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Integration of digital twins and virtual reality for data visualisation

Thesis (MEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2022.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Da Silva, G. S.
Other Authors: Kruger, K.
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2022
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access_status_str Open Access
author Da Silva, G. S.
author2 Kruger, K.
author_browse Da Silva, G. S.
Kruger, K.
author_facet Kruger, K.
Da Silva, G. S.
author_sort Da Silva, G. S.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2022.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/126152
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:41:56.100Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2022
publishDateRange 2022
publishDateSort 2022
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/126152 Integration of digital twins and virtual reality for data visualisation Da Silva, G. S. Kruger, K. Basson, A. H. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. Digital twins (Computer simulation) Virtual reality in engineering Information visualization Industry 4.0 Thesis (MEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2022. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis considers an integration of digital twins (DTs) and virtual reality (VR) for enhancing the data driven decision-making process. An integrated DT and VR system is designed according to an available complex DT system design framework. The Six Layer Architecture for Digital Twins with Aggregation (SLADTA) is used for the internal architecture of the DTs in the system. A custom developed VR application is used to visualise the information using VR equipment. The Facilities Management (FM) Division at Stellenbosch University serves as the chosen case study context for the evaluation. The energy usage information for various facilities of FM is visualised in VR. The DT method of transferring information to VR is compared to a method that does not make use of DTs. Three experiments are used to evaluate the two implementation methods to allow for an adequate comparison of the two methods. The experiments focus on, respectively, latency, computer resource utilisation (in terms of RAM and CPU usage), and reconfigurability when a new feature is to be added to the system. The experiment results indicate that the DT method has lower latencies, the two methods have similar computational resource needs, and the non-DT method is more reconfigurable than the DT method. However, the DT method offers other advantages such as allowing for two VR experiences to visualise the same information, or allowing for a different visualisation tool, other than VR, to be integrated seamlessly into the system. The DT method also allows for a distributed operation functionality that reduces the computational load required from a single hardware device. The Non-DT method does not offer such advantages. The thesis concludes that the integration of DTs and VR for data visualisation is possible and is favourable for a system that will not only use VR as a data visualisation means. AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis oorweeg 'n integrasie van digitale tweelinge (DT’e) en virtuele realiteit (VR) vir die verbetering van die data-gedrewe besluitnemingsproses. 'n Geïntegreerde DT- en VR-stelsel is ontwerp volgens 'n beskikbare ontwerpraamwerk vir komplekse DT-stelsels. Die Six Layer Architecture for Digital Twins with Aggregation (SLADTA) word gebruik vir die interne argitektuur van die DT’e in die stelsel. 'n Pasgemaakte VR-toepassing word gebruik om die inligting met behulp van VR-toerusting te visualiseer. Die Afdeling Fasiliteitsbestuur (FB) aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch dien as die gekose gevallestudiekonteks vir die evaluering. Die inligting oor energieverbruik vir verskeie fasiliteite van FB word in VR gevisualiseer. Die DT-metode om inligting na VR oor te dra, word vergelyk met 'n metode wat nie van DT’e gebruik maak nie. Drie eksperimente word gebruik om die twee implementeringsmetodes te evalueer om 'n voldoende vergelyking van die twee metodes moontlik te maak. Die eksperimente fokus op, onderskeidelik latensie, rekenaarhulpbronbenutting (in terme van geheue- en mikroverwerker-gebruik), en herkonfigureerbaarheid wanneer 'n nuwe kenmerk by die stelsel gevoeg moet word. Die eksperimente se resultate dui aan dat die DT-metode laer latensie het, die twee metodes soortgelyke berekeningshulpbronbehoeftes het, en die nie-DT-metode meer herkonfigureerbaar as die DT-metode is. Die DT-metode bied egter ander voordele, soos om twee VR-ervarings toe te laat om dieselfde inligting te visualiseer, of om toe te laat dat 'n ander visualiseringsinstrument, anders as VR, naatloos in die stelsel geïntegreer word. Die DT-metode maak ook voorsiening berekeningslading te versprei wat die berekeningslading wat van 'n enkele hardeware-toestel benodig word, verminder. Die nie-DT metode bied nie sulke voordele nie. Die tesis kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die integrasie van DT'e en VR vir datavisualisering moontlik en gunstig is vir 'n stelsel wat nie net VR as 'n datavisualiseringsmiddel sal gebruik nie. Masters 2022-11-18T09:46:24Z 2023-01-16T12:52:45Z 2022-11-18T09:46:24Z 2023-01-16T12:52:45Z 2022-11 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/126152 en_ZA Stellenbosch University xiii, 113 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Digital twins (Computer simulation)
Virtual reality in engineering
Information visualization
Industry 4.0
Da Silva, G. S.
Integration of digital twins and virtual reality for data visualisation
title Integration of digital twins and virtual reality for data visualisation
title_full Integration of digital twins and virtual reality for data visualisation
title_fullStr Integration of digital twins and virtual reality for data visualisation
title_full_unstemmed Integration of digital twins and virtual reality for data visualisation
title_short Integration of digital twins and virtual reality for data visualisation
title_sort integration of digital twins and virtual reality for data visualisation
topic Digital twins (Computer simulation)
Virtual reality in engineering
Information visualization
Industry 4.0
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/126152
work_keys_str_mv AT dasilvags integrationofdigitaltwinsandvirtualrealityfordatavisualisation