Environ: Integrating VR and CAD in Engineering Projects

by Alberto Raposo, Luciano Soares, Gustavo Wagner, Eduardo Corseuil, Marcelo Gattass, and Ismael Santos

A main objective of large industrial-engineering departments is implementing integrated information systems to manage their projects’ life cycles. Particularly, most industrial engineers in the oil and gas industry use 3D geometric models, which they create using CAD systems to interact with the information systems. This is possible because modern CAD systems have evolved from drawing programs to collaborative design tools that combine geometric modelers with specialized tools for tasks such as engineering-document management, physical-plant documentation, and computer-aided visualization. This combination reflects the need for plant-information management systems—data warehouses that help reduce costs and enhance efficiency by improving control of the overall project’s life cycle.