Aveva and Trimble to collaborate on point cloud integration

Trimble is a leader in 3D scanners; Aveva has the strongest database software for managing 3D point cloud data.

Aveva and Trimble today announced they are collaborating to offer efficient integration between Trimble’s 3D laser scanning solutions and Aveva’s 3D point cloud software solutions, including its LFM Software point cloud database suite, for the plant, power and marine industries.

3DScan_Image3 — Trimble sells a line of 3D scanners used to capture 3D point cloud data for use in design, engineering, and operations. (Source: Trimble)

The goal is to offer customers the ability to more easily capture, import and integrate 3D laser scan data into design workflows. Trimble markets a line of 3D scanners popular for gathering as-built data from existing assets, including process and power plants. No specifics were given about the technical nature of the planned collaboration.

The use of 3D scanners has become popular in process and power plant design and operations. Many times the use of 3D scanners not only saves hundreds of labor hours by replacing physically measurement with 3D scanning, but also provides access to sites that are hazardous or completely off-limits, such as in nuclear power plants.

Our take

Aveva was the first process and power plant design software company to aggressively target the use of 3D scanned data. But Aveva is the smallest member of a highly competitive market, and any technical lead does not last for long. Autodesk, Bentley, and Intergraph all offer ways to integrate 3D scan data into plant design.

This is not a closed deal; Aveva says it will continue to support all leading 3D scanning hardware platforms. But having a cooperation deal with Trimble will certainly give existing Trimble/Aveva joint customers a boost on their projects and could sway deals in the future.

Trimble is an aggressive acquirer of smaller companies and technologies in its quest to build a construction-based BIM portfolio. Aveva occasionally acquires boutique firms. Both are public companies. While one can’t help but wonder if marriage is in their future, the chances today seem remote.

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