Whereas internal channels such as Intranets and team meetings did offer access, respondents found that they often had to search the Internet for relevant information. Approximately half of respondents identified the need for better information systems and around a quarter believed that information was not being shared within the company environment. On the whole, there was a strong demand for a shared integrated system to enable better access to all appropriate information. This was supported by respondents' comments such as those below.z 'The problem is, there's too much information.'z 'I don't think the information systems that we're talking about are very user friendly.'z 'It was fragmented information and it was inconsistent.'In short, there is a major information gap in plant operations that impacts directly on Health & Safety. In response to the report, AVEVA has written a Point of View paper, identifying the three main areas where the greatest deficiencies can be found. These are:z fragmentation of informationz failure to capture and exploit the value of standardsz poor accessibility to data.The research will benefit customers by providing further input into AVEVA's strategy for Operational Integrity Management. Disconnected processes and 'silos' of information can create many problems that can increase operational risk. AVEVA can demonstrate to industry professionals just how powerful today's information management solutions can be in addressing these problems. AVEVA's information-centric solutions have been helping our customers create precisely the sort of 'information repository' strategy that was cited as a key requirement by a number of the survey respondents.Steve Tongish, VP Marketing, AVEVA, concludes, 'Improving information management plays a key role in meeting Health & Safety requirements for the oil & gas industry. We have been very impressed with the professional research produced by RGU and we are pleased that AVEVA has been able to contribute to this important industry debate.'The full report is available for download at www.aveva.com/hs-research, together with AVEVA's Point of View paper.'Improving information management plays a key role in meeting Health & Safety requirements for the oil & gas industry...'AVEVA World Magazine 2012|Issue 121Professor Rita Marcella, Dean of Aberdeen Business School presents the report findings

AVEVA scans new horizons with LFM software acquisitionFollowing the acquisition, AVEVA has established a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for 3D data capture in Manchester. The CoE, led by Gary Farrow and Graham Dalton (formerly the two directors of the software company) will remain focused on continuing to develop the LFM software suite, as well as taking full business and product development responsibility for all of AVEVA's 3D data capture software.The acquisition will come as no surprise to many, as the two companies have worked closely together for a number of years. AVEVA has been a long-term partner of Z+F and the software team based in Manchester since before 2005. This ongoing partnership has yielded numerous innovations and industry firsts, such as AVEVA Laser Model Interface (LMI) and AVEVA Laser Modeller (LMR).'We are delighted to be part of AVEVA,' says Gary Farrow. 'LFM is already an established solution worldwide but now, as part of AVEVA, we can make it the industry standard. Part of LFM's success and appeal is its openness. Over the years we have worked hard to make LFM neutral and open to all, which is a principle we share with AVEVA. Our aim is for LFM to be compatible with any laser scan data format or hardware, and to interface with any 3D design system and CAD package, not just PDMS. Since the acquisition we have extended the openness of LFM, and we plan to announce more integrations soon.'Since acquiring the LFM business, AVEVA has entered into new partnerships with most of the leading laser scanner vendors. 'We have received a warm reaction to this acquisition from many laser hardware companies and we are very happy to be entering into new partnerships with them,' says Paul Cooper (VP Strategic Alliances).AVEVA IntelliLaserAVEVA's aim, now that LFM is part of the product family, is to accelerate the growth of the core LFM product suite, reaffirming it as the solution of choice for handling and managing scan data from process, power and marine applications. Moreover, AVEVA plans to continue building solutions on this platform to offer its customers greater benefits and efficiencies. LFM will remain relevant throughout the laser scan data lifecycle, from initial processing through to registration, modelling, working with data in target CAD/design packages and finally using the data on the Internet. There are two main use cases for laser scan data in the process and marine industries. Firstly, the use of the raw laser scan data to act as an accurate as-built reference in revamp projects. Secondly, to provide a highly productive solution allowing the creation of intelligent models of an operating plant.On the 3rd of October 2011, AVEVA announced the acquisition of the software arm of Z+F, bringing the LFM software suite to AVEVA. LFM is the market-leading product suite for managing laser data in the process and marine industries.Les ElbyVP Business Strategy, AVEVALFM is a powerful 3D laser scanning software package which allows users to import 3D data from most 3D laser scanning formats, and export to PDMS as well as to other 3D plant design systems and CAD platforms.LFM, which was launched in 1998, was one of the first 3D laser scanning software packages in the market. Since its trailblazing debut, it has become the number one package for the process, plant and marine industries. Graham Dalton has led the technical direction of the company, enabling a cycle of continuous development which means that LFM is now one of the most innovative and efficient 3D laser scanning packages available. Many AVEVA customers are already long-time users of LFM, and are loyal and enthusiastic about the product, not only because the solution meets their needs, but also because of the exceptional level of support which they receive.LFM 3D laser scanning software provides a complete solution from registration of laser scan data to as-built modelling. It provides tools for brownfield projects and assists management for owner operators. Service providers use LFM on a daily basis to process and deliver their projects. The time- and cost-savings and quality improvements afforded by LFM surpass those traditionally associated with 3D laser scanning.LFM 3D laser scanning software is 'hardware neutral' and accepts data from numerous 3D laser scanners. LFM is also CAD vendor neutral. AVEVA maintains close relationships with all the leading CAD vendors, allowing the customer to benefit from a seamless interface between LFM and a large number of CAD products.About LFM software22AVEVA World Magazine 2012|Issue 1