Autodesk 3D Software Helps Utility Enhance Power Grid Infrastructure
Design Across the State
SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 5, 2009--
Software from Autodesk,
Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) is helping the Public Service Company of New
Mexico (PNM) provide reliable electric service to the citizens of New
Mexico. PNM relies on the 3D capabilities of AutoCAD
software and custom applications built on AutoCAD to update and retrofit
existing power infrastructure, and create 3D visualizations to educate
the community about upcoming projects.
PNM is the largest investor-owned electric utility in New Mexico and
serves 498,700 customers across the state. PNM has been supplying power
to the Southwest since 1917 and currently serves over 3,635 square
miles, and maintains 14,950 circuit miles of electric distribution
lines, 21,000 circuit miles of transmission lines. Because of the vast
size and consistent growth of PNM’s network, engineers are consistently
adding new, and upgrading existing infrastructure.
“The type of engineering we do is very complicated and specific. To do
that work efficiently and accurately, we need a design tool that enables
us to work in 3D, while also being flexible and customizable,” said
Gathen Garcia, technical systems manager, PNM. “We have used AutoCAD
since 1982, and we have created several applications on top of it that
enable us to work smarter and faster, while letting our engineers focus
on the design process.”
PNM has developed an application specific to the electric utilities
industry, 3D-DASL. This purpose-built application builds on existing
AutoCAD 3D capabilities and adds customized standards for substations
and switch stations so that PNM engineers can focus more on the design
process, and less on mundane details. With 3D-DASL, engineers can update
legacy drawings using the 3D capabilities of AutoCAD to give
construction crews a clearer picture of the new design in relation to
the existing structure. Since engineers are adding to an existing
design, there is no need to re-create the project in 3D, improving
efficiencies — time and money — for PNM and construction crews.
“A growing number of AutoCAD users are taking advantage of the
software’s new 3D design capabilities to improve their design
processes,” said Guri Stark, Autodesk vice president, AutoCAD and
Platform Products. “Public Service Co of New Mexico is a great example
of how AutoCAD’s versatile 3D design capabilities can help increase
design productivity, contribute to major time savings and lead to an
efficient stakeholder engagement process.”
In all PNM projects, stakeholder engagement and education are crucial.
In creating photorealistic visualizations based on the 3D AutoCAD
designs, PNM is able to clearly explain proposals, gain public support
and educate government officials, which speeds up the permitting process.
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc., is a world leader in 2D and 3D
design, engineering and entertainment software for the
manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment
markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk
continues to develop the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art software
to help customers experience their ideas digitally before they are
built. Fortune 100 companies — as well as the last 14 Academy Award®
winners for Best Visual Effects — use Autodesk software tools to design,
visualize and simulate their ideas to save time and money, enhance
quality, and foster innovation for competitive advantage. For additional
information about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.
Autodesk and AutoCAD are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc.,
and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other
countries. Academy Award is a registered trademark of the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. All other brand names, product names
or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the
right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without
notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors
that may appear in this document.
© 2009 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
Source: Autodesk, Inc.
Autodesk, Inc.
Noah Cole, 503-707-3872
noah.cole@autodesk.com