As we have been told by our clients and the contractors we work with on our clients’ projects: Pearl Engineering is a leader among our peers in the 3D Laser Scanning and Modeling Engineering Design of industrial facilities. In doing so, we can: provide clients with an immediate and clearer understanding of the final installation for operation and maintenance; minimize field interference; expedite shop detailing and allow for instant response to contractors’ questions during construction.
We have three Faro Scanners and have traveled with them to scan all kinds of facilities across the U.S., including aircraft hangars, food processing plants, pulp and paper mills, and building products plants. Please refer to our Case Study for an example of 3D scanning technology improving safety and accuracy during an emergency underground sewer repair.
We also do a lot of work in Canada and have experienced a lot of challenges with work permits and bringing equipment across the border for scanning there. So, we have adapted by building effective alliances with scanning groups there to do the onsite scanning for us there. This saves us the time and permitting hassles and costs to get there and the client money in getting this work done. In turn, we provide the same onsite scanning services for other engineering groups who are working here in our areas.
We call this Virtual Engineering in that we can get the vital field measurement data anywhere in the world required to create accurate engineering design without having to travel to the site.
Please note that this system does not replace the actual boots on the ground needed for a Professional Engineers’ detailed examination that may still be required for a Condition Assessment. However, it can replace the cost of the initial field data collection to originate the project or to do the later as-built updates to complete the project.
With the current COVID-19 imposed travel restrictions and safety concerns of airline travel, we are finding that Virtual Engineering is even more valuable in the expedition of the engineering design for our clients across North America. Whether the project is in Idaho or New York, we are able to get the 3D scanned images in a Point Cloud format in almost real-time to start working on a client’s project without having to travel there. What’s more the travel time and costs to get it are minimal and it is safer for the client, scanning group, and ourselves by keeping the work locally sourced.
In addition, we have been working virtually with our clients, as well. They make field measurements, take and upload digital videos and photos of their problem areas for operations, maintenance, and safety improvement projects. With this advance information, we can work with them by video conference to get a project started or even completed that may allow for an immediate solution to insure plant operation, maintenance and safety to continue or be enhanced.
One example of this was a recent boiler inspection that our Mike Anderson, P.E., a Senior Mechanical Consultant, who specializes in boilers, was to perform and to train a member of the client’s team on. Due to the COVID-19 safety protocols for social distancing and this boiler being a tight confined space: the client did the physical exam with Mike participating via video conference. It was a safe and successful inspection.
Another example was a client in a food processing plant that has some Industrial Engineering and Safety concerns for their operation. She videotaped the areas and operations of concern and uploaded them to a Secure Shareable Link that we provided. We had a video conference with her to review each area and to make some initial recommendations and to plan on how to go forward.
In these challenging times, we are proud of this creative approach of Virtual Engineering in the serving of our clients’ engineering needs to be both safer and more economical.
