Rhythm Archive

Long-Term Storage Solution for NDT Information

Rhythm Archive

Rhythm Archive is an extremely efficient data management and storage solution, which allows

ready and easy access to large volumes of inspection information. More than 300 million images

can be stored at a central location in the industry standard DICONDE format. It accepts images

from any number of LAN-connected, remote Rhythm Review workstations and stores these using

various compression techniques to save storage space without sacrificing image quality.

Input and retrieval of information is quick and easy, as a simple DICONDE tagging system

eliminates the need for the complex image file naming conventions often associated with high

volume information storage. Furthermore, Rhythm Archive not only stores the raw inspection

data but also any enhanced images developed at the Rhythm workstation.

Storing for the Future

Rhythm Archive is a totally DICONDE-based archival solution.

DICONDE (Digital Imaging and Communication in NDE) is a

development of the DICOM standard which was developed for the

medical industry by vendor companies and user groups and is now

used by virtually every medical profession that utilizes images.

By using Rhythm Archive, users can enjoy a range of benefits. They

can avoid legacy data issues and will not have to maintain old

systems or convert old data in the future. They will also be able to

use inspection data from various DICONDE-compliant equipment

manufacturers, as DICONDE is nonproprietary. And it will be

possible to review historical inspection data with future software

tools.

Flexibility and scalability are further advantages of Rhythm Archive,

as the system can be integrated with a number of long term

storage solutions, such as Plasmon, IBM, HP and EMC.

Sharing More Information, Faster

Rhythm Archive offers a significant step-change in information

sharing over the existing Rhythm platform. Currently, data is

archived at Rhythm Review workstations by storing on the

hardware's limited hard disc capacity or on near-line DVD/CD.

Consequently, locating particular inspection data in a multiple

workstation configuration can be rather complicated and timeconsuming.

With Rhythm Archive information from all

workstations is available at one central repository so that data

searching is more efficient.

Rhythm Archive can control image information workflow so that

data can be routed to other Review workstations to allow further

analysis.

Virtual archiving is yet another feature of Rhythm Archive. This

allows information managers to automatically segregate data, on

a customer basis, on a department basis or on any storage

specific basis, to provide customized, secure archives.

Improving the Bottom Line

By improving data sharing and providing a central, safe, long term

information repository, Rhythm Archive can significantly affect

profitability, with immediate benefits in time-saving and reliability.

However, Rhythm Archive can also bring important productivity

improvements of as much as 50%, as pre-inspection plans can now

be formulated more efficiently by taking actual inspection history

into account. A similar order of productivity improvement can also

be achieved in post-inspection, as only relevant inspection data

needs to be sent for further analysis.

Realizing the Potential

Rhythm Archive completes GE Inspection Technologies' Rhythm

software suite. This is a cohesive platform developed to provide

an efficient and effective solution to the acquisition, analysis,

management and storage of multimodal digital inspection data.

Rhythm is made up of three integrated modules, all of which use

off-the-shelf hardware.

These modules are:

Rhythm Acquire: interacts with the relevant inspection source to

collect the digital inspection information. Current Rhythm Acquire

Modules are those for Rhythm Radiography and Rhythm Visual

and these offer limited reporting capability, in easy-to-understand

formats.

Rhythm Review: accepts data from Rhythm Acquire, other

Rhythm Review workstations and removable media, such as CD

and DVD. Rhythm Review has the capability to enhance and

manipulate the digital data and also features application tools for

the analysis, measurement and further enhancement of images.

Rhythm Review allows information to be stored on-line using the

its hardware disc capacity, or near-line CD and DVD.

Rhythm Archive: expands the operating potential of Rhythm

enormously. Now, all information can be made available to every

Rhythm user within a network, simplifying the introduction of

techniques such as data fusion and data base mining to provide

the basis of future condition-based maintenance programs. This

will assume increasing importance as the Rhythm platform is

extended to other inspection modalities.

Rhythm Archive will find application

in various markets.

In aerospace all inspection data can be stored for upwards

of 50 years and still be quickly retrieved when required.

In oil & gas weld inspection data can be transmitted to the

Rhythm Archive, where it is accessible to expert resources for

review and analysis.

In power generation in-service assets can be better

managed to help improve their operating life and reliability.

In transportation inspection planning can be faster and

more meaningful and targeted by referring to inspection

period.

Feature Summary

• A totally DICONDE-based archival solution. Ensures that

multi-modal inspection data will never become obsolete or

inaccessible.

• Easy to use. Simple tagging of information without elaborate

naming conventions allows rapid filing and ease of data

retrieval.

• Simplified information sharing. Data can now be readily

accessed from a single storage source by any number of

remote interrogation sites.

• Interfaces with a wide range cutting edge technology,

long term data storage solutions. Allows operator to select

long term storage equipment to meet particular present and

future needs.

• Provides foundation for data mining. Ready access to large

volumes of data at one central storage point allows operators

to compare inspections carried out at different times using

different inspection modalities.

• Robust and secure. Disaster-recovery plans are incorporated

and built-in redundancy can be included to ensure constant

data availability.