3D Virtual Plant Design Collaboration With Shared Object Attributes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plant design methods, such as the waterfall model, lead to vertical division of design departments, hindering information flow and cooperation, resulting in unreasonable designs due to lack of feedback and insufficient recognition of field conditions.
Innovation Solution
A design support system and device that creates a three-dimensional virtual space for plant design, enabling concurrent design work by multiple users through a communication network, allowing real-time information sharing and object manipulation, including virtual space creation, object control, and attribute management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If waterfall type design method is used, then role division of design departments is clarified, but cooperation between design departments is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a three-dimensional virtual space that serves as a digital copy of the actual construction site, allowing all design departments to access and interact with the same virtual environment simultaneously. This virtual model enables concurrent design work while maintaining clear role assignments, as each department can work on their specific components within the shared virtual space without physical interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The three-dimensional virtual space acts as an intermediary platform between different design departments. Instead of direct communication between departments, the virtual space mediates by providing a common reference framework where all design elements can be visualized, coordinated, and integrated, thereby facilitating cooperation while preserving organizational structure.
2Productivity
If system design is started prior to other design work, then design sequence is established, but construction design and field information cannot be reflected in system design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic design process where the three-dimensional virtual space allows design sequences to be flexible rather than rigid. While system design can begin first, the virtual environment enables continuous updates and modifications as construction design progresses and field information becomes available, allowing information to flow bidirectionally rather than following a strict one-way sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual three-dimensional space provides a feedback mechanism where construction design results and field information can be visualized and integrated back into the system design. Designers can observe potential conflicts or optimization opportunities in the virtual model and adjust system design parameters accordingly, creating a closed-loop information flow that maintains design sequence efficiency while incorporating later-stage information.
3Ease of operation
If downstream design department does not grasp upstream design content, then design independence is maintained, but information collection time and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The three-dimensional virtual space serves multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains design independence by allowing each department to work on their components, while also providing universal access to all design information. The virtual model acts as a centralized repository where upstream design content is automatically available to downstream departments, eliminating the need for separate information collection processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual three-dimensional space enables downstream design departments to self-serve by directly accessing upstream design content through the virtual model. Instead of requiring formal information requests or inter-departmental coordination for data exchange, each department can independently query and utilize relevant design information from the virtual space, thereby maintaining independence while minimizing time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A design support device includes: a virtual space creation unit configured to create image data of a three-dimensional virtual space simulating a site to be designed; and an object control unit having a function of creating an object simulating equipment to be designed in the virtual space, in a case where information on a creation operation of a predetermined object performed by a predetermined user included in the plurality of users in the virtual space is input via the communication unit, configured to create image data of the predetermined object and create attribute information of the predetermined object that can be referred to by other users to output the image data and the attribute information of the predetermined object to the plurality of external devices used by each of a plurality of users.