| From Data to Information.....and (hopefully) to
Ideas and Innovation: "Applying
numbers to a process makes
for the beginnings of a science"
attributed to Lord Kelvin
Corrosion monitoring data in itself can be of relatively limited value.
It must be transformed into information for decision making purposes. Typically
information required by management is based on combining all relevant data, correlation of
data, identifying trends over time, statistical analysis, risk analysis, implementation of
standards, regulatory guidelines etc. As such, corrosion monitoring data is one input of
many into asset or maintenance management systems.
Obtaining sound, high quality corrosion monitoring data can be difficult
and usually requires technical knowledge, experience and attention to detail. The
transformation of the data to information (with graphics) also represents a significant
challenge; modern software tools can greatly assist in this step. Perhaps the hardest part
is to actually generate and implement ideas for more effective, innovative corrosion
control, based on the information at hand.
Worth
considering ...
Paul Theroux has written that information (oversupply of) has
been confused with ideas (shortage of).
W.T. Roberts Jr. and H.P. Baringer observed in Hydrocarbon
Processing, October 2001, p.73: "For engineers and process
owners ... no cartoon, no comprehension."
R.S. Wurman in his book Information Anxiety2 has commented on the explosion of data
(in the so-called information age), as opposed to information and
emphasized that a distinction needs to be made, with information being
crucial for leading to understanding."
H.C. Howlett II stated in The Industrial Operator's
Handbook - Petroleum & Chemical Industries Edition, Gulf, 1996 that accurate information
is worthless if not wisely acted upon by alert, well trained team members. |
Topical issues related to obtaining valuable information
from corrosion monitoring programs include:
- Information to assist in the shift towards preventive and
predictive maintenance, away from purely corrective maintenance.
- Incorporating corrosion monitoring methodologies at the design stage and providing
feedback from monitoring programs to designers.
- Presenting corrosion monitoring results in "understandable" form to decision
makers who are not necessarily technical specialists.
- Transformation of paper based data and information systems to more efficient
computerized versions.
- Integration of computerized databases, utilization of computing networks and
client:server technologies.
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References/Literature:
D.E.Milliams and K. Van Gelder:
"Corrosion Management", Materials Performance, November 1996, pp.13-15.
R.J. Horvath: "The Role of the Corrosion Engineer in the Development
and Application of Risk-Based Inspection for Plant Equipment", Materials
Performance, July 1988, pp. 70-75.
D.G. John, P.Attwood, A.N. Rothwell: "Advances in Integrated Database
Systems for Corrosion Management of Oil & Gas Production", Paper # 249, Corrosion
99, NACE International, 1999.
K.E. Lucas et al.: "Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation of
Ballast Tank Coatings Integrity for Life Prediction and Condition Based Maintenance",
Paper # 299, Corrosion 2000, Orlando (FL), NACE International, 2000.
Links:
History of Data Transfer
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