Digital model based plant operation and optimization

A method of modeling a plant, comprising:

• receiving, by a data processing system having at least one processor and coupled with memory, one or measurements from a first physical instrument of one or more physical instruments located at the plant comprising a plurality of assets that perform one or more functions at the plant, the first physical instrument located at or within a threshold distance from a first asset of the plurality of assets;
• identifying, by the data processing system, a virtual instrument for a location at the plant that lacks a physical instrument at the location;
• determining, by the data processing system, based on a set of relationships on interactions between the plurality of assets and the one or more measurements input into a model constructed with a plurality of layers corresponding to:
• i) the plurality of assets at the plant;
• ii) a topology of the plurality of assets;
• iii) connections and flow path of the plurality of assets;
• and iv) the one or more physical instruments at the plant, a virtual measurement for the virtual instrument;
• determining, by the data processing system based on the set of relationships and the one or more measurements input into the model, the virtual measurement for the virtual instrument located at or within the threshold distance from a second asset of the plurality of assets
• generating, by the data processing system responsive to a comparison of the virtual measurement with a threshold value, a notification to service the second asset of the plurality of assets based on the determination of the virtual measurement for the virtual instrument located at or within the threshold distance from the second asset.