3DEXPERIENCE

3DEXPERIENCE. It is a collaborative business platform developed by Dassault Systèmes that integrates various applications for product design, engineering, simulation, and data management. The platform functions as a unified environment, connecting stakeholders across disciplines to manage the entire product development lifecycle from concept to operation. Its core philosophy centers on providing a virtual twin experience of real-world products and processes, enabling innovation and decision-making in a digital context.

Overview

The platform serves as a central hub for enterprise innovation, merging traditionally separate domains like mechanical engineering, electrical design, and systems engineering. It is built upon the foundational technologies of Dassault Systèmes' historical applications, including CATIA, SOLIDWORKS, and SIMULIA. By leveraging cloud-based architecture, it facilitates global collaboration among teams at corporations like Airbus, Tesla, Inc., and Boeing. The environment supports the creation of a digital twin, a virtual representation used for analysis and optimization before physical production.

Platform architecture

The technical foundation is a unified data model hosted on the cloud computing infrastructure of partners such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services. This model ensures that all information, from a CAD sketch to finite element analysis results, resides in a single source of truth. The architecture is service-oriented, providing modules for social collaboration, project management, and business intelligence. Key enabling technologies include the ENOVIA database for product data management and the NETVIBES dashboard for real-time analytics, allowing integration with enterprise systems like SAP.

Key applications and tools

The platform offers a vast portfolio of interconnected roles and apps. For design and engineering, core applications include CATIA for advanced surface and systems modeling, SOLIDWORKS for 3D mechanical design, and GEOVIA for terrain and mining planning. Simulation and analysis are powered by the SIMULIA suite, which provides tools for computational fluid dynamics and durability testing. For manufacturing and production, DELMIA enables digital process planning and robotics simulation, while BIOVIA caters to scientific research in fields like materials science and biotechnology.

Industry adoption and use cases

Adoption spans numerous sectors, fundamentally transforming development methodologies. In the aerospace and defense industry, companies like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman use it for complex systems integration and supply chain collaboration. Automotive manufacturers, including Toyota and General Motors, employ it for vehicle architecture and electrification projects. The platform is also pivotal in architecture, engineering, and construction for firms like Bouygues, and in life sciences for organizations such as the Food and Drug Administration to manage regulatory processes. A notable project is the development of the Ariane 6 launcher by Arianespace.

Development and history

The platform was formally launched in 2012, evolving from Dassault Systèmes' earlier PLM offerings and the V6 architecture. Its development was driven by the vision of Bernard Charlès, the company's CEO, to move beyond traditional CAD tools towards an experience-based platform. Major milestones include the integration of SOLIDWORKS into the ecosystem and the acquisition of Exa Corporation to enhance SIMULIA's fluid dynamics capabilities. The platform's evolution continues to focus on expanding into new verticals like city planning and consumer packaged goods, reflecting the broader industry trend towards digital transformation.

Category:Product lifecycle management Category:Dassault Systèmes software Category:Computer-aided design software Category:2012 software