles presented physical safety concerns, but also a significant behavioural shift, so, we focused our development on phone and tablet application,” MacRae reflects. R2S is currently working on the rolling out the software to users globally. “There is also clear technology transfer value [to this project], and we are already working with other industries, such as construction and offshore wind, where similar challenges are faced operationally,” he adds. "This application has the potential to reduce the industry skills gap by digitally empowering

offshore workers."

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