56371Contactless inspectionClosedFeasibility StudiesInnovate UKThe COVID-19 emergency has brought about significant changes to many of the activities we carry out every day, revealing many risks and needs, that could bring to scarce safety, delays, stops and higher costs for several business activities. One major sector that is experiencing unexpected need is that of inspections. Due to COVID-19, HSE and OPRED (UK CA) are pausing their facility inspections due to social distancing requirements and are focused on providing remote services, but operators and duty holders remain responsible for the safe operation of O&G facilities. Therefore, they are employing minimal resource levels to manage operations. Only resources critical to operations are treated as key workers and hence able to mobilise to site. This means that not all contractors and service companies who normally support safe, efficient operations will be able to do so. Due to these constraints, conditions that pose a risk to safety and environment may accelerate as inspection frequencies are increased, and the appropriate competent engineers are not available at the facility to provide local support. To address this increased risk to people and the environment, RINA is able to deploy smart remote inspections utilising critical key workers at the facility. RINA has developed a remote method for O&G inspections, based on a "smart helmet", which consists of a camera, microphone, a near-eye display, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections that allow sharing real-time data between a local staff member that wears it and a surveyor remotely connected. The project wants to couple this solution with a photogrammetric 3Dmodel (similar to Google StreetView) of the plant to be inspected, so as to create a navigable space, where it is also possible to attach documents (i.e. technical/administrative docs, inspection reports) on the components. Thanks to the Contactless Inspection project, the surveyor can navigate through the plant without being physically there, plan the necessary check, download the document and start filling the checklist. Once connected to the local staff wearing the helmet, the surveyor can guide him/her through the plant, having the screen split into real view and the photogrammetric model. The helmet travels, instead of the persons. A configurable dashboard, a wizard tool and a smart checklist will further support the operations. This technology can also be leveraged by the various UK Competent Authorities to ensure the safety of people and the environment during this period of social distancing. To progress the project to the next level as a part of an extension for impact, several clients have shown interest in artificial intelligence and machine learning technology that can automatically compare photogrammetry taken over a period of time to detect changes in external features that could pose a risk to asset integrity, for example corrosion, coating and painting defects. The plan is to develop new AI software that can speed this comparative process and be capable of identifying and classifying defect levels, without the need for many specialists to be sent to a site. We see these further developments as gaming changing and invaluable in any clients RBI program and helping all fulfil their commitments to lowering their carbon footprint, and protecting workers during times of pandemic.