subc Imaging highlights the integration of Rayfin cameras equipped with Rapid Digital Imaging (RDI) by Wood, a prominent player in project management, engineering, and technical services within the energy and materials sectors, aimed at improving their offshore asset inspection processes.
Conventional visual inspection techniques using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), which rely on video data collection and manual review, have been identified as both time-consuming and financially burdensome.
Goal
To create a more efficient and cost-effective inspection method that outperforms traditional practices while minimizing the need for offshore personnel.
Approach
Wood has embraced SubC Imaging’s Rayfin camera, which incorporates RDI technology. This innovative system was acquired through Ashtead Technology, subc’s leading rental partner, with Wood leasing five RDI-equipped rayfin cameras.
Technical Features and Benefits of RDI
- Image Acquisition: RDI captures thousands of high-resolution still images at over double the speed of traditional ROV video inspections.
- Motion Blur Mitigation: High-resolution digital stills exhibit minimal motion blur, further enhanced when synchronized with LED strobe lighting, outperforming standard 30FPS video captures.
- Data Synchronization: Real-time integration of system timestamps and GPS coordinates into JPEG images as EXIF metadata.
- Processing Efficiency: Direct incorporation of digital stills into reports, eliminating the need for manual frame selection and enhancing computer vision, AI, and 3D modeling capabilities.
- Data Transfer: 2Hz topside transfer of digital stills, eliminating the need for high-resolution data downloads post-inspection.
- Software Compatibility: The Rayfin API and RDI system work seamlessly with industry-standard software tools and existing inspection workflows.
Operational Benefits:
- Inspection Speed: Enhanced inspection processes without sacrificing data integrity.
- Data Quality: Remarkable resolution and zoom capabilities compared to traditional video frame captures.
- Offline Analysis: The ability to analyze images while the ROV undertakes other tasks, reducing vessel time and associated costs.
- 3D Modeling: High-resolution images facilitate the creation of detailed 3D models of structures.
- Anomaly Detection: Improved ability to identify and address anomalies, decreasing the frequency of inspection interruptions.
- data Integration: Unique data outputs can be directly incorporated into reports, fault-finding tools, and high-resolution 3D models.
- Decision Making: Enables swift, informed decision-making and optimizes asset management strategies.
Clinton Jensen, Field Engineering & Inspection Team Lead at Wood, remarked; “The detail captured by RDI has surpassed our expectations. It has allowed us to inspect subsea assets more efficiently and cost-effectively than traditional methods.”
Final Thoughts
The adoption of RDI technology has markedly improved Wood’s operational efficiency through quicker inspections, superior data acquisition, and reduced post-processing time. This technological innovation, provided collaboratively by SubC imaging and Ashtead technology, signifies a transformative shift in offshore asset inspection practices, establishing new benchmarks for operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
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