PS Asset Integrity Manager™ (PS AIM) - Siemens

PS Asset Integrity Manager (PS AIM)
Frequently Asked Questions
When will PS AIM be ready for sale?
PS AIM is ready for purchase right now. Pre-orders
for the software have already begun. The scheduled
release and delivery date for PS AIM is the end of
2011.
What are the licensing options?
PS AIM is offered as a perpetual license or annual
lease.
Can we see some shots or get a demo?
■ Yes, demonstrations are available both in person
and online through an arranged WebEx meeting,
depending on your preference. These demos usually
last 1 hour and consist of a functionality overview as
well as an actual run-through of the software.
■ A full demonstration license will be available for
user demo Spring 2012 at the Siemens Software User
Group Conference and later online through a secure
Citrix connection.
■ A brief flash demo will also be made available soon.
How much does a brand new license cost?
Please contact your account manager or email
cesinfo.energy@siemens.com to request a quote.
How much does it cost to upgrade from
UltraPIPE?
PS AIM is not an upgrade, it’s a brand new software
built from the ground up and designed to take your
inspection program into the latest generation of
inspection technology.
Credits and discounts are given to our current
UltraPIPE customers based on how recently they
purchased UltraPIPE and how long they have been
active on their maintenance and support (M&S)
agreement.
Please contact your account manager or email info.
ogconsulting.energy@siemens.com to see what
discounts your company qualifies for.
Does PS AIM connect to SAP?
PS AIM offers connectivity to SAP. To meet your SAP
needs, set-up work will be required in order to fully
integrate PS AIM with SAP.
Are UltraPIPE users able to use PS AIM without
training?
The new intuitive interface means fewer clicks and
faster navigation for experienced UltraPIPE users.
Help documents, step-by-steps and configuration
tutorials are included with the software to assist all
users.
What place does PS AIM hold in the current
market?
PS AIM will be a major player in the inspection
database management system (IDMS) software
market immediately upon release and will take
UltraPIPE’s place as the world’s most widely used IDMS
system.
UltraPIPE users are already pre-ordering PS AIM. It
is expected that most of them will be completely
switched over within three years of release. New
customers in untapped markets will make up a
significant percentage of the PS AIM user base due
to the flexibility of the software to not only handle
the oil & gas refining industry but other processing
facilities such as chemical, food processing, fertilizers,
etc.
How can my current data be migrated from
UltraPIPE to PS AIM? Is there a fee associated?
PS AIM includes a tool to migrate your UltraPIPE
data into PS AIM. This utility migrates all critical
data from standard UltraPIPE databases: master list
entries, inspection history, corrosion monitoring
data, inspection activities, thickness surveys, relief
valve data, etc. Migration for customized or modified
databases may require Siemens consulting services.
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Due to differences in the way the program is
structured, some items can not be transferred to
PS AIM automatically. This includes: initial setup of
program security, default analytical settings, and
custom reports.
What version of UltraPIPE is recommended to
migrate to PS AIM?
Siemens recommends migrating UltraPIPE databases
that are version 10.5 or newer.
If you are using an older version of UltraPIPE, (e.g.
10.280), Siemens Software Support can help you
update your databases to the latest version of
UltraPIPE at no cost to you.
Is PVCalc included in PS AIM 1.0?
PVCalc is slated to be included in a later release of PS
AIM, tentatively scheduled for 2014.
What is the technology platform for PS AIM?
PS AIM is an enterprise software built on the Microsoft
.NET platform. It can be installed and run on a
single computer or hosted on a central server and
simultaneously provide services to a large number
of users at multiple sites connected by a computer
network. Databases will be Microsoft SQL server
format.
Does PS AIM need to be installed with SQL
server? What if I don’t own a SQL server license?
PS AIM is designed to work with a SQL server.
If you do not own or want to purchase a SQL server
license, MS SQL Server Express is a free download
from the Microsoft website. However, if the expected
size of your database will exceed 4GB, MS SQL Server
Standard or Enterprise should be installed.
How often will PS AIM by updated? What is the
future roadmap after it is released?
Major PS AIM updates are anticipated every 2 years.
Updates include PVCalc functionality and third-party
program interfaces.
**Service pack updates will be released as needed.
What are the PS AIM installation options?
■ Installed locally on a single computer for 1 user
running SQL Server Express. However, if the database
size is expected to exceed 4GB, we highly recommend
using the SQL Server Standard Edition.
■ Installed on a network for multiple sites & users
with SQL Server Enterprise Edition. Each user can
have the PS AIM application installed locally on
their computer and can actively connect to the SQL
Server Database on the network. This will allow their
computer to run calculations locally and not slow
down network performance.
What are the technical details of PS AIM?
1. Smart Client application designed as n-tier
architecture:
■ First tier - Data Access Layer is for interacting with
the SQL Server database
■ Second tier - Business Logic Layer is for the business
functionality that needs to be performed on the data
■ Third tier - Presentation Layer is for the user
interaction of the data
2. Master database is hosted at the client location and
performance of database server is maintained by the
client database Administrator
3. User actively connects to the SQL Server Database
4. Supports both Windows and Forms login
authentication
■ Windows authentication - system checks the user’s
Windows login credentials
■ Forms authentication - system prompts user to
enter the user’s application-based login credential
■ No user authentication performed when working
offline
Questions? Please contact cesinfo.energy@siemens.com or call 1-713-570-5900
Visit: www.siemens.com/energy/oilandgasconsulting
Siemens Conceptual and Engineering Services | 4615 SW FWY STE 900 | Houston, TX 77027
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