Lifecycle management of component catalogs based on a neutral model to support seamless integration with plant 3D design

For performing design tasks in a process plant construction project using a three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design system, it is necessary to build a library to save catalogs containing information on 3D shape, specifications, and ports for bulk materials, such as pipes and fittings, or custom-built equipment, such as large equipment and skids. Furthermore, a library must be effectively reused as the building process requires considerable time and cost. In this study, a system architecture that manages the entire lifecycle of a catalog is proposed for generating, saving, and managing a neutral catalog for components and for converting to a native format of a commercial system needed by users. Subsequently, detailed technologies required to implement such architecture are discussed. Lastly, experiments on building, searching, and exchanging are conducted for approximately 3000 catalogs provided by company P in Korea to verify the effectiveness of the proposed architecture for lifecycle management of a component catalog.