Keywords: 3D Plant Design, Infrastructure, Capital Projects, Asset Management
Engineering design tools (EDT) for plant and infrastructure provide specific functionalities for both design/construct applications for EPCs and asset management solutions for owner-operators. Today’s engineering design tool solutions address specific design and operations requirements throughout the entire asset lifecycle, from design and build during the CapEx phase, through the much longer operate and maintain OpEx phase. The new ARC Advisory Group report “Engineering Design Tools for Plants and Infrastructure Technology Evaluation and Selection Guide” addresses this dynamic and can help operators select the appropriate EDT solution for their unique requirements.
Large Complex Capital Projects Require the Right EDT
Today’s capital projects have become very large, complex, lengthy, and expensive. Currently, capital spending overall has steadied as companies and the governments that fund these projects consider the complexities and cost of new mega-projects in light of future global markets and business drivers; and risk aversion continues to be a significant element of project planning.
Often executing these massive projects requires forming joint ventures or partnerships between engineering, construction, and owner organizations. This interdependence requires the use of the latest generation of 3D engineering design tools for efficient project execution and operating and maintaining assets. While EPCs have long understood the value of engineering design tools, owner-operators are now seeing the additional value that related asset management tools can yield in the operations phase. Next-generation 3D design applications play an integral part in the optimal design and construction of assets and now play an increasingly important role throughout the entire lifecycle of plant and infrastructure assets.
EDT Suppliers Provide Latest Design/Build/Operate/Maintain Solutions
Today’s EDT suppliers offer plant and infrastructure design applications that represent the very latest cutting edge technologies. This includes 3D design and visualization; laser scanning and point cloud modeling; concurrent design/construct methods; project management; asset management; and a wide range of specialized engineering for structural, civil, test simulation, and others.
ARC’s “Engineering Design Tools for Plants and Infrastructure Technology Evaluation and Selection Guide” covers all these areas and includes a matrix of selection criteria to help asset owners make the best technology selection decisions for their unique requirement based on their planned or installed asset base and the resources available to them. The selection guide also provides an overview of technology suppliers with relevant insights into their particular strengths and weaknesses as they apply to this market space.
For more information on this report, please visit our Technology Evaluation and Selection section.