Data Structures of the Product Information Model

The Product Information Model contains an integrated mixture of different data types, for example, technical data, administrative data, associativity data, functional data and geometrical data. The geometrical data may be 2D as well as 3D. The 3D data may be surface-based as well as solid-based. Data may be symbolic or true, and it may be implicit or explicit. This mixture of different types of data and the alternative representation of specific items, is efficiently handled in the Product Information Model.

The Product Information Model is arranged in the form of a hierarchy of data. This hierarchy reflects the actual natural hierarchy of objects in design development and production stages. for example, pipe components such as valves are parts of pipelines which in turn are parts of pipe systems which in turn are parts of the outfit model. The database organization and management successfully handles these vertical hierarchies.

Surface

• The position and shape of the major structure of the ship dividing the complete ship within the hull envelope into functional compartments. for example, Main Deck, Engine room Bulkhead, Inner Bottom

  

Compartment

• Typically a compartment has a functional purpose such as becoming a Cargo Tank or a Machinery Space. The shape and size of a compartment is defined by a closed set of boundary surfaces.

  

Block

• A general physical zone within the ship. Typically a major assembly of hull steel and outfit support structure and which is typically then lifted into its final hull position in the building dock.

  

Module

• A grouping of objects in a general physical zone of the ship associated together for assembly purposes.

  

In addition to the design hierarchy for each type of model object there is a shipyard defined production hierarchy in order to group design objects into sub-assemblies and assemblies according to the actual build strategy chosen for assembly production.

Assembly

• A grouping of parts or sub assemblies which will be joined together in the construction process at a particular stage.