In this class, we will present a general overview of the tools and features of AutoCAD Structural Detailing software as they can be applied to process and power piping design. You will learn about the workflow in AutoCAD Structural Detailing and how to add and remove profiles from the working set of profiles. Finally, you will learn how to generate a structure model and detail drawings.

Industrial piping design tools such as AutoCAD Plant 3D software are now sophisticated and mature tools in many capacities across the specification-driven, P&ID-validated, data-driven fronts. However, other disciplines are engaging with more-contemporary modes of design, communication speed, and risk reduction. This paper will discuss how complimentary computational-design processes can harness power from other disciplines such as 3D geometric dimensioning and tolerancing in product design, mesh backdrops originating from reality capture processes, intelligent AutoCAD-Plant-3D-to-Revit interoperations through APIs, through to the creation of specifications from legacy data fragments for seamless piping component file (PCF) imports.

Multidiscipline collaboration is key when using different tools for each discipline. Forma Design Collaboration software helps different teams that are using different design tools from different locations to coordinate design and engineering work more easily and efficiently. We’ll solve the challenge of combining Revit software for architectural, structural and MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) design and AutoCAD Plant 3D software for industrial piping design. We’ll share specific workflows using Autodesk Forma that address both simple sharing needs (for consultants and owners for example) as well as co-authoring controlled and coordinated design.

Industrial piping projects routinely run into difficulties validating model design against P&ID schematics. Missing tags and incorrect descriptions wreak havoc on schedules as designers work to transition from drawing-focused design to data-centered design. Engineering managers and project managers need clarity in design quality. Learn how estimating design points as part of your AutoCAD Plant 3D modeling gives you and your project management team better insight into project progress, identifying critical paths, and helps your projects stay on time and on budget.

Many piping fabricators now receive pipe geometry information in digital format, preferably in Isogen PCF format. AutoCAD Plant 3D software creates PCF files that piping fabricators can use. But if rules are not followed correctly, the interface between AutoCAD Plant 3D and SmartPlant Spoolgen will not work properly. This is not a problem fundamental to AutoCAD Plant 3D software; it’s a problem with how AutoCAD Plant 3D may have been customized. This class will focus on what you need to know to enable AutoCAD Plant 3D to interface to the Spoolgen software that is commonly used by piping fabricators. We will communicate the experience gained by working with the Hexagon Alias Team through practical examples of what to do and what not to do while customizing AutoCAD Plant 3D Isometrics. This class will teach attendees how to manage the piping specs and catalog to ensure compatibility with Spoolgen through the correct mapping of Skeys and End Types, as well as avoiding various “gotchas” that can cause Isogen and Spoolgen to fail.

Revit software systems help us to define the MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) design in several ways, but the main purpose is to understand the relationships between system equipment, such as air terminals to air-handling units, or from a pump through a pipe. This hands-on lab will teach you the comprehensive steps needed for controlling project system settings, and then it will demonstrate how to capitalize on (or disable) sizing and analysis tools related to the system. We’ll cover creating the target-source relationship between parts, and then we’ll review using the systems to improve the quality of your documentation. On top of this, you’ll get a project template that already defines everything in the class, so you can take advantage of these topics right away. The class will cover HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) and piping items, so come and join us for this fast-paced but thorough lab—you’ll be glad you did.

Go beyond the standard “globular” shapes for equipment in AutoCAD Plant 3D software and harness the alternative options to convey your piping design more accurately. We will work on understanding the ins and outs involved when using standard equipment, but also get in depth with options of creating more-complex 3D solids or bringing in designs from outside sources. Finally, for equipment configurations that constantly change during project design, use the power of AutoCAD software’s external references (xref) to keep your designs up to date with the latest changes to the equipment.

This session will dive into an effective workflow using AutoCAD Plant 3D software tailored for the plant industry. From project preparation to integrated management through Autodesk Forma, we'll explore a series of processes, including managing specifications and libraries with Inventor software, and we'll culminate in the creation of final piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) drawings. This approach ensures efficient project management and heightened quality, leading to successful project outcomes and streamlined data integration management.

AutoCAD Plant 3D has quickly become a premier solution for piping design in the plant community. For a complete plant project deliverable, we need to understand the best practices in being interoperable with additional Autodesk® products. While some of these products,such as AutoCAD® Revit® Structure and Autodesk® Navisworks® software, exist in Autodesk® Plant Design Suite, there is also a need outside of the suite to create mechanical, HVAC, and electrical models. This class will focus on how to bring all of these premier Autodesk applications together for a complete interoperable plant project that greatly enhances overall coordination.

Civil 3D Pressure Pipe is not a topic covered in many books or online tutorials. It assumes a basic understanding of piping, but in order to fully utilize all the intricacies of the software, you need to dive in and explore. This class will help novice users avoid pitfalls the speaker experienced when first using the program. We’ll also highlight many shortcuts you can use to help speed your model creation. We’ll then explain how our group was able to coordinate other outside sources’ piping, electrical, and/or public utility models with our pressure pipe models within BIM 360 software utilizing the Desktop Connector to find clashes and quickly deliver a final design to a client within very short deadlines. We were able to quickly create a site design for electrical conduits, storm, sanitary, and chilled water, within two months.

Frustrated with repeated model quality and coordination issues with piping models on your projects? Come join this class to learn how SSOE has adopted Revit Fabrication Parts on many of its industrial and manufacturing projects for initial design modeling. Discover how Revit Fabrication Parts can enable specification-based modeling—something that traditionally would have been accomplished with other products such as AutoCAD Plant 3D software. We’ll cover the benefits of using one common platform (Revit) to complete building design as well as when we should or should not use specification-based modeling. Finally, we’ll discuss unique challenges SSOE faced as an AE firm as we adopted Revit Fabrication Parts, and how we overcame those obstacles to produce higher-quality designs for our clients—saving them time, trouble, and money.

Revit MEP software is a powerful design tool in the Building Information Modeling (BIM) world. While we can’t automate the entire design of plumbing systems in Revit software, there are various workflows that we can automate for a quicker, more efficient way of design. Utilizing Revit software, this class will show how we can use Revit software’s piping systems, families with more useful information, and manipulation of some parameters to automate various workflows in our plumbing designs. These workflows include: automating the flow of roof areas in square footage or gallons per minute (GPM) in roof drainage piping, required cubic feet per hour (CFH) in gas piping, and GPM in hot-water return piping. The information in the families used will also enable us to create schedules for our drawings or calculation sheets. Attendees of this class should have a basic understanding of Revit software, but be looking to expand their knowledge of Revit software Piping Systems and BIM. This session features Revit MEP. AIA Approved

AutoCAD P&ID piping design software and AutoCAD Plant 3D design software create a whole lot of data while you’re drawing. This class will show how you start with a simple report and then start grouping and ordering it in the way you need. You will learn how to define the classes you want to use for your report and how to lay out your report. We will also explain the user interface of DevExpress’s Report Designer so you know how to work with the different palettes. This session features AutoCAD P&ID and AutoCAD Plant 3D.

This class focuses on the mechanical aspects of the industry: ductwork and piping. We will review Autodesk® Revit® MEP ductwork and piping tools to help you better understand and facilitate your design by analyzing your ductwork and piping systems. We will explore Engineering 101 fundamentals for both ductwork and piping and learn how these concepts are incorporated into Revit MEP, as well as the impacts these fundamentals have on sizing your ductwork and piping systems. We will review tools for routing and sizing your ductwork and piping systems. We will also discuss the System Inspector and explain how it can supplement the information in the Duct and Pipe Pressure reports.

This class is designed to improve design efficiency specifically for the plumbing discipline. In the class, you will learn how to use the pipe routing preferences in Autodesk® Revit® MEP software to your advantage, how to map plumbing connectors for proper flow, and how to track fixture units within systems. We will also show how the basic lookup tables drive the outside diameter (OD) size of your double-line piping, provide tips for the use of sloped piping, and finally, demonstrate how preconfigured families can make rough-in schedules a breeze.

Over the past few years point clouds have gone from novelty to design requirement. During this time many companies have encountered technological limitations due to insufficient hardware and software solutions. Much has changed. The reality computing technology from Autodesk, Inc., is making laser scan data easier and more efficient to use than ever. This class will examine real Autodesk user experiences regarding how these firms are successfully implementing point cloud data for plant design. Gain insight on the software used, the growing pains experienced in introducing new technology, and the workflows adopted to help users get from the field to completed design. This class will also recommend favorable workflows within Plant Design Suite 2015 software. Discover how to achieve typically needed plant deliverables, including catalog piping and structural design, tie-in point extraction, clash reporting, isometrics, and equipment analysis all from native Autodesk point clouds.

As a subcontractor, it seems like from the minute we're awarded a job, we're behind. Typically, we only have a few days to get a model ready for coordination. When this is the case, being able to quickly and accurately model your mechanical rooms can be crucial to getting the space you need. Using Revit software, we will walk through how to pipe a typical mechanical room utilizing tips and tricks to quickly and efficiently prepare a fabrication-ready model. At the end of this class, you'll know what a fabrication-ready model contains, how to create a coordination-ready model that you can easily complete for fabrication, and how to work through typically difficult problems when piping a mechanical room. The tools and processes discussed in the class can be applied to any MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) discipline.

How are inventive plant designers capitalizing on the power of Autodesk, Inc.’s, reality-computing platform? This class will examine real Autodesk user experiences regarding how companies are successfully implementing point cloud data for plant design. Listen to your peers and gain insight into the latest software used, the common barriers experienced in introducing new technology, and the workflows adopted to help users get from the field to completed design. This class will also recommend the latest laser scanning workflows within the Plant Design Suite software for 2016. Discover how to achieve typically needed plant deliverables such as catalog piping and structural design, tie-in point extraction, clash reporting, and field to shop and back—all from native Autodesk point clouds.

Use ReCap software to register your point clouds for use in AutoCAD Plant 3D software. ReCap software simplifies the process of adding new equipment and piping to an existing plant. As-builts can be difficult and getting field measurements that are precise and thorough can be very time-consuming. Using laser scans can ease the pain of this task and make modeling new equipment and piping in as-builts fun again!

Learn how Johnson Controls has used Forge to let its customers interactively design gaseous fire-suppressant-system configurations on a webpage. The application enables dynamic section-by-section placement of pipework, and it automatically inserts appropriate fittings, warns the user of configuration mistakes, and automatically verifies the system design effectiveness. In this class, Johnson Controls team members will demonstrate their Forge-based application, design an agency-approved fire-suppression system, discuss why they used this current approach in development, and explain the benefits that their new Forge-based solution has given them.