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Design & Visualization

5 Benefits of Upgrading to Smart 3D version 14

Intergraph Smart® 3D is the world’s first and only next-generation engineering design application designed to deliver mission-critical project requirements. It breaks through barriers imposed by traditional technologies to enable a truly iterative engineering design environment with an industry first Project / As-Built capability. Smart 3D provides all capabilities needed to design facilities and then maintain their 3D “As-Built” representations for downstream uses in the lifecycle. The release of Smart 3Dversion 14 provides a competitive edge to EPCs (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) and owner operators. 

Features and Benefits  

  • Infrastructure Flexibility 

    • With Smart 3D 14 comes a new modern user interface that is 64-bit and offers the advantage of using more random-access memory and the ability to process substantial amounts of data compared to 32-bit systems.  

    • Infrastructure flexibility provides additional benefits such Smart 3D is offered as SaaS in Intergraph Smart® Cloud, public cloud hosting and on-premises. This includes standalone environment and global workshare environment. Smart 3D supports integration with HxGN SDx2. 

  • Digital Twin 

    • The Integration Service within Smart 3D now shares additional object types including notes, control points and clashes with HxGN SDx2.

    • Smart 3D is compatible with both PDS® and PDMS data, which can subsequently be synchronized with a centralized HxGN SDx2 repository. This data is first converted into Smart Models, then further transformed into Smart Interop Objects (SIOs). These SIOs are lightweight, purpose-specific objects conforming to a common schema, designed specifically to integrate seamlessly with HxGN SDx2. 

    • Hexagon’s Smart 3D supports the integration and consolidation of various 3D model file formats, enabling seamless import/export and direct integration with other engineering design applications and authoring tools. 

  • 3D Modeling with Rules and Relationships 

    • The Smart 3D modern user interface delivers opportunities to improve value to the customers such as:

      • Enhanced User Experience leading to improved productivity 

      • Protect investment by upgrading platform (retiring VB6) 

      • Add custom commands to the modern user interface 

      • Modify Smart Interop Objects (SIOs) using the Modify Interop Controls  

      • Enhancements to Ducting, Electrical, Equipment, Hanger & Supports, Piping, Structural and Space Management tasks 

  • Deliverables 

    • Smart 3D drawings are one of the deliverables used in multiple industries. New enhancements include:   

      • Ability to generate drawings on a batch queue. Updates drawings with 64-bit processes.  

      • Revise dialog option allows the user to revise the document without sharing it to HxGN SDx2. The ability for a super user to restrict user access to orthographic and isometric drawings documents and data using the security code (for example, proprietary, restricted, and unclassified). The security codes can be changed. 

      • Drawings can now be generated on a batch server. Also, it enables users to generate the drawings that have not previously been created on a batch server while users continue to work on other tasks. 

      • Smart 3D now generates a tombstone .xml file in the data file path containing the graphic (.vue or .zvf) and data (.xml) files when any object is deleted from a previously updated 3D Model Data document.  

      • Users can now switch multiple borders at the folder level and at the component level. 

  • APIs- Web APIs 

    • Smart 3D includes Plant API and Admin API that provide web access to data and ability to administer Smart 3D, respectively. 

    • Smart 3D Plant and Admin APIs share the same configuration for database connection, setup/configuration credentials, messaging, enablement with improved logging and load balancing. 

About the Author

Rahul Shinde is a Senior Solutions Consultant at Hexagon focusing on 3D modeling, fabrication, and cloud solutions based in the Houston, Texas area. He has been with Hexagon for 15 years with close to 20 years experience working with EPCs and Owner Operators in the automotive and process industries.

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