Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been fascinated by the wild and amazing concepts shown in science fiction media. The holographic communicators from Star Wars, the all-purpose sonic screwdriver from Doctor Who, and the futuristic nanotechnology that conjures objects out of thin air in Xenoblade Chronicles. These are just some examples that shaped how I envisioned the future. This admiration inspired me to pursue a career in engineering, with the hope of helping to bring these possibilities to life. Little did I know this future would arrive sooner than I expected.

Today, we see generative AI appearing in countless places and we hear about its potential to revolutionize our lives and work. But have you ever wondered what generative AI could do to accelerate complex engineering design processes?

The Challenge of Engineering Designs

Creating and optimizing engineering designs is a complex endeavor that demands precision, efficiency and the ability to manage and collaborate between many disciplines. These challenges become even greater when companies incur new types of processes, such as those related to sustainability. Fortunately, AspenTech’s commitment to digital transformation has introduced generative AI into the realm of engineering, offering solutions that were once the stuff of science fiction.

Introducing AI-Based Auto-Layout

With Aspen OptiPlant 3D Layout™ V14.5, AspenTech has unveiled its new Generative AI Auto-Layout, an innovative feature that uses AI to generate three different layouts for a project in just minutes. This capability leverages early project data - such as equipment list with sizes, pipe list, plot dimensions and the configuration of pipe racks and structures - to create safe and operable layout options.

This is a game-changer. By dramatically speeding up design cycles and eliminating time-consuming manual processes, Aspen OptiPlant 3D Layout allows engineers to focus on optimization rather than iteration. What once took days or weeks can now be accomplished in minutes, leading to faster project timelines and granting a powerful competitive edge.

When creating layout options, Generative AI considers PIP distance constraints, design principles and optimal cost functions to generate feasible results tailored to the available real state. These results aim to help minimize CAPEX while maintaining safety and operability. Engineers can use the generated layouts as a foundation and focus on fine-tuning pipe quantities and other elements to achieve optimal designs.

Watch this video demonstration to explore how Aspen OptiPlant 3D Layout can revolutionize your design workflows and empower your team to achieve more in less time.

Generative AI brings 3D visualization to a broader audience, including engineers unfamiliar with specific industries and engineers new to 3D modeling. Aspen OptiPlant 3D Layout allows us to create high-quality designs in less time and communicate effectively with all the project stakeholders, facilitating informed discussions and faster decision-making.

The future of engineering is here!

Aspen OptiPlant 3D Layout marks a revolution for engineering projects. By enabling rapid layout creation, optimizing layouts and fostering collaboration, it offers unparalleled speed, cost savings and innovation across industries.

The future we once dreamed of is now within reach!