Will SmartPlant 3D and PDS become the next major 3D design software over PDMS?

Hello People,

Do you think PDS or Smartplant 3D would replace PDMS over the years to come?. I recently came across an interview for a Piping engineer. The interviewer's opinion was the outcome of this quesion to be posted on the thread. I was perplexed by that conflicting statement from him.

Not a chance.

In my experience different software application do different aspects of there roles differently on a case by case basis you MAY be able to say for example routing a pipe takes 1 min in one system and 2 mins in another (this is the benchmarking approach) but all evaluation of software is a bit flawed. Both pieces of software aim to meet similar markets with similar needs. But it is far too binary and reductive to merely say one is "better" than the other..... and this kind of sweeping simplification is favoured by managers. Most people working at a detailed level in software know that it is a mixed bag. PDMS is a very refined tool because of the years of time it has spent being used in the field and patched and improved according to "real life requirements" it not perfect... in fact some times its far from perfect..see this forum! But it is definitely a positive for PDMS that it has been refined by years of practical effort to make it fit for purpose, this is not the case for Smartplant 3D it is only a handful of years old.

To refer to the question for example "an interview for a Piping engineer" contrary to some peoples popular belief there are other EQUALLY CRITICAL disciplines on a project!!!!... it is important to consider the whole project community in your evaluation. What's is theoretically better for one group of users is not going to be good for your business if is unusable for others. :( By the same approach if your company has spent 100,000 pounds on development and customisation of say PDMS, and assembling a expert team on PDMS.... you may find suggesting a change to Smartplant is not going to go too well :(

The question you pose is a simple one.... but as so often in real life business the answer is yes..... and no..... and sometimes.

Hi Bijunilamel,

To get a true picture of the relative strengths of the software companies operating in the industry you need to look at third party research, as obviously few companies will want to tell you they are 2nd or 3rd to anyone else in a particular market.
Unfortunately this type of research is only available to those who pay for it, one reputable source of data would be:

[url=http://www.arcweb.com/Research/Studies/Pages/ProcessEngineeringTools.aspx]Process Engineering Tools[/url]

Based upon such research companies produce press releases such as this one from Intergraph and I’m sure aveva can produce such documents as well.

From the evidence that I’ve seen over the last 20 years or so aveva has never actually been the dominant software for plant design, though obviously it may well not feel that way to you based upon your personal experience.  If you ask aveva and they can come up with credible numbers from reputable research organizations that say they are though then that’s a different situation.

we lives times where "cheaper" is equal with "the best". Unfortunately this is true and sad

I'm user of PDMS and smartplant 3D, and in general the use of them don't depends of which is better, it depens tha price and the contrat to adquire the licences, how you negociate with Integraph and/or aveva. In this case i think that integraph is much better, definitly they offer better price and lifecycle plant product.

I'm user of PDMS and smartplant 3D, and in general the use of them don't depends of which is better, it depens tha price and the contrat to adquire the licences, how you negociate with Integraph and/or aveva. In this case i think that integraph is much better, definitly they offer better price and lifecycle plant product.

Somethings appear cheaper up front, but in the long run, end up costing you more.

Somethings appear cheaper up front, but in the long run, end up costing you more.

You're talking about Chevy's right?

Somethings appear cheaper up front, but in the long run, end up costing you more.

Yes, but i'm talking about a system who i know (SP3D), and is a very good system, with a lot of potencial to customize, and with a very good integration with SPP&ID, SP-Electrical, etc.........can i say the same about AVEVA's product????.....PDMS-VPEP&ID-VPEworkbench??....i think not.
PDMS is a good system, but when you have to interchange data with other system, it sucks......and worse, you have to pay!!!

[QUOTE=Rodrigo;40026]Yes, but i'm talking about a system who i know (SP3D), and is a very good system, with a lot of potencial to customize, and with a very good integration with SPP&ID, SP-Electrical, etc.........can i say the same about AVEVA's product????.....PDMS-VPEP&ID-VPEworkbench??....i think not.
PDMS is a good system, but when you have to interchange data with other system, it sucks......and worse, you have to pay!!!

I assume your are using SmartPlant Foundation to integrate SmartPlant3D with SmartPlant P&ID & SmartPlantElectrical?  When was the last time you looked at AVEVA's solutions such as Schematic Model Manager or Schematic 3D Integrator?  In the coming weeks you will see even tighter integration with AVEVA P&ID, AVEVA PDMS, AVEVA Instrumentation and by next year, AVEVA Electrical.  Also have you taken a look at AVEVA NET?  If not I think you should.