Industrial Process Graphics Auto-Generation for Multi-Level Plant Views
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing systems for generating industrial process graphics are costly and labor-intensive, requiring manual updates throughout the plant lifecycle due to changes in control strategies and the addition of low-cost IoT sensors, leading to potential errors and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system for automatic generation of industrial process graphics that receives engineering, device, and sensor data to generate process graphics across various abstraction levels, utilizing network discovery, image recognition, and self-describing information models to create hierarchical structures and visuals without manual engineering work.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration of process graphics is performed, then graphics can be customized and updated, but labor costs increase and errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-configuration of process graphics by extracting device information from device descriptions and automatically generating corresponding graphical representations, eliminating the need for manual engineering work while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical configuration processes with automated computational processes that extract device data and generate graphics programmatically, substituting human labor with algorithmic processing
2Adaptability or versatility
If process graphics are updated manually after commissioning, then changes in control strategies and IoT sensors can be reflected, but engineering efforts and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts process graphics to reflect changes in the industrial plant by continuously monitoring device descriptions and automatically updating graphical representations when new IoT sensors or control strategies are added
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback mechanism where device descriptions and sensor data continuously inform the graphics generation process, enabling automatic updates when plant conditions change without requiring manual reconfiguration
3Loss of information
If comprehensive device information is collected from multiple sources, then complete process graphics can be generated, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple data sources including device descriptions, sensor data, and process information into a unified graphics generation process, consolidating disparate information streams into a single automated workflow
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a universal data extraction and graphics generation framework that handles multiple types of device information from various sources through a single multi-functional processing architecture
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for an automatic generation of industrial process graphics, the method comprising the following steps of: receiving (S1) engineering data, device data and sensor data of an industrial plant comprising a plurality of field devices, wherein the engineering data, device data and sensor data are assigned to a single or multiple field devices; extracting (S2) field device information for each field device of the plurality of the field devices from the assigned engineering data, device data and sensor data; and generating (S3) a plurality of process graphics for each field device of the plurality of the field devices, wherein the plurality of process graphics for each field device covers a plurality of different abstraction levels of the industrial plant.