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Optimization, Computer Aided Design, Augmented Reality, Big Data –

2016’s COMPIT conference again was an exchange platform for developers, researchers and innovators. The wide range of topics offered many points

of contact and certainly triggered many new ideas.
Experts from all over the world met at Lecce, Italy, for the 15th Conference on Computer Applications and Information Technology[ds_preview] in the Maritime Industries (COMPIT).

While CAD and optimization of new ship designs usually still need different software programs, exportig and possibly reformatting of data before it can be used, there seems to be a trend towards a consolidation and simplification of processes. Using optimization tools testing different variables at a time before starting heavy Computational Fluid Design (CFD) of a new model is an approach of Stefan Harries of Friendship Solutions. »We want to get 95% right before we go to heavy CFD,« he said presenting a CAESES-NavCad coupled solution. Joo Hock Ang of Sembcorb Marine shared his research results on integrating a morphing technique for already proven designs into a multi-objective genetic algorithm for automated optimization.

Nick Danese of NDAR made a plea for sharing data and developing less isolated software for designing ships. »Realistically, there will never be a single monolithic software optimal for all tasks,« he said. A hybrid best-of-breed solution required open architecture software easy to integrate.

Still most shipbuilders rely on notes on paper or memory when it comes to changes or progress in the design and building process. Maurizio Granata of Intergraph criticized those document-centric systems, where an updated document leaves all related data untouched. »Work sharing across the globe becomes possible using a digital data centric system,« he pointed an advantage. Staying up to date during the building by recording the as built status was the project, Matthias Roth of Siemens presented.

From robotics for underwater operations and surveys to autonomous shipping COMPIT gave insights into exciting projects. Marco Bibuli of CNR-ISSIA develops robots for diver operations, interacting with each others and humans. He was convinced of the capabilities of autonomous machines also in the field of shipping, saying, »robots follow rules and procedures – problems arise when you put the unpredictable human in the loop.«

Reading and understanding plans in the dark belly of a ship can take ages, especially when it comes to piping. Kohei Matsuo of NMRI showed his results for an Augmented Reality (AR) assistance for outfitting works. »The next step will be a project on welding lines,« he revealed his plans. »What happens when you bring the physical ship and the digital ship together,« Scott Patterson and Adrew Webb of Babcock International asked. They developed AR-glasses together with Epson that lead workers through maintenance operations, providing information on components and indicating their condition.

Kristine Bruun Ludvigsen of DNVGL presented the open architecture platform »Nauticus Twinity«, a digital twin of a real-life vessel for a variety of tasks such as simulation or condition monitoring. Asset visualization was the topic of Andrew Gordon of Aveva, who presented a digital visualization project to provide reliable condition information at all times.

COMPIT this year also focused on Big Data. As Big Data is getting bigger, Anthony Sayers of new player in the maritime cosmos, Dell, gave an overview of the company’s technologies that are planned to be part of the smart ship of the future that will have to handle the data. Other speakers showed the possibilities, chances and risks of Big Data for traffic and cargo management. Jan Furustam of NAPA presented a project to utilize ship operation data in naval architecture, while Richard Ramsden of AkzoNobel showed how ship data could be used to predict biofouling.

As widely spread as COMPIT topics may seem, points of contact were manifold. Once again the conference offered a great chance for academic researchers and industry experts to share ideas and knowledge and to open up to new prospects. The next COMPIT will take place from 15 to 17 May 2017 in Cardiff, UK.


Felix Selzer