In a controlled test using a reference LNG plant model (12,000 pipe components, 4,500 structural members):
E3D has powerful structural tools.
1. Beams and Columns:
2. Panels and Plates:
3. Connections:
If your organization is still on PDMS 12.1, migrating to E3D 3.1 requires planning.
For two decades, AVEVA PDMS (Plant Design Management System) was the industry standard for 3D plant design. However, PDMS was built on a 1970s database architecture. In response, AVEVA introduced E3D as a next-generation solution. Version 3.1, released in the late 2010s, stabilized the core features of E3D while introducing specific performance and interoperability upgrades. aveva e3d 31
Unlike its predecessor, E3D 3.1 utilizes a graphical processing unit (GPU)-accelerated rendering engine and a relational database management system (RDBMS) . This paper argues that E3D 3.1 is not merely a graphical update but a fundamental re-engineering of how engineering data is stored, visualized, and leveraged across project lifecycles.
| Feature | E3D 3.1 | SolidWorks | Revit | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Primary use | Process Plant | Mechanical Parts | Buildings | | Point cloud to BIM | Native intelligent | Manual tracing | Plugin required | | Piping spec-driven | Yes (catalog + spec) | Limited | No | | Database backend | Oracle / SQL | File-based | SQLite (local) | | Learning curve | High (6 months) | Medium | Medium | | Cost (per seat) | $12k–20k | $4k | $3k |
E3D 3.1 is not cheap—but for a $1B refinery, the cost of a single rework due to a clash is higher than 50 software licenses. In a controlled test using a reference LNG
For handover to operations, E3D 3.1 writes data directly into AVEVA NET. This ensures that the "Digital Twin" delivered to the client is identical to the constructed asset, incorporating all as-built changes.
Unlike its predecessor (PDMS) or competitors (SolidWorks, Revit), E3D 3.1 operates on a graphics-first, data-centric kernel. Key architectural features:
Interesting fact: E3D 3.1 can handle a model with over 2 million primitives on a standard laptop, thanks to its use of GPU-accelerated graphics pipeline (DirectX 11/OpenGL). released in the late 2010s
Installing AVEVA E3D 3.1 is more nuanced than standard software. It consists of three main components: