3DMSI scans the horizon and identifies a fantastic commercial opportunity
Imagine there was a technology that could provide a 3D scan of the
interior and exterior of a ship, including its systems, and synchronise that with
the data provided by the ship’s own onboard sensors. That is the brilliant
concept which 3DMSI plans to bring to market, with the support of an £80,000
grant from the Marine Challenge Fund.
3DMSI stands for 3D Mine
Surveying International, a private limited company owned by the Jobling-Purser
family. With an office in Penryn, the business was originally built on mine
surveying. Over recent years, the company has successfully diversified into
architectural surveys and has been employing leading edge technology, such as
the use of unmanned aerial drones to gather survey data.
Managing Director, James Jobling-Purser
explains more about the way their team works:
“Our USP is that we draught and
survey in 3D rather than traditional 2D methods. We collect geospatial data
using a high quality laser scanners. The real added value in what we do is with
the data processing. Our systems can produce very high quality 3D computer
models of almost anything. Our position
in the market is quite unique because of the range of industries we operate in.”
To offer an outstanding service,
the company invests heavily in state of the art technology:
“We are the only private company
in Cornwall operating a Z+F Imager 5010C laser scanner and producing 3D models.
3DMSI is a laser scan surveying company, as well as a high quality drawing
office, using some of the best software available. Each of our surveyors is an
expert in their own field. As a result, clients highly value our engineering
consultancy skills.”
Their work on architectural
scanning sparked an idea for an innovative solution for the marine industry:
“In the UK, Building Information
Modelling is already a legal requirement for state buildings. We would like to
offer a parallel service for ships and superyachts, one that documents and
models the exterior and interior layout along with the engineering systems.
Because of the recent legal requirements for the government building sector, we
can predict the same will happen in the marine industry, specifically with naval
and commercial ships.”
3DMSI believes that its
experience and success with modelling buildings can give them a strong first-mover
advantage in the marine industry:
“We would like to put together a
service that uses the 3D scan data to model a complete ship, including its systems,
and pairs this with information from onboard sensors. Once this total scan
package is completed, it can be used by design engineers and shipyards to offer
a superior service of care to vessels anywhere in the world. We call this
project ‘3D AMP.’ This is a research project that commercial shipyards have not
yet adopted, but we are certain it is a technology that many will be crying out
for very soon.”
Getting to market quickly with a
breakthrough solution would greatly improve their chances of commercial
success, which is one of the reasons they engaged with the Marine-i team:
“We have undertaken scanning of
commercial and private vessels, scanning entire hulls and superstructures of
vessels, including their engineering systems. The next critical stage is to
combine our internal laser scanning and 3D modelling with the intelligent
onboard sensors to produce an active model.
“The grant we have received from
Marine-i is a massive boost to our plans. It will enable us to progress to ‘real
world’ testing of 3D AMP, together documenting all the correct procedures needed
for the optimum use of the system.”
Professor Lars Johanning of the
University of Exeter, who leads the Marine-i project, says: