Fast and cheap. These are the targets typically at the forefront for any process plant modification engineering team—with fast and cheap leading the way. After all, time is money.

Autodesk’s AutoCAD Plant 3D 2010 software aims to help these engineers be faster by improving the accuracy of their modification plans during the planning phase, while reducing cost by using the AutoCAD backbone to streamline the placement of piping, equipment and support structures before any material is ordered.

Mark McLeod, CAD manager at Energy Solutions, which manages the decommissioning of nuclear sites and facilities, says the new software has proven beneficial: “Currently, we are blind to obvious clashes, have duplicate tag numbers, and cannot see our piping designs in 3D model review. As we evaluate AutoCAD Plant 3D, we expect to benefit from correct tagging, 3D model reviews, clash detection, connection to P&ID work, orthographics, and isometrics.” Pretty important stuff when you consider the material he’s dealing with.