Improved CAD interoperability for 3D factory design with AVEVA solutions

In today's industrial landscape, CAD data interoperability is a major challenge for engineering, energy, and process industries. AVEVA PDMS and AVEVA E3D Design software are essential benchmarks in this field, offering advanced features for 3D modeling of complex facilities. This in-depth analysis explores their technical characteristics, recent developments, and integration into modern workflows, while highlighting the interoperability solutions offered by CAD Interop to optimize the exchange and management of design data.

Technological Context and Industrial Challenges

Evolving Plant Design Needs

Process industries (petrochemicals, energy, pharmaceuticals) and naval sectors are facing increasingly complex projects, requiring tools capable of managing multi-site 3D models with thousands of components. Challenges include coordination between disciplines (piping, structural, electrical), revision management, and collaboration with external partners using disparate software.

AVEVA PDMS, developed in the 1980s, marked a revolution thanks to its parametric approach and centralized database. However, the emergence of new methodologies such as BIM (Building Information Modeling) and increased simulation requirements have led to the development of AVEVA E3D Design, a direct successor incorporating expanded capabilities.

Limitations of Older Generations of Software

Although PDMS remains widely deployed, its monolithic architecture presents constraints in modern contexts:

• Difficulty integrating with PLM/ERP systems
• Limitations in managing large models (>500,000 elements)
• Time-consuming file conversion processes for external collaborations
• User interface poorly suited to agile workflows.

These limitations explain the gradual migration to E3D Design, whose performance has been optimized for megaprojects, with productivity gains estimated at between 30% and 50% off the preliminary design phases.

PDMS/E3D Design Comparative Analysis: Technical Architecture and Key Features

AVEVA PDMS: Historical Foundations

• Parametric Modeling: Library of standard components (ASME, DIN, ISO)
• Clash Management: Automatic detection of cross-disciplinary interference
• Multi-User Workflow: Granular locking of elements in editing
• Documentation Generation: Automated assembly drawings, isometrics, and bills of materials.

The native .rvm format integrates a hierarchical representation of data, storing both geometry (NURBS and meshes) and technical metadata (materials, operating pressures):

• .rvm: AVEVA Plant Design Management System Template
• .rvs: AVEVA Plant Design Management System Project
• .pdms: AVEVA PDMS Document

The RVM file format can be saved in both binary and ASCII formats. The RVM file supports entities such as:

• Geometry
• Attributes stored on groups
• Textures (via RVS file)
• Cameras and camera tracks (via RVS file)
• Clip planes (via RVS file)
• Panels (via RVS file)
• Tags (via RVS file)
• Labels (via RVS file)
• Translucency (via RVS file)
• PDMS origin points

AVEVA E3D Design: The Technological Evolution

• Associative Modeling: Dynamic Data Linking P&ID
• Cloud Integration: Real-time collaboration via AVEVA Connect
• Advanced Clash Management: AI-based detection algorithms
• Extensive Interoperability: Native support for IFC 4.3 and STEP AP242 formats.

The .e3d data structure introduces a built-in versioning system and LZ77 compression mechanisms for files larger than 10 GB. Comparative tests show a 40% reduction in loading time for complex models compared to PDMS.

Exchange Capacity Comparison Table

This table summarizes E3D Design's major advances in interoperability, crucial for multi-software workflows.

Strategic Migration to E3D Design

Planning and Best Practices

Transitioning from PDMS requires a structured approach :

1. Existing Data Audit: Analysis of .rvm/.pdms files to identify potential incompatibilities
2. Progressive Conversion: Use of AVEVA Migration Toolkit with batch validation
3. Team Training: e-Learning modules tailored to specific business lines (engineering, purchasing, construction)
4. System Integration: Custom connectors for SAP/Teamcenter ERPs.

Case studies at TechnipFMC reveal a 70% reduction in conversion errors thanks to E3D Design's backward compatibility algorithms.

Legacy Format Management

CAD Interop offers specialized solutions to maintain access to historical PDMS data :

• Visualization: .rvm/.pdms compatible software with measurements and annotations
• Batch Conversion: Transformation to .e3d with metadata preservation
• Geometric Validation: Topological error detection tools.

These tools enable a seamless transition of ongoing projects while securing existing digital assets.

Integration into modern CAD ecosystems

Interoperability Connectors

AVEVA E3D Design offers broad compatibility with numerous file formats, facilitating data exchange and collaboration between various software tools used in the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) industries. Here is a detailed list of supported formats:

Common import and export formats

Additional Specific Formats

• Parasolid: (.x_t, .x_b) - Full import and export
• ACIS: (.sat, .sab) - Full import and export
• Images: (.bmp, .jpg, .tif) - Import only

These formats enable extensive interoperability with the main CAD software used in industry.

Interoperability Methods with AVEVA

Optimizing Data Exchange

1. Using Formats neutral: Prefer formats like STEP to maximize compatibility between different CAD tools while preserving general attributesmetric and technical.
2. Simplify Complex Models: Use tools like CADfix PPS to reduce file size before importing into AVEVA E3D. This improves performance and reduces processing times for large models.

Attribute and Metadata Management

• When exchanging with Tekla Structures or other BIM software, favor exporting to IFC format to ensure that essential attributes (materials, dimensions) are preserved.
• For legacy PDMS files (.rvm), ensure that entities such as textures or tags are correctly transferred via the associated RVS file.

Multi-Software Collaboration

• Directly integrate data from other disciplines using AVEVA Unified Engineering connectors. This allows for automatic updates between electrical schematics and the 3D model.
• Use compatible visualization solutions like 3DViewStation to quickly validate models without requiring prior conversion.

Post-Conversion Quality Control

After each conversion or import:

• Check for interferences and clashes using E3D Design's built-in tools.
• Compare models before and after conversion with specialized software to detect any loss of information or geometric errors.

These tips ensure a smooth transition between software while minimizing the risk of errors in your industrial projects.

Future Outlook and Innovations

AI and Digital Twin Integration

The latest versions of E3D Design integrate artificial intelligence modules for:

• Automatic Route Generation: Optimization of piping networks
• Predictive Interference Detection: Algorithms based on project history
• Documentation Synthesis: Automatic generation of technical reports.

Integration with AVEVA Process Simulation creates a complete digital twin, enabling multiphysics simulations directly on the 3D model.

Extended Reality (XR) Developments

CAD Interop develops immersive visualization solutions:

• Virtual Reality: Collaborative Project Reviews in a CAVE Environment
• Cloud Streaming: Lightweight access to models via a web browser.

These technologies reduce validation times by 40% while improving the early detection of design issues.

Conclusion

Migrating to AVEVA E3D Design represents a strategic opportunity for companies looking to optimize their 3D factory design processes. Combined with CAD Interop's interoperability solutions, this software enables seamless integration into modern CAD ecosystems while preserving access to historical data. The gains in productivity, deliverable quality, and error reduction fully justify the investment, particularly in the current context of accelerating complex industrial projects.