VTT has developed a cloud-based modular software platform designed for improving the sustainability performance of industrial products by lowering production costs and reducing emissions. The platform provides a virtual collaborative environment for organizations that are jointly developing the same product or service.
The system, created during the recently completed EPES (Eco-Process Engineering System for composition of services to optimize product life-cycle) project, effectively combines a context-aware approach, cloud services, industrial Internet, collaborative networks, simulation and assessment of environmental impacts.
"With the help of the software, it is possible to clarify and partly automate complex development tasks by combining improvements made by specialists both programmatically and manually. The analyses are reproducible and thus enable a wider scope of study than traditional methodology," said a company spokesperson.
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland developed the simulation module for the system, allowing implementation of customized and easily automated simulation services to support decision-making processes. "With the help of these services, it is easier to take into account, for example, sustainable development and eco-efficiency indicators, such as energy and material efficiency and emissions, in decision-making processes," said the spokesperson.
According to the company, the system prototype was tested for aircraft wing design in collaboration with AIRBUS. The company was able to make decisions related to new wing and factory concepts in a virtual collaboration environment, where emissions and use of materials could also be taken into account.
The system was also applied to the planning of maintenance practices for windmills and to high voltage cable design. According to the company, the software enabled optimization of wind farm energy production. This was achieved by taking into account the status of the windmills, together with wind forecasts and other key resources.
The other parties involved in the project in addition to VTT were Tecnalia from Spain, acting as project coordinator, ATB from Germany, software companies Sisteplant from Spain and Esteco from Italy, and the companies AIRBUS, Tamoin and NKT, with whom the results of the development work were tested.
For more information contact:
Juhani Heilala, Senior Scientist
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
+358400 417 873
juhani.heilala@vtt.fi
www.epes-project.eu