| Choosing
the right piping design and drafting software
If you are in the process of selecting a software programme for your
piping design and drafting applications, the following hints and
features may assist you in choosing the right software for your
company
Ease of Use/Performance
Ease of use is frequently reported as the number one desired characteristic
of a CAD system, based on user feedback. In order to improve ease
of use it is important that an application uses industry terminology
rather than programming terminology. It is also important that an
application utilises well-known functions and commands that already
exist in popular CAD platforms such as AutoCAD rather than “re-inventing
the wheel”. This will greatly improve ease of use and shorten
the learning curve.
Program Reliability
Difficult setup and implementation, program crashes, loss of data,
loss of customization, and lack of upward compatibility reduce productivity
resulting in loss of time and money.
AutoCAD Compliance/Interoperability
Millions of users worldwide are proficient with AutoCAD and the
various vertical applications that exist. It stands to reason that
the more an application looks and feels like AutoCAD and the more
basic and advanced AutoCAD functions supported the more productive
a new user will be with that application in a shorter period of
time.
Learning Curve
Several factors effect how long it will take the average user to
become proficient with a new application. Since many companies that
depend on productivity tools for piping are project driven they
frequently have high turnover rate with regard to design/drafting
personnel. Having an application, which shortens the learning curve
of new users, can easily be the difference between profit and loss
on any project.
Drawing Production
Deliverable drawings are still the primary focus of AutoCAD users.
In the Plant Design arena many projects revolve around existing
legacy drawings many of which are flat 2D model space drawings.
Many of the owners of these drawings do not have users experienced
in developing and maintaining paper space drawings.
Database Integrity
Database integrity is vital to a successful project, loss or corruption
of data can severely impact project schedule and cost by adding
countless man hours.
Integration with Other Disciplines
It is important for a variety of different disciplines to collaborate
and share information on a project. However, many organizations
utilise a widely diverse group of applications from discipline to
discipline. Many of these applications come from other 3rd party
developers and many were developed internally.
Upfront Configuration
The amount of user input in order to begin using a product in a
production environment can have a significant impact on the scalability
of an application. Less input is desired on any size project but
is crucial on small to medium size projects.
Part Numbers and Material Requisition
Automating the purchase of materials required for fabrication is
becoming increasingly important to anyone involved in design and
construction. This is especially true in organizations that engineer,
design and fabricate their designs such as modular fabricators.
(Skid mounted units that are either self contained or are shipped
in modules that “bolt together” once they arrive on
site). Having an easy to generate and maintain system of applying
fully customizable part numbers is paramount to this process.
Piping Specifications
Piping specifications (specs) are the life blood of a plant design
application. Therefore most piping design systems are typically
driven by design specifications which identify items such as piping
material, flange pressure rating, pipe schedule, branch connection
types, etc. Even though certain aspects of specifications are somewhat
“standard” in a given industry, specifications vary
greatly from industry to industry and from company to company within
an industry. Specifications are often modified frequently throughout
the course of a project. Therefore a well structured specification
system that simplifies generation and maintenance of specifications
is highly valued over a more complex system.
Weights and Centre of Gravity
Complex piping systems are often very heavy. The weight of these
systems is usually a critical factor to the engineering and design
of the system. Piping systems are often fabricated in shops and
shipped to the field partially assembled in order to reduce cost
as it is far more cost effective to fabricate in the shop than it
is to fabricate on site (better tools, conditions, higher volume,
etc.). Being able to accurately and quickly identify the weight
and center of gravity of fabricated piping can greatly aid in reducing
mistakes, shipping costs and lifting.
Links to other Engineering Analysis Applications such as
Pipe Stress Analysis software
Some systems provide a one-way output interface to a stress analysis
from the model but these often clutter the model with unnecessary
nodes. It is often difficult to maintain an interface between two
software applications from two different companies with different
development schedules. So, it is important to source a software
for your piping design and drafting applications from a software
developer who has developed Analysis software with seamless and
bi-directional link between “Design” and “Stress
Analysis”.
Import From Other Modelling Systems With Intelligence
Projects are often divided among two or more engineering or design
firms utilising different systems for modelling. The ability to
import 3D models from other systems, with intelligence, can be very
important in delivering the final design in a single format.
Cost of Ownership
The tools necessary for a piping designer to create a plant design
should be built into one module at one price rather than being broken
into separate modules. This results in a much lower per seat cost.
Another factor which can increase the cost of ownership is the requirement
for additional levels of complexity needed to configure, customise
and maintain the software. Of course, the cost for annual updates,
maintenance and support must also be considered in this formula.
Amir M. Heshmati is the managing director of ImageGrafix. He
can be reached at amheshmati@image-grafix.com
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