Short answer
Proactively plan for the long-term curation and preservation of CAD models by utilizing tools that manage representation information and facilitate data layering, ensuring design data remains usable throughout the entire product lifecycle, especially for service-based business models.
- Field
- Innovation & Design
- Source
- The University of Bath Online Publications Store (The University of Bath) (2008)
- Method
- Development of novel tools and architectures
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Proprietary and rapidly obsolescent CAD file formats hinder the long-term intelligibility, adaptability, and reusability of engineering designs, posing a significant challenge to product-as-a-service business models. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2008 study published in The University of Bath Online Publications Store (The University of Bath). Using Development of novel tools and architectures, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Proactively plan for the long-term curation and preservation of CAD models by utilizing tools that manage representation information and facilitate data layering, ensuring design data remains usable throughout the entire product lifecycle, especially for service-based business models.
CAD Model Obsolescence Threatens Product Lifecycle Service Models
Proprietary and rapidly obsolescent CAD file formats hinder the long-term intelligibility, adaptability, and reusability of engineering designs, posing a significant challenge to product-as-a-service business models.
The University of Bath Online Publications Store (The University of Bath) · 2008
Key Findings
- 01Existing CAD formats are proprietary, version-dependent, and prone to rapid obsolescence.
- 02Product-as-a-service models require long-term access and adaptability of design data.
- 03A comprehensive preservation architecture for CAD models is currently lacking.
- 04RRoRIfE aids in selecting appropriate archival formats and migration strategies.
- 05LiMMA enables the annotation and layering of crucial non-geometric data onto geometric models.
Application
Design takeaway
Proactively plan for the long-term curation and preservation of CAD models by utilizing tools that manage representation information and facilitate data layering, ensuring design data remains usable throughout the entire product lifecycle, especially for service-based business models.
How to apply
When developing new products, especially those intended for long-term service contracts, integrate strategies for managing CAD data obsolescence from the outset. Explore and adopt tools like RRoRIfE and LiMMA to ensure design data remains intelligible and adaptable.
Project actions
- 01Consider the long-term usability of your design files.
- 02Research file formats and their potential for obsolescence.
- 03Explore methods for annotating and preserving design data beyond just the 3D model.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Addresses a critical and emerging issue in product design and service.
- +Proposes novel tools and architectural concepts.
- +Highlights the link between digital preservation and business models.
Limitations
The tools developed are specific solutions and may not be universally applicable without adaptation. The complexity of integrating these tools into existing workflows needs further investigation.
Reliability & validity
The reliability of the findings would depend on the consistency of the tools' performance across different CAD models and environments. Validity would be enhanced by testing the tools with a wider range of engineering disciplines and by comparing their effectiveness against established digital preservation standards.
Think critically
To what extent does the reliance on proprietary CAD software inherently limit the long-term sustainability and serviceability of engineered products?
Design Principles
"Design for long-term data integrity and accessibility by anticipating format obsolescence and planning for data migration and annotation."
As products transition from simple artefacts to long-term services, the underlying design data must remain accessible and usable. Current CAD formats create a risk of data loss and inaccessibility, impacting maintenance, upgrades, and end-of-life management.
What This Means for Your Design
Old CAD files can become unreadable over time, which is a big problem when companies sell products as a service and need to fix or upgrade them years later. This research suggests ways to save CAD files so they can still be understood and used in the future.
How to use in your project
- 1.Discuss the implications of file format obsolescence on the long-term viability of your design.
- 2.Justify your choice of file formats by considering their archival potential.
- 3.Propose strategies for preserving your design data for future reference or modification.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The longevity of design data is a critical consideration, particularly with the rise of product-as-a-service models. Research indicates that proprietary and rapidly obsolescent CAD formats pose a significant threat to the long-term intelligibility and reusability of engineering designs. Tools like RRoRIfE and LiMMA offer potential solutions by aiding in the preservation and annotation of CAD models, ensuring that design information remains accessible and adaptable throughout a product's extended lifecycle.
Source
The University of Bath Online Publications Store (The University of Bath)
Towards a Curation and Preservation Architecture for CAD Engineering Models
journal · 2008
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about cad model obsolescence threatens product lifecycle service models?
- Proactively plan for the long-term curation and preservation of CAD models by utilizing tools that manage representation information and facilitate data layering, ensuring design data remains usable throughout the entire product lifecycle, especially for service-based business models. Evidence: The University of Bath Online Publications Store (The University of Bath) (2008).
- Why does "CAD Model Obsolescence Threatens Product Lifecycle Service Models" matter for design?
- As products transition from simple artefacts to long-term services, the underlying design data must remain accessible and usable. Current CAD formats create a risk of data loss and inaccessibility, impacting maintenance, upgrades, and end-of-life management.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Proactively plan for the long-term curation and preservation of CAD models by utilizing tools that manage representation information and facilitate data layering, ensuring design data remains usable throughout the entire product lifecycle, especially for service-based business models.
- What were the main findings?
- Existing CAD formats are proprietary, version-dependent, and prone to rapid obsolescence.. Product-as-a-service models require long-term access and adaptability of design data.. A comprehensive preservation architecture for CAD models is currently lacking.. RRoRIfE aids in selecting appropriate archival formats and migration strategies.
- What research method was used?
- Development of novel tools and architectures.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2008 journal from The University of Bath Online Publications Store (The University of Bath).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing new products, especially those intended for long-term service contracts, integrate strategies for managing CAD data obsolescence from the outset. Explore and adopt tools like RRoRIfE and LiMMA to ensure design data remains intelligible and adaptable.
- What are the limitations?
- The research focuses on specific tools and may not cover all aspects of a comprehensive preservation architecture. The effectiveness of these tools in real-world, large-scale implementations requires further validation.