In February we held our annual members F2F MB meeting at the Fluor offices in Hoofddorp where a competent field of presenters addressed key industry initiatives such as digitalization, systems engineering, digital twins and handovers for both green- and brownfield situations. The strong attendance underlined the relevance of the topics - and we would like to thank our members, our MOU partners, the presenters and Flour for their participation and contributions. For more information, see this link.
Our objective remains to support your organization and the process industries on their digitalization journeys, and with this letter we want to update you about the latest developments. Get in touch if you want to get involved, and do let us know if you have additional initiatives you want our help to realise! Below an update on the most recent developments in USPI since the members meeting.
Facility Lifecycle 3D Model Standard (FL3DMS)
In April we kicked off the 3D model standard project, with ca 40 participants, which confirmed the need for standardized and improved 3D models. The strong participation was explained by the increasing importance of 3D models; they form the foundation for the digital twin and can enable many high value use-cases for the 3D model, such as advanced work planning during construction, or corrosion management; but on the condition that the 3D model and associated data is configured in a particular way. The team initially got to know each other and shared different 3D modelling practices across organisations. It also agreed the name of the standard, and chose the FL3DMS acronym for the project.
The words behind the acronym reflect the scope the participants want to address with the standard. It was identified that 3D modelling is used throughout the lifecycle of the facility – in its development, operation and even in decommissioning. Details and aspects of the model change during the lifecycle, depending on the use cases for either the Owner Operator and/or the Contractor. The Owner Operators made clear that that one of their key targets is the more effective use of 3D models during the operate phase of the facility, either as part of a Digital Twin or for modification projects.
The objective of the first phase of the project is to create a better mutual understanding of the use cases and to define the associated 3D model requirements. The project team aims to work in “sprints” of about 6 months to ensure ongoing delivery of useful content while serving as many use cases as practically possible; with a first Minimal Viable Product (MVP) delivery by end 2020. This requires a definition of the use cases including the resulting business case together with a definition of how the model needs to be handled to serve the use cases. For more information see also this link.
Membership Fee Structure
Based on our learnings from the CFIHOS project, the USPI EC felt the time is right to make a few minor adjustments in the approach to membership- and project participation fees. One important role of USPI is as platform for networking and learning; and to better enable that role we will seek to exceed “critical mass” across all our activities. The EC wants to increase the value of membership of USPI for you, our members, by lowering the barriers to participation in the portfolio of projects and meetings undertaken by USPI via the following measures. We will make membership of USPI compulsory for all participants of our standardisation projects. All members will also get a discount on the participation fee required to cover the costs of our projects. To encourage additional active participation, they will also get discounts on our other activities such as projects, workshops or conferences, including bigger events for non-members that are open to the public.
With this change, the EC has proposed also to change the USPI membership fee structure and make it more transparent. The proposes membership fee structure is
| Membership fee category | # Employees | Annual USPI Membership Fee |
| 1 | < 10 | € 325 |
| 2 | > 10 & < 500 | € 1000 |
| 3 | > 500 | € 2000 |
We’d like to ask our members to provide us with their feedback about this membership fee structure. Feedback can be sent via email to Martin te Lintelo ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ). Formal approval will be on the agenda for the next MB meeting.
Systems Engineering and Requirements Management
During the members meeting we also announced our intention to start a new systems engineering project, with a focus on Requirements Management. The presenters at the meeting highlight how big organisations such as Shell, Tennet and Rijkswaterstaat are in the process of implementing Requirements Management in their contracting processes, which is an important aspect of systems engineering. Most struggle to structure their requirements catalogues, contracts and requirements management systems effectively. In addition, many are unclear on how to use the existing standards available in this space. The project proposes a network to encourage learning and a best practice guideline to document the learnings. It has attracted interest, albeit to a lesser extent than FL3DMS. A complicating factor may be that the approach is different to that of projects like CFIHOS and FL3DMS that deliver industry standards and specifications.
With our role defining ISO 15926-11 and the pioneering work of Leo van Ruijven here, we feel that USPI could support our members with the practical implementation of data solutions for systems engineering to complement the work of INCOSE. Our focus is on practical approaches that provide value and if any of you would like to support or help shape this effort, please let us know. Ideas can be sent via email to Martin te Lintelo ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).
ISO 15926
USPI has an important role in the further development of ISO 15926 Data Integration standard due to the role of Paul van Exel as convener of TC 184/SC 4/WG 3 responsible for ISO 15926. Both Paul van Exel and Leo van Ruijven are involved in several project within ISO TC 184SC 4. The key projects currently are:
- “Future Architecture of ISO 15926”: Through a series of teleconferences a core and second round team work on the necessary improvements to be made to the ISO 15926 series to reflect the experiences since the creation of the standard and to fit modern technologies, which enable meeting the requirements of the process industry plant engineering supply chain. The first report is expected by the end of 2020.
- ISO 15926-4 e3: Extending the Reference Data Library (RDL) on the basis of industry projects such as CFIHOS, ILAP, and MRAIL, which were carried out since the creation of ISO 15926-4. This will bring the number of classes from 11,000 classes to about 19,000 classes. This work is done in collaboration with POSC Caesar.
- ISO 15926-6 e2, rules for maintenance validation of ISO 15926-4 e3: The work is done by an expert team driven by Japan.
- ISO 15926-11 e2 to extend ISO 15926-11 with the information models based on ISO 15288 for Systems Engineering: This standard will be the basis for a project consisting of a series of workshops on standards supporting systems engineering.
- It has been agreed by the CFIHOS community that USPI will draft a proposal for bringing CFIHOS standard to ISO. This proposal will be presented to the relevant ISO committees and to the partner organizations and consortia that should have a role in the work.
USPI has moved offices
USPI has moved office within Amersfoort, The Netherlands. Our new office is not far away from the previous location and close to the historic city center of Amerfoort. We are happy to announce that will have access to better meeting and catering facilities, and look forward to welcoming you on our new office location.
Our new address is:
Stadsring 157b
3817 BA Amersfoort
The Netherlands
The other contact details haven’t changed and can be found in the header.
We hope you have found the newsletter of value, and would appreciate any that you may have on our current activities. Let us know of any additional activities – light or heavy - that would be of interest to your organization and that you feel we should pursue, and we will take this into account.
Yours sincerely,
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| Anders Thostrup | Paul van Exel | Martin te Lintelo |
| Shell Global Solutions | Stichting USPI-NL | Stichting USPI-NL |
| Chairman USPI | Outgoing Director USPI | Incoming Director USPI |