New Report Chapter Focuses on Industrial Metaverse Interoperability
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From bizztech.io
MIT Technology Review and Siemens have released a new chapter of their 2023 industrial metaverse report, “The emergent industrial metaverse,” focusing on interoperability and ecosystems.
In the report, the concept of the industrial metaverse is explored in depth, highlighting its potential to revolutionize industries through the creation and visualization of digital twins. This blog post shares key highlights from the report’s new chapter, providing insights into the essential components and collaborative efforts necessary to build the industrial metaverse.
Seamless Integration: A Complex Challenge
Creating the industrial metaverse isn't just about having the right technologies; it requires seamless integration. According to Peter Körte, Chief Technology and Strategy Officer at Siemens, collaboration among diverse industry players is crucial. This includes computing power, AI, cloud and edge capabilities, spatial content creation, software, and specialized domain knowledge. Four essential elements are required to assemble this complex puzzle: interoperability, standardization, open APIs for data integration, and ecosystems.
Standardizing the Future
To enhance IT and OT (operational technology) integration and enable the industrial metaverse, key industry players are actively developing, refining, and optimizing standards. Rev Lebaredian, Vice President of Omniverse and Simulation Technology at NVIDIA, highlights the necessity of open standards for seamless interoperability.
One initiative is the Alliance for Open USD, which is evolving the Universal Scene Description (USD) standard, originally developed for the movie industry and later adopted by gaming. USD is now being enhanced for industrial applications, adding physical properties to 3D objects.
The Metaverse Standards Forum’s Industrial Metaverse Interoperability Group is also working towards a unified, standardized environment for the industrial metaverse.
Interoperability Enables Innovation and Efficiency
As real-world systems and their digital twins grow more complex, the challenge of interoperability intensifies. However, embracing interoperability and openness can create new opportunities for innovation and efficiency. Connected digital twins can enhance supply chain collaboration, allowing for real-time tracking and optimization from raw material sourcing to product delivery and recycling. For instance, Bentley Systems’ infrastructure digital twins integrate data from different systems to optimize infrastructure delivery and performance.
A Step-by-Step Approach to Building the Industrial Metaverse
Building the industrial metaverse requires a step-by-step approach, beginning with robust data integration. Leveraging open APIs is essential for data accessibility, while standardization and agreed upon data governance ensure data quality, security, and compliance.
For businesses with legacy systems, developing a solid data strategy is fundamental. This foundation supports efficient data management, facilitating the development of analytics, AI models, digital twins, and industrial metaverse applications.
Embracing Ecosystems and Platforms
Businesses must integrate into open, collaborative ecosystems to enable interoperability effectively. These ecosystems—anchored in robust, open platforms—foster cross-industry collaboration and innovation.
Siemens Xcelerator exemplifies this approach, offering flexible solutions that integrate with existing systems and providing a collaborative environment for innovation. This platform’s marketplace and developer portal offer access to a rich ecosystem of resources and open APIs, enabling companies like Youl Systems to develop custom digital twins for clients like KHNP, a leading energy company in South Korea.
Interoperability and Ecosystems: A Strategic Imperative
Interoperability and collaborative ecosystems are foundational for the industrial metaverse. Embracing these principles is imperative for any digitalization strategy, enabling participation in the industrial metaverse and unlocking its potential for innovation, operational efficiency, and competitive advantage.
