The XXI SLOM Conference theme, “The Human Factor as the Central Axis in the Management of Maritime Terminals”, is timely in an era when industrial inspection is being transformed. Today, terminals and offshore structures are no longer isolated systems; they are becoming Connected Assets. Equipped with IoT sensors, robotic inspection tools, and real-time analytics, these assets produce unprecedented volumes of actionable data. But this digital transformation is not replacing the human factor; it’s amplifying it. The most effective integrity programs are those that combine advanced technology with skilled personnel to deliver safer and more reliable operations.
From clipboard to command center: The rise of the connected asset
For decades, inspection workflows relied on manual measurements, periodic site visits, and paper-based records. Technicians would climb tanks, deploy rope access crews on offshore assets, or mobilize costly vessel-based teams for monobuoy or FPSO inspections. While these methods built the foundation of modern asset integrity, they are inherently reactive, dependent on human presence in hazardous environments, and often provide only a snapshot in time.
NDE 4.0 has changed the equation. By integrating permanent or semi-permanent IoT sensors, autonomous robotic platforms, and cloud-connected analytics, operators can continuously monitor asset health. For example, corrosion monitoring sensors can transmit wall thickness readings every hour; laser scanning systems can detect tank roof settlement trends in near real-time; and automated vehicles can map terminal piping for coating breakdown without requiring human entry into confined spaces.
This transition from clipboard to command center doesn’t remove humans from the loop; it changes their position in it.
Autonomy with accountability
Autonomous systems are proving their value in environments where human access is difficult, risky, or costly. Wall-climbing robots perform high-resolution ultrasonic testing on tank shells without the need for scaffolding. Subsea ROVs, either tethered or fully autonomous, inspect mooring chains, risers, and subsea systems in conditions that would be unsafe for divers. Drone-based sensors can scan hundreds of meters of pipelines or tanks in minutes.
Yet these autonomous tools are not a replacement for skilled human inspectors. Machines are superb at repeatability, coverage, and data collection, but they lack the ability to interpret anomalies in context. An anomaly detected by a crawler’s UT probe could be benign manufacturing roughness, or a critical corrosion hotspot threatening containment. Determining which requires the judgment of an experienced inspector, supported by design data, operational history, and cross-disciplinary knowledge.
In a connected asset environment, accountability remains a human-centric approach. The role of the inspector evolves from hands-on measurement to oversight, validation, and strategic planning, deciding which anomalies warrant further investigation and which can be monitored over time.
The digital twin advantage
Digital twins take the concept of Connected Assets further by creating a living, virtual replica of a facility or structure. These models continuously update with new inspection, operational, and environmental data. A digital twin of a loading arm at a marine terminal, for instance, might combine strain gauge readings, vibration analysis, and historical inspection records to predict fatigue life with remarkable accuracy.
The advantage is not just visualization; it’s predictive capability. With a digital twin, maintenance teams can run “what-if” scenarios, such as evaluating how different loading patterns affect stress distribution, or schedule interventions at the exact moment they will prevent costly downtime. For monobuoys and offshore terminals, this can mean planning maintenance around seasonal weather windows, reducing operational risk.
IoT-Enabled remote monitoring
The backbone of any connected asset strategy is reliable, real-time data acquisition. IoT-enabled monitoring systems now enable the continuous tracking of asset performance 24/7, eliminating the need for continuous human presence on site.
In tank farms, wireless level and temperature sensors can ensure product integrity and detect anomalies such as stratification or leakage. At offshore terminals, strain and tension sensors can alert operators to overload conditions before they fail; vibration sensors can detect bearing wear or misalignment long before it becomes audible to the human ear.
By aggregating this data into secure dashboards accessible from anywhere, operators can manage more assets with fewer site visits, improving safety by reducing exposure hours. Soon, this same approach could transform entire facilities. Imagine an offshore oil platform that operates unmanned, monitored in real time from a shore-based control center. When anomalies are detected, a small, highly skilled inspection team can be dispatched to perform targeted on-site checks, rather than maintaining a large rotating crew on the platform year-round. The potential benefits, including dramatically reduced operating costs, improved worker safety, and a smaller environmental footprint, make it a likely new norm for high-risk, remote operations soon.
Human-Centric data interpretation
While connected assets generate immense amounts of data, raw numbers are meaningless without skilled interpretation. The shift to NDE 4.0 moves inspectors away from data collection and toward data analysis and decision-making.
This requires a new skill set: understanding asset behavior, correlating anomalies across multiple datasets, and identifying root causes. For example, a drop in UT wall thickness on a tank shell may correlate with changes in coating performance data and local weather conditions. An experienced inspector can piece together these clues to recommend targeted mitigation—something algorithms alone cannot yet replicate.
Training and workforce development are essential. Operators must invest in upskilling inspectors, not just in purchasing new technology. A connected asset is only as valuable as the people who understand and act on its data.
Conclusion: The path forward
The Connected Asset paradigm is not about replacing humans with machines; it’s about equipping humans with better tools to safeguard critical infrastructure. By combining IoT-enabled monitoring, autonomous robotics, and digital twins with skilled human oversight, operators can move from reactive to predictive maintenance, enhance safety, and extend asset life.
As tanks, terminals, and offshore facilities become more connected, the human factor remains the central axis of integrity management. Technology expands our reach, improves our vision, and accelerates our response, but it is human judgment that ensures these capabilities are applied wisely and effectively. The future belongs to those who can integrate cutting-edge technology with deep human expertise.
This article was developed by specialist Joshua De Monbrun and published as part of the sixth edition of Inspenet Brief September 2025, dedicated to technical content in the energy and industrial sector.