3-D design product model for the lifecycle of the vessel

All parties involved have access to relevant information in the database.

An investment into a new vessel is a technically and economically demanding project. To be financially successful, such projects need to be carried out in the shortest possible time, both at the design and implementation stage. In a ship project, the bulk of the total expenditure is determined in the design stage. This stage also produces the technical data that will support the subsequent operation and maintenance of the vessel.

How to manage the generation and distribution of data during the design and construction process?
How to control the changes made to the design?
How to ensure that all parties involved in the project have access to the correct and up-to date data during the whole process?
Elomatic, being an experienced design and software supplier has developed a way of working and a system for 3D modelling and data management, supporting both the builder and the owner throughout the entire lifecycle of the vessel.

Managing the product information
The design and engineering data is stored in the 3-D product model generated by the Nupas-Cadmatic system and in the related design database.
These can be accessed by everyone involved in the design process according to need. It is possible to do concurrent engineering between different design disciplines.
Construction parts are defined once in the product model, appearing automatically to the other users in all related projections and drawings.
The information gathered during the design and construction of a ship is used for various purposes in the different stages of the process. A huge amount of data and documents will be produced, resulting in the final product, the ship, ready for the owner to take over.
It is obvious that all this information cannot be produced within a single system or stored in a single database. Therefore Elomatic has developed procedures and tools for efficient handling of project data and documents.

The 3-D model definied by Nupas Cadmatic forms the basis for the product model.

Nupas-Cadmatic
The Nupas-Cadmatic system developed jointly by Elomatic and Numeriek Centrum Groningen B.V. is intended for design of hull, machinery and piping systems, outfitting, cable trays and large electrical components. A 3-D product model and design database which will follow the ship from early design to scrapping is built up using Nupas-Cadmatic.
The product model is utilised for integrated data management in the various phases of the design, construction and operation of the vessel.
For flexible use of the system interfaces to various applications like Napa, Napa Steel, Tribon etc. have been developed.
In the early design phase diagrams are designed using the diagram module of Nupas-Cadmatic.
The components and pipelines are then picked from the diagram into the 3-D model and the system takes care that all components are included.
The hull structure is designed using Nupas or NAPA and the components and pipelines can be modelled into the hull ensuring that the space is efficiently used and all equipment can be accessed for operation and maintenance.
During detail design the designers build up the model to comprise all components, including engines and equipment, pipelines and piping armatures and supports, ducts, cable trays as well as steel structures.
The system provides automatic collision control and data updates between designers.
Workshop drawings and production information is then developed from the 3-D model and design database. Isometric pipeline drawings are dimensioned and labelled fully automatically.
Plan, section and axonometric drawings as well as various system specific drawings are produced.

Global Engineering with distributed design teams
Nupas-Cadmatic 3-D modelling significantly enhances cooperation between the various parties involved in the project.
A single 3-D model serves as a common design tool and data management system for all parties (ship owner, suppliers, consultants). The Nupas-Cadmatic system allows distributed 3-D design, even without a constant network connection.
Designers, designer teams and organisations can equally contribute to the production of the 3-D model and design database. By utilising the replication capabilities offered, it is possible to ensure the uniformity of the design and the compatibility of interfaces between the various parties.
Multi-discipline worksessions and distance communication can also be arranged to speed up decisionmaking and coordinate the work between different design disciplines.

Object query in the eBrowser.

Communication through the model over Internet
The Nupas-Cadmatic “eBrowser” allows the 3-D model of the ship in question to be placed on a website, where other users can review the model and design material using special plug ins for Internet Explorer.
By storing the 3-D model and the design database on a web server, all the various parties participating in the project can have quick access to the model and other key project information.
The main advantage of the eBrowser is that the shipowner, shipyard and design consultants can all monitor the progress of the project in real time through a common 3D model and design database, without the need for large quantities of documentation to be distributed from one location to another. The walk-around functions allow versatile visualisation of the desired parts of the project.
You can follow a pipeline to check the valve locations, walk along a service platform to ensure that the passages are wide and high enough.

NUPAS–CADMATIC model of an engine casing.

Reduced number of documents
Component data retrieval is effortless; simply by clicking the desired piece of equipment on the screen, the position code, system code, material, dimensions, standards and other details are immediately displayed.
This revolutionary new way of working speeds up the design and approval processes and reduces design and construction costs due to less travelling, faster decisions and fewer errors in the design.
The eBrowser reduces the number of documents in communication and complements the documentation. Another valuable use of the eBrowser is to view the model in the production site. Parts in the model can temporarily be excluded and the worker can see the part he works with in 3-D.
The eBrowser allows for linking the 3-D model with external data stored in other systems and documents. Links to, for instance manuals, structural diagrams or manufacturers’ web site can be placed in the virtual environment.

Benefits for the shipowner of a
3-D product model
What are the benefits for the end user, the shipowner or ship manager?
A 3-D-product model makes it possible for him to take part in the design process in an early stage. Instead of having to interprete drawings he can walk around in the virtual model.
Reviews and presentations can be held to support decisionmaking. The design can be checked for access to equipment, transportation routes etc. Feedback is an important part of project management for the designer.
The product model facilitates training of officers and crew at an early stage before the actual part of the ship is even constructed. It also gives the opportunity for new crew members to get acquainted with the ship’s systems before entering the ship.
The 3-D model itself embodies a large amount of design data. Additionally, it is possible to access equipment, pipelines and other data in the maintenance databases through a virtual user interface.
The chief engineer can walk in the virtual engine room and access maintenance data by clicking equipment on the screen.
There is no need to remember equipment codes, location of information, or other details. Also manuals and other documents can be linked to the 3-D components.

About Elomatic
Elomatic was founded way back in 1970 by Ari Elo, its current chairman.
The Marine Engineering division, which accounts for approximately one third of the company’s EUR 29 million turnover, has been involved with projects as diverse as liquefied natural gas carriers, dredgers and cable ships in addition to passenger vessels over the past few years.
In addition to shipping and shipbuilding, the company offers its services to the pulp and paper plus pharmaceutical and food processing industries.
A light version of the eBrowser software, giving an idea of its capabilities, is freely available for download from the Cadmatic website.
The full version with more features requires a license from Cadmatic Oy: www.cadmatic.com
peter.albrecht@elomatic.com
www.elomatic.com

Project America
The design work made for Northrop Grumman Ingalls Shipbuilding, covered basic and detail design for “Project America”, a 72,000 gross ton cruise vessel.
The machinery and AC room design was mainly made using the CADMATIC system with more than 30 designers participating in the project which lasted for more than two years.
The 3-D model contains all machinery, piping and equipment including all data to produce workshop drawings, parts lists and other information to construct the vessel.
The project was performed in a global environment with designers working in various places in Finland and also in close co-operation with the end customer in the USA.

Engine casing for “Romantika”
The design of the engine casing for the Tallink Cruise Ferry “Romantika” delivered by Aker Finnyards shows an example where the Cadmatic system is successfully used for the design of piping and related structures in a clearly limited area.
The design work was done for the Finnish TPA Group who was responsible for the turnkey delivery of the engine casing.
The steel structure was transferred to the Cadmatic system from the Tribon hull model, which enabled the designers to have structural information already before the official steel production drawings were released.
The flexibility and efficiency of the design work was also enhanced by the design reviews held using the walk-through feature of the system. The progress and realisation of the design work could be followed from the 3-D model.
Making changes in the modelling stage is both fast and inexpensive.

//Peter Albrecht, Marketing and Sales Manager, Elomatic Marine Engineering

Back to SSG 8, Spetember 20

Latest update 18-10-2006 8:49

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