Buildings | Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI)

Digital transformation paves the way for future-proof testing laboratories

Init partnered with the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) to digitalise their renowned laboratories, creating the SmartLab. This IIoT-based solution enables advanced geotechnical testing through centralised test management, real-time data processing, and robust cloud-edge communication, enhancing NGI's R&D capabilities.

The Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) is an independent geotechnical engineering and engineering geosciences research center. NGI combines geotechnical knowledge and technology to develop smart and sustainable solutions for e.g.:

 

  • Infrastructure on land and at sea
  • Environmental technology
  • Contaminated soil
  • Natural hazards such as landslides and avalanches

Aspiration

Creating a modern digital laboratory for geotechnical testing

As part of its continuous improvement in R&D and technology, NGI asked Init to help digitalise the institute’s renowned laboratories. The ambition was clear: Create Smartlab – a new leading laboratory for geotechnical testing and interpretation, following international standards.

 

In other words, the challenge was to create a modern and forward-looking system for testing sampling and data collection in the laboratory and test environment. This required a centralised solution for test management, test execution as well as test controller calibration.

 

Moreover, NGI wanted to ensure reliable and resilient test execution on the edge by adopting a robust edge device that communicates bi-directionally with the cloud.

Solution

Advanced IIoT platform based on cloud solution and digital twins

The Init team explored different options to find the solution that best met NGI’s ambitions and requirements. After that, we developed an IIoT platform with a web operation user interface for data processing, reporting, logging and user interaction.

 

By leveraging the digital twin concept, Smartlab’s industrial controllers can run tests locally. They use the cloud solution’s powerful functions to log, edit and process data, extract information for reporting as well as transfer data to other systems.

 

All sensor data is continuously sent to the cloud for storage in a database and displayed in the operator’s user interface. The highly scalable and reliable cloud solution runs in Azure. It facilitates reliable MQTT bidirectional communication with the industrial controllers from NGI.

Result

Reliable and scalable SmartLab system for geotechnical excellence

With its new SmartLab, NGI has achieved optimised operation, improved traceability as well as central management of all of its research and development efforts.

 

Consequently, the end users can focus on core R&D work by using an integrated solution with higher reliability than before.

Reach out

for more information

Espen Trengereid

COO, Init Norway

+47 66 90 83 00

[email protected]

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