Summary:
- Introduction to Cumulus Digital Systems: Chiz Chikwendu, the CTO of Cumulus Digital Systems, discusses the company’s platform software. It comprises a web application and mobile application designed to help workers collect information for work on industrial sites, such as oil facilities, refineries, and data centers. The data is aggregated and sent to a cloud-hosted platform for real-time dashboard visualization.
- IoT Adoption in Industrial Construction: Cumulus originated from Shell and was tasked with applying digitalization to improve work quality and processes in the oil and gas industry. The challenge was to introduce new technology in an industry resistant to change due to its “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mindset. The focus was on selling the benefits of the technology rather than the technology itself.
- Connectivity in Industrial Sites: Industrial sites, especially in oil and gas, often lack connectivity options like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Concerns about safety, especially the risk of explosions, restrict the use of non-certified electronics. However, there’s a shift towards using data to improve efficiency, leading to a growing interest in data infrastructure on sites.
- Bluetooth vs. Wi-Fi in Industrial Settings: In many industrial settings, neither Bluetooth nor Wi-Fi dominates due to the lack of infrastructure and safety concerns. Instead, LTE-connected devices or Long Range (LoRa) radio applications might be used. As the importance of data grows, there’s a move towards integrating data infrastructure into site setups.
- The Importance of Data: Data is becoming increasingly valuable in the industrial sector. Knowing what was done today can inform planning for tomorrow, making data infrastructure a crucial component of future site setups.