The Intersection of 3D and Business Data Is Real!

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One thing I find especially interesting about my job is the ability to work with specialists in various non-construction industries to share best practices and identify areas in which our real estate and construction customers can learn from companies outside their industry.  Recently, I've been doing a lot of work with my colleagues in Oil & Gas and Aerospace & Defense to understand how they are using 3D data or models to enable visualization of business data and maximize efficiency

For example, a number of our oilfield services customers are using 3D models of oil rigs to visualize equipment status in realtime, color-code equipment that is nearing end of life based maintenance:replacement cost ratios, and even produce interactive animations of key maintenance or repair processes.  All of the data to be presented exists in their business systems, and the addition of 3D makes it easy for a user to see where they need to focus their attention.  The alternative, of course, is looking at a printed or onscreen list of equipment numbers or cost codes with corresponding values.

In Aerospace & Defense, our customers are using 3D models of complex aircraft and ships to see how material shortages or quality issues will impact manufacturing schedules, visualize percent complete based on data entered by their workforce, and provide interactive animations for critical build processes, as seen in this short video.

I've spent a lot of time recently talking to some of our construction and real estate customers about how they can apply these best practices and technologies from other industries in their own business.  We've identified quite a few really innovative use cases already.  Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing some of those use cases in the preconstruction, construction, and facility maintenance phases of a building.  Can you think of any innovate ways to combine the world of 3D models and data from your cost control, project management, scheduling, or other business systems?  Please share your ideas in the comments below - we're always interested in hearing more!