INOVx Solutions announced RealityLINx version 5.0, its innovative Virtualization technology. Extensive new functionality will be available in this version including management of change features such as 3D modeling, improved laser scanning image support, and enhanced synchronization with popular CAD systems. INOVx continues its long-term commitment to ever improving asset management solutions for the process industry.

Virtualization software is designed specifically to provide the simplest way to access and navigate enterprise asset data using an accurate and precise virtual reality view of a facility. When coupled with job specific features, RealityLINx users have reported considerable productivity gains of up to 2 to 3 hours per day per user as well as significant benefits resulting from better planning and more informed decision-making.

"ARC Advisory Group research has identified Asset Information Management (AIM) as an important enabler of a good continuous improvement strategy. Virtualization software provides a viewable AIM foundation for users to remotely locate and manage assets and information", said Houghton LeRoy, Research Director at the ARC Advisory Group.

"With RealityLINx version 5.0 we are consolidating our software products into a single code base permitting broader coverage of all aspects of Virtualization functionality," said INOVx Solutions CEO Costantino Lanza. "This provides consistency for creating, using and maintaining Virtualization solutions applied in daily operations and maintenance of complex facilities. It reinforces our belief and commitment to a fundamental change in plant operations, safety and reliability around accurate as-built information in a natural virtual reality interface."

While previous versions of RealityLINx already had capabilities not found in similar software most notably its dynamic integration with enterprise software systems, and its role-based features supporting multiple workspaces and multiple roles, Version 5.0 of RealityLINx extends its coverage with:

• Best-in-class modeling capability for converting laser scan images into intelligent asset models
• Full multi-user, client/server system permitting better collaboration
• Enhanced laser scan image management (larger files, easily incorporate new data with synchronization, and color)
• Many new configuration options including custom assemblies
• Improved and more flexible asset hierarchies including role-based support for multiple hierarchies.

There are several options of RealityLINx that conveniently allow one to purchase only the functionality needed while making expansion simple. These can be purchased in single user mode or full client/server mode.

The five main options are:

• RealityLINx View - allows users to view the 3-D model, navigate, and open Knowledge Views
• RealityLINx Enterprise - in addition to the View features, allows users to create Knowledge Views and link to generic data sources as well as Enterprise Systems such as SAP, Meridium, Visions, PI, and PCMS.
• RealityLINx Manage - in addition to the Enterprise features, allows users to synchronize from Plant Design Systems and model small plant modifications from scratch or from laser data using the built in catalogs.
• RealityLINx Model - in addition to the View features, allows users to create 3-D models from laser scan data and use them in other RealityLINx products or export them to other CAD systems. This is a brand new product which will replace our existing 3-D PlantLINx 2.9.
• RealityLINx Exchange - in addition to the View features, allows users to work with laser scan data and render the point information to PDMS. In the near future, this will be extended to PDS and AutoCAD.

All five share the same database engine, so a database created in one can be accessed by all others. A typical implementation should include a mixture of several products for model viewing, integration, and maintenance.

Some of the modeling features that are part of Manage and Model include:

• Default templates and ANSI catalogs for model creation.
• Interactive manipulators on most graphical elements to allow their scaling, translation and rotation.
• Import of Laser Scan Data from Leica, Z&F, and FARO as well as creation of Laser Scan Regions. These can also be synchronized if a laser scan file needs to be re-registered, removed or added to the database.
• Assisted modeling of cylinders, boxes, planes and steel elements from laser scan data.
• Export of the model to Microstation or AutoCAD based on tree selection, Knowledge Views, or opened windows.
• QA Verify tool to analyze assets that have already been modeled from the point cloud data.

Navigation performance has been improved when navigating inside of the plant.

A new Asset Window Lite has been added to improve model loading performance. This window can only be opened if a Knowledge View of the assets has been created.

Reporting features for Asset attributes are now supported. After selecting multiple assets, a report of all of the attributes in common for those assets can be created, printed, or exported to Excel.

Macro features have been added. An administrator can now write Macros using jscript language to automate some functions such as sharing assets or creating Knowledge Views based on attributes.

Expression and Operation Attributes are now supported. These attribute types allow users to define attributes based on other values to perform operations such as building a URL link to a document management system or calculating the volume of a pipe segment.

The Units features have been enhanced to support more than just distance and diameter dimensions. This allows users to assign unit types and units for the attributes stored or imported into the Asset Database.

Distance Measurement now shows the individual East, North and Elevation deltas in the viewer.

Custom Toolbars and Keyboard shortcuts can now be defined for most commands.