The Changing Expectations Placed on Facility Managers
In high-risk industries, a single poor decision can have consequences that extend far beyond budgets and schedules. Facility managers are acutely aware of this reality. We recently spoke with Jerry Hardy Sr., a former facility manager of a liquified natural gas (LNG) plant, who emphasized that his primary mission was not to enhance profits. Instead, his daily focus was on readiness, preventative maintenance, safety and following regulatory guidelines. For him, regulatory bodies like the DOT (Department of Transport) or the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) were not merely requirements, but safeguards based on real experience and high stakes.
Throughout his long career, Jerry navigated both the analog and digital worlds, witnessing firsthand the significant changes in facility management. He experienced a remarkable shift in accuracy and diligence within a profession that is already heavily regulated and focused on compliance. Like many of his peers, he observed the transition from traditional methods, such as using clipboards and marking up drawings, to modern digital solutions and data-driven approaches. This gradual rise in technology continued even after his retirement.
The Cost of Uncertainty
Uncertainty can have varying consequences depending on the type of facility. In industrial plants, errors can impact safety, compliance, and operational continuity. In contrast, in commercial environments, these errors primarily affect efficiency and costs. Understanding these differences is crucial for effectively implementing modern facility management strategies.
- Regulatory compliance
- Clear, accurate documentation of assets
- Minimizing personnel exposure to hazardous areas
- Reducing rework and errors caused by outdated information
- Accurate floor plans and spatial data
- Centralized, accessible asset records
- Efficient space utilization and planning
High-Risk Facilities
In high-risk industries such as oil and gas or chemicals, a single undocumented valve or missed measurement in piping can introduce hazards that may not be immediately visible but could have a lasting impact. Facility managers should prioritize this issue:
Commercial Real Estate and Large Portfolios
In lower-risk environments, such as office buildings and shopping centers, uncertainty or outdated paperwork can impose a significant financial burden. Facility managers may consider:
The common theme is that in both high-risk and commercial facilities, having precise and accessible data enhances decision-making that is smarter, faster and safer, while also increasing accountability.
Why Legacy Documentation Falls Short in Modern Facilities
A significant source of uncertainty in facilities management is human error and non-objective data. In the past, manual measurements, hand-drawn diagrams and fragmented documentation were common practices. However, today’s facilities have access to more reliable options. Facility managers must ensure that their decisions are based on objective data, minimizing the risk of human error. While technology does not eliminate all human error, it effectively helps bridge the gap.
How Documentation from 3D Data is Redefining Facility Intelligence
What is the solution? Modern facility management relies on a variety of technologies to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and collaboration. The rise of terrestrial laser scanners, mobile mapping and cloud collaboration has created fast and agile methods for capturing large amounts of precise data. These technologies are increasingly working together, supporting each stage of the process from data capture to final deliverables.
Reality capture has become a vital tool for facility managers, enabling them to obtain the information they need promptly and regularly, with a high degree of accuracy. Furthermore, it allows them to objectively demonstrate the reasons behind their decisions and present up-to-date documentation for compliance purposes. While it is just one of many available technologies, its impact in redefining facility management is significant.
- Reliable and highly accurate data for documentation and compliance audits
- Digital records that reflect the true state of the facility
- Reduced time in hazardous areas with Flash Technology, when compared with similar devices
- Data to build exact as-builts for engineers, minimizing rework.
- It covers larger or difficult-to-reach areas
- Increased speed of capture for regular scans and up-to-date data
- Minimal or no disruption to workspaces
- Allows quick and safe documentation in zones where laser scanners are not permitted.
- Provides clear, panoramic context for planning, communication and remote review.
- The images can be used alongside 3D data in cloud collaboration software like Sphere XG.
- Automated processing in the cloud, while you’re still in the field
- Visual point cloud and images for everyone with access to see
- The ability to annotate and make notes within the data
- Integration with third-party software to deliver a final product
FARO Focus Terrestrial Laser Scanner
The FARO Focus offers millimeter-level accuracy, making it ideal for dense or complex environments such as mechanical rooms, piping corridors, and office layouts.
FARO Orbis Premium
A modern approach to LiDAR is the mobile mapping solution, FARO Orbis Premium. Orbis improves large-scale data capture across production floors, warehouses and commercial buildings.
360o Photo Capture
In extremely high-risk environments within a plant, where it may be unsafe to spend prolonged periods of time or where equipment is highly sensitive to static sparks, it is advisable to use a standard 360-degree photo capture solution.
FARO Sphere XG
Sphere XG provides automatic cloud-based processing and collaboration for users who need to view or comment on point cloud data. It also allows for modifications in deliverables and offers the ability to link to third-party software to complete the workflow.
A Safer, More Certain World for Facility Operations
Jerry reflects fondly and with pride on his long career, aware that his efforts ensured the safe maintenance of LNG plants. These plants were always prepared to distribute natural gas through the pipelines, providing warmth during the winter months to hundreds of thousands of homes in the New England area. Rapid advancements in technology can sometimes seem like a shift from traditional methods. However, these innovations are crucial for maintaining operational readiness while adhering to safety protocols in an otherwise hazardous environment.
Technologies such as 3D laser scanning, 360-degree photo capture and cloud collaboration exemplify progress by bringing people closer to the decision-making process and advancing this important mission.
If Jerry were still in the facility management game, would he be interested in digital reality solutions and the plethora of data they provide? We posed this question to him and got a resounding answer — “Without hesitation.”