Object-oriented model for life cycle management of electrical instrumentation control projects

Electrical instrumentation and control (EIC) systems can account for as much as 60% of maintainable items as well as being critical to safe and efficient operations. Thus, it is imperative that as-built documentation is error-free and reflects precisely what has been installed. Yet EIC as-built drawings that are produced often contain errors and omissions. If EIC systems are ineffectively and inefficiently designed and documented, then asset owners' plant, equipment and facilities may fail to operate, which can result in considerable economic loss and jeopardize system safety. In order to improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of documentation production, it has been suggested that engineers should switch from using computer-aided design (CAD) to an object-oriented model, which takes the form of a systems information model. Such a model provides the ability for electrical engineers to effectively integrate their work with a building information model. This paper builds upon the authors' previous research, which examined the need for a SIM by presenting and describing how an object-oriented model for EIC can be used through a project's life cycle. Examples are used to demonstrate the functionality and robustness of the SIM. The adoption of a SIM will not only lead to productivity throughout a project's life but also reduce the costs associated with managing and maintaining information.