Deep Dive: Digital Twin Technology for Maritime Simulation

Fidelity

At this still early stage of digital twin maturation and initial use across diverse communities, there are challenges to optimizing this technology: including the cost to bring computational and other devices to bear to gain an accurate twin, and security. Yet, fidelity stands out as a larger technology hurdle for more complete implementation.

Flint Systems’ Kniter emphasized his company’s clients “do not want a simulator of a no-name crane or vehicle, they are interested in very exact machines. This is why we had to build the digital twin either on our own or use an existing model. Our machines in VR not only look and sound like real but their physics is reflected, too.”

The corporate marketing manager further emphasized it is difficult to reflect the machine 1:1 and, to that end, Flint Systems needs to know the real machine. He continued, “This is why our engineers, designers, developers and 3-D graphic designers become acquainted with the machine, talk with the operators, record sounds and make a lot of photos. The operators also participate in the phase of tests. It is all to make the training as real as possible.”

Digital twin realism is also a priority at Samwoo Immersion with the company tailoring the fidelity of its digital twin-based maritime simulation content to meet the specific requirements of its clients. Of interest, Kim pointed out full-scale realism is intentionally limited in some cases to avoid overwhelming users with too much information. “Instead, we enhance key elements through improved visual effects and UI/UX [user interface/user experience] design to create a more effective and engaging training experience.”

The corporate leader also drilled down a bit further when he revealed that to achieve high fidelity, Samwoo Immersion uses various techniques such as Point-Cloud data collection, BIM (Building Information Modeling) design blueprints, and on-site photography to accurately recreate environments. “Additionally, we leverage Unreal Engine's PBR (Physically Based Rendering) technology to ensure that the visual representation is as realistic as possible. The extent of realism is defined in close collaboration with each client, ensuring that the digital twin solution aligns with their operational and training needs.” This approach allows the company to maintain control over the development process, with much of the work being done in-house, although Samwoo Immersion remains open to collaborating with industry partners when necessary to meet specific technical or content requirements.

ROIs and the Value Proposition

Challenges aside, there are significant, early ROIs and a value proposition for using digital twin for training in the maritime and adjacent high-risk communities.

Samwoo Immersion’s Kim offered the core value of a digital twin system lies in its ability to integrate distributed information, ensuring the maintenance and stability of resources across a facility, and in collecting and analyzing simulation-based data to propose optimal operating conditions. Both of these functions are key technological components of a digital twin. He added, “However, implementing both technologies can be costly, and many companies remain hesitant to adopt digital twins until their effectiveness is clearly demonstrated. Despite this, organizations that have adopted the technology are enhancing their IoT [internet of things] infrastructure to apply digital twins more broadly across their operations.”

Flint Systems’ Kniter noted digital twins allow for more efficient and cost-effective training, as they reduce the need for physical resources and real vessels during practice sessions. “They also offer safer training environments where trainees can experience and respond to critical scenarios without real-world risks.”

Kniter’s perspectives for this article were influenced, in part, by one maritime training project Flint Systems has been working on since September. “This is a crew transfer vessel simulator for the Lithuanian Maritime Academy. We will deliver the simulator to the client in December. The project is about delivering a simulator of CTV that will be operating in the port of Klaipeda.”

Roadmap and Halldale’s Engagement

Samwoo Immersion’s Kim concluded that for the field of maritime training, with the rise of unmanned and autonomous vessels and the increasing demands of smart ports, digital twins offer tremendous potential. “They can link real-time data with virtual objects, integrate AI-based data analysis and prediction, and evolve into advanced decision-support systems powered by simulation technologies. This can create more realistic and effective training environments for the maritime industry.”

Follow-on articles will highlight digital twin’s evolution and increased use in the safety critical industries and adjacent communities covered by Halldale Group – in civil aviation and the military.

You can share your digital twin activities and progress with the author at marty.kauchak@halldale.com.