Condition-based maintenance could save DoD money.

• Author: Tadjdeh, Yasmin

By coalescing data pulled from sensors spread around a ship or other military systems, Defense Department officials may be able to save money on costly maintenance repairs, said one industry executive.

Under what is known as condition-based maintenance, OSIsoft, a San Leandro, California-based software company, is seeking to use big data to help the military keep up with the many repairs needed on weapon systems.

"At its essence, what OSIsoft has always been able to do is aggregate sensor data, store it... at high fidelity for long periods of time such that you can have operating profiles for the entire life of the asset," said Steve Sarnecki, vice president of U.S. public and federal sector at the company.

Using the company's PI system, OSI-soft works extensively with the energy sector.

The company maintains transformers, distribution networks and rotating equipment, "where the basic essence of our value to those customers is collecting the data, storing the data, and not just storing it away in Joe or Bubba's desk drawer as a... chart, but making it...