TOMSK, Jun 29 – RIA Tomsk.
Tomsk developers from Polytechnic University (TPU) and "5 DJI"
company complete the development of a prototype of game simulator for the
development of competencies of workers in the oil and gas industry. How
gamification can help in the construction and management of the field, the
project manager Andrei Latyshev told RIA Tomsk.
Earlier it was reported
that the team of Tomsk developers in 2017 received a grant of Foundation for
Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises to develop an IT product which will
unite game mechanics (gamification) and cognitive technologies.
It was assumed that this
would be an interactive business simulation of the real process of building an
oil and gas field in difficult geographical, political and economic conditions
of a foreign country on the African continent. The working title of the project
indicates the location of the game – "Heavy Oil of Niger."
"We deliberately took
for our business simulation as a "game location" the process of
building the field outside the Russian Federation, – says Latyshev. – Of
course, we could easily, using our knowledge and experience, link history to
any complex area of Eastern Siberia, Yamal and other extreme places where oil
companies are faced numerous risks complicating the construction and operation
of fields".
However, it seemed to the
developers that it would be much more interesting to put engineers and future
managers in unaccustomed conditions.
To live two years
in nine hours
Latyshev knows well what
objects of deposits should be. At one time he studied at TPU in the direction
of "Economics and Management (in oil and gas industries)", worked for
TomskNIPIneft, and also became one of the initiators of creation in Polytechnic
University the program of master preparation for design of infrastructure
facilities of oil and gas fields.
Last year, Latyshev with
colleagues began developing a simulation game. According to the plans of the
developers, it will be extremely useful for training employees of oil and gas
organizations and organizations that conduct project activities in the real
sector of the economy, to assess the team's interaction and increase the
technical literacy of young specialists.
"It is extremely
important that, in essence, an integrated IT product is created, where in
addition to the actual interactive business simulation, an online project
management course, a competency assessment system and a unique unit – Quest
Technology (QT), allowing to estimate uncommonly so-called soft skills's
training participants is provided", – comments Latyshev.
He adds that the need for
such a product is explained by the fact that Russia is rapidly developing the
direction of training staff using interactive training programs, platforms and
gaming technologies.
© РИА Томск. Павел Стефанский
"But the domestic
market has an acute shortage of interesting and working solutions in this area,
especially in modeling of complex technological systems and solutions. The oil
and gas industry object is not an exception in this sense", – believes the
project manager.
According to him, in the
project the author's approach to QT is based on interactive technologies of
gamification.
"It represents an
interactive story with the main character – the controlled player. In each of
the tasks the player gets acquainted with the introductory settings on the
portal, gets the role of the leader (of different levels) and tries to solve
the multidirectional tasks based on real cases and problems found in the
management practice of oil and gas companies", – tells Latyshev.
Commenting on technical
side of the project, he notes that the software is implemented using
cross-platform technologies, which will allow to use it on any computers and
popular mobile devices. "It is planned to implement the operating game
interface and display the simulation of the construction of facilities in the
form of 3D-models", – says the.
Game reality
"You are a young
engineer Ivan Ivanov, 27 years old. You are a graduate of one of the leading
engineering universities of the country. You know perfectly the English
language, you are married, you raise a son. You have been working in the
company for five years. Your helicopter leaves to the field in two hours",
– it's one of the opening texts of the Tomsk game, in which the oil industry is
to build a new facility.
According to legend, the
Russian holding won a tender for the construction of a system for superficial
development of the field abroad in accordance with the developed project
documentation. The customer of the work – is a large vertically integrated oil
company that bought this asset from one of the subsoil users who had to leave
the market after an armed coup in the country.
In total there are 10 roles
in the game – from the head of the logistics group and the chief engineer of
the project to the architectural supervisor. Each player is given a role
corresponding to the real position responsible for achieving success in the
project.
During the game
participants learn how to effectively allocate areas of responsibility,
practice technical competencies, skills in personnel management, processes of
analysis and risk management and communication with the customer. In total,
they "live" two years of virtual field construction for 8-9 hours of
play.
Risky move
The game developers did not
stint stressful situations and numerous risks. Moreover, an in-depth analysis
of the real problems of the modeled region was used to compile the list.
© сайт Томского политехнического университета
Seasonal migration of
animals, defective pipes and construction materials, malaria epidemic,
political instability, crash of a helicopter carrying cargo, local gangs,
diversion in production, macroeconomic cataclysms and much more can interfere
with the "work" of oil workers.
A number of decisions of
players can initiate "positive" risks, improving such indicators as
the speed of construction or the effectiveness of management.
For example, one of the
risks – the stoppage of work – will occur in the case of the abduction of
construction brigades by local criminal groups. Members of the illegal
formation will demand up to $ 30 thousand per person, if this amount is not
paid, then the teams will not work at least one game month.
"Players can foresee
this risk and protect themselves from it", – says Nurken Aktayev. – Тhe
developer of the mathematical model of risks for business simulation. But they
will have to demonstrate competence in risks identifying and analyzing,
managing economic calculations and monitoring changes in the operational
environment".
According to him, the game
model provides for such a phenomenon as "risk migration" and some of
them can have a very significant impact on the success of the project: For
example, the risk of rising prices for fuels and lubricants, which is quite
close to reality, can lead to absolute unprofitable transportations planned for
helicopters, which will require players to restructure the logistics system.
"There are also
provided so-called positive risks which contribute to creating more favorable
conditions for construction. For example, emergence of new technologies can
greatly help the team", – Aktayev added.
Increased availability
By the present moment, the
project team developed a prototype of a software package that includes 3D
modeling of facilities for oil and gas fields, and sent documents for state
registration of the created IT product.
According to Latyshev, both
Russian and foreign mining companies will be able to solve problems and build
new facilities. The output of the Tomsk game IT-product on the market in the
form of a pilot project is planned for November 2018.
Modern approach
An integral part of the
developed software will be an online course. Its purpose – is to acquaint
listeners with modern approaches to project management throughout the life
cycle. The curriculum is based on the methodology of the International Project
Management Association, ICB standards and national requirements for competence
to specialists in project management.
"The course is
developed in close cooperation with Veniamin Kizeev, the senior lecturer of the
Department of Engineering Entrepreneurship of Tomsk Polytechnic University,
expert in competitive strategies and management, certified project management
specialist (IPMA_Level C). He will be the main lecturer of the course", –
shares plans Latyshev.
According to him, the
course takes into account the specifics of oil and gas industry and is designed
for independent development of the project management tools for its further
development within the framework of the game simulation of the "5
DJI" company. At the same time, it can be used at enterprises as an
independent training program.
"Certainly, such an
approach will be extremely interesting for the target audience: project
managers and administrators, line managers involved in project activities,
chief project engineers, engineers and technicians involved in project
activities, as well as young specialists, members of the personnel reserve of
enterprises", – the director of the "5 DJI" company Latyshev
summarized.