Application of Continuous Integration in Decision Support and Integrity Management Systems of Offshore Structures

Abstract

Simulation-based decision support systems play an important role in safe operation of offshore floating platforms. These systems, which consist of digital models, simulators, and analysis procedures, are subject to continuous change. The conventional engineering practices for developing models and performing analysis are not designed to implement these changes, and track their consequences, efficiently. Therefore, ensuring the reliability and quality of models and analysis results becomes a challenge. In software engineering, development methods such as Continuous Integration (CI) are designed to handle complex development processes with high frequency of modification. This process is adopted here to present the modelling and analysis procedures needed for station keeping of floating offshore platforms. It is shown that this adaptation can increase the efficiency and reliability of analysis, facilitate communication, and shorten the time needed for adopting the outcome of new research.