Today, NDE inspectors use data that consists of 2D images, graphs, charts, and photos that enable them to analyze and comprehend the structural issues within assets. As numerous industries have realized significant benefits by adopting digitalization, NDE is also seeking to embrace digital transformation to bring about rapid analysis and understanding of assets and defects. Adopting immersive 3D visualizations, digital twins, XR, and AI will give inspectors an almost immediate, holistic perception of the inspection procedure.

Integrating immersive 3D visualizations within inspection workflows will provide more clarity for inspectors to make rapid and better decisions under pressing conditions. Tracking progressive 3D digital representations of indications/defects captured over time will lead to earlier detection of anticipated issues, better decisions about the asset's maintenance and care, and a longer and healthier lifespan for the asset. Other benefits include better communication among various stakeholders, reduced rework, more rapid troubleshooting of inspection problems, reduced time and expense of asset inspections, and the ability to build better and maintain accurate digital twin models.
NDE activities are cognitively intensive, and for the most part, inspectors, supervisors, and other key stakeholders internally visualize in their minds how to conduct various activities such as:
a. Performing an inspection procedure – How to perform an inspection on an asset? What is the best possible scan plan to inspect a part? Once the inspection is performed, how can they mentally overlay the indications on an asset to gain better clarity on the problem?
b. Evaluating safety procedures in complex inspection scenarios – today, inspectors are using drones and robots to inspect complex and risky procedures like checking the hull of a ship or a nuclear storage facility; if inspectors can build a digital twin of such systems and facilities, they can virtually perform inspections and visualize any potential problems and hazards before undertaking such an initiative.
c. Design and development of new inspection equipment – Simulation of various industrial equipment is performed during design and development to ensure proper operation when in service. Something similar can be performed for NDE/NDT inspection equipment during the idea, design, and development stage to ensure thorough operation and address any safety concerns. Such simulations will reduce errors upfront and enable better customer adoption.
d. Provide NDE/NDT Training – 3D visualizations created as part of NDE/NDT training, whether it is computer-based, mobile, or AR/VR/XR, will not only enable users to understand the nature of the indications/defects better but also assist with simulating the underlying physics phenomena. Using such 3D visualizations and simulations, users can attain thorough knowledge of the NDE topics they are studying and gain mastery over them.

e. Create digital mockups and digital twins of assets to visualize assets and defects in 3D – by creating a digital mockup and digital twin of the asset and publishing NDE indication/defect data, inspectors and other key stakeholders can visualize anomalies within asset structures in an immersive and engaging manner. Such visualizations will enable rapid and effective decision-making during NDE/NDT inspections.
The immediate application of this technology will offer significant insights to attendees:
• The current landscape of 3D visualizations within NDE and its relevance to key stakeholders
• The challenges of integrating NDE data to build such immersive 3D visualizations
• How such immersive 3D visualizations can enable inspectors and other key personnel to make rapid and effective decisions under high-pressure situations

In conclusion, we are working to bring NDE inspection data to immersive 3D visualizations, digital twins, AR/VR/XR, and AI applications using OpenUSD – Universal Scene Description and NVIDIA’s Omniverse Platform. In this presentation, you will gain an understanding of how we are leveraging OpenUSD and NVIDIA’s Omniverse platform to build next-generation digital engineering applications and the benefits of such applications.

This presentation will also discuss the current challenges within the NDE landscape, including NDE data formats (DICONDE, .nde, etc.), data security, and other relevant issues.