Interactive digital twin transforms turbine blade operations
The Port of Galway is taking a significant step forward in port operations management with the development of a cutting-edge Digital Twin platform. This innovative project, delivered by MKO, integrates advanced drone surveying technology, 3D modelling techniques, and swept path analysis tools to create an interactive digital environment that changes the game of how stakeholders understand and visualise turbine blade operations at the port.
What is a Digital Twin?
A Digital Twin is a virtual replica of a physical environment, created through the integration of high-resolution drone-collected data, advanced software, and state-of-the-art 3D modelling techniques. For The Port of Galway, this means a complete digital representation of infrastructures, accessible through any standard web browser with no specialist software required.
The Solution for The Port of Galway
MKO’s Digital Twin platform provides The Port of Galway with a comprehensive toolset for managing wind turbine blade logistics. The platform brings together multiple data streams and analytical capabilities into a single, intuitive interface:
- High-Resolution Mapping: Centimetre-scale accuracy drone surveys capture every detail of port infrastructure, providing orthomosaic maps, digital elevation models, 3D models, and georeferenced spatial data.
- Swept Path Analysis: Advanced modelling demonstrates how turbine blades and transport vehicles navigate through critical pinch points within the port, ensuring safe and efficient movement of oversized components.
- 3D Visualisations: Accurate three-dimensional models of turbine components (blades, tower sections, and nacelles) integrated within the Digital Twin environment show exactly where and how assets will be stored and transported.
- Interactive Web Portal: All project data is accessible through a user-friendly online platform featuring measurement tools, profile sections, and an all-in-one 3D geodatabase containing CAD drawings, photos, videos, and documentation.
Benefits for stakeholders
The Digital Twin platform offers significant advantages for The Port of Galway and their clients. Stakeholders can visualise the entire journey of turbine infrastructure from ship discharge through on-site storage to final departure for wind farm sites. The platform supports strategic planning and decision-making by providing real-time access to accurate spatial data. Perhaps most importantly, it serves as a powerful communication tool: potential clients can explore the port’s capabilities remotely, understanding exactly how their turbine components will be handled without requiring site visits.
Technical excellence meets user-friendly design
What makes this Digital Twin particularly valuable is its accessibility. Despite the sophisticated technology behind it, the platform requires no technical expertise to navigate. Users can access the Digital Twin from any device, using nothing more than a web browser and a simple link. Interactive tools allow users to measure distances, view cross-sections, and explore different storage and transport scenarios for various turbine specifications.
Looking forward
This Digital Twin represents more than just a technological upgrade. It positions The Port of Galway at the forefront of modern port operations in the renewable energy sector. As Ireland continues to expand its offshore wind capacity, the ability to demonstrate the port’s capabilities through this innovative platform gives The Port of Galway a distinct competitive advantage. The Digital Twin serves as both an operational tool for day-to-day logistics planning and a marketing asset for attracting new business in the growing offshore wind industry.
MKO has extensive experience in drone surveying, GIS and digital visualisation services, and it has more than 40 active operational Digital Twins across multiple projects and sectors. To learn more about how MKO and Digital Twins can support your project, please feel free to contact info@mkoireland.ie