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PDAC Announces the First pdXML(tm) Schema Specification
Document and the Opening of the Official pdXML(tm) Website
pdXML(tm) (Plant Design extensible Markup Language) definition for a process control valve (pdXML_ControlValve) is now available from the official pdXML(tm) website at {HYPERLINK "http://www,pdXML.org"} pdXML.org and {HYPERLINK "http://www.biztalk.org"}BizTalk.org for registered participants. pdXML(tm), a XML schema for plant design, is offered as a public domain, vendor neutral, open standard data definition for the life cycle data management of plant design information for process, power and manufacturing plants. PDAC, Inc. is pleased to be the first to issue the initial specification to the library. HOUSTON, Texas, May 23, 2001 - PDAC (Plant Design Automation Consulting), Inc. announces the issuance of the first schema specification document using pdXML(tm) 1.0 and the opening of the official pdXML public website at {HYPERLINK "http://www.pdxml.org/"}www.pdXML.org. pdXML(tm) 1.0 is now available at this website which is hosted and managed by PDAC for registered participants. All of the site content is open and shared with participants at no cost. The initial pdXML(tm) document specifications were created using Microsoft's BizTalk(tm) and will be available for other similar frameworks, such as OASIS, on an as needed basis. PDAC initiated the website's pdXML(tm) specification library with a document specification for a process control valve, soon to be followed by an additional document specification for a centrifugal compressor. A demonstration of the centrifugal compressor's pdXML(tm) document specification was presented at DaratechPlant 2001 conference. Concerning the pdXML(tm) document specification for a control valve, Mac McGarrigle, vice president and chief technology officer of PDAC, stated, "Based on previous work for a number of our clients, we foresee that significant savings can be realized by implementing this document specification alone. One only needs to consider the simple task of re- keying the data during the life cycle of a single control valve between FEL process information, P&IDs, instrument datasheets, equipment vendor sizing software, document management systems, and eventually, data warehouses. Multiply this by hundreds of control valves in a plant facility, and the savings become obvious." The overall purpose of the control valve schema definition is to enable the efficient data transfer between plant design software systems. Anyone writing data to the pdXML_ControlValve definition will be able to take advantage of a "define once" relationship to enable them to import/export between multiple plant design software systems.
The pdXML_ControlValve schema definition covers the following general descriptions: Addressing the now available pdXML(tm) 1.0 and the solutions it offers, Tim Rennie, president and chief executive officer of PDAC said, "We are pleased to be able to get this technology into the hands of anyone who wants to participate. The plant design industry desperately needs a vendor neutral, XML schema definition in the public domain that can both be used today and as a springboard into the future as this exciting new technology takes it's rightful place in the plant lifecycle data management arena. It is our firm belief that pdXML(tm) based solutions will address the nagging data management issues of plant owners, engineering contractors, and equipment vendors. Our model for a public domain source for this technology, at no cost, has proven that this technology can be developed incrementally and deployed rapidly, especially when compared to the consortia, fee-based methodologies for industry standards that typically take years to complete." Adding a financial perspective, Craig Townsend, vice president and chief financial officer of PDAC stated, "pdXML(tm) presents a strategic opportunity for all the stakeholders in the engineering, procurement, construction, operations and maintenance of process, power, and manufacturing facilities. By implementing this technology into the heart of the data life cycle, stakeholders will immediately realize rapid, measurable payback by leveraging their existing equity in plant design software and databases with pdXML(tm). This technology is an excellent platform for extending the financial gains already documented in the engineering fields -- we finally have a solution that broadens the value of the massive engineering databases in place today." "The use of pdXML(tm) is a first step in revolutionizing the handling, management and representation of a facility's data throughout its life," said Mike Scammahorn, principal consultant of PDAC. "With data being so critical to all phases of the facility lifecycle, it is essential that data be shared and/or integrated with the many facility systems and partners without extraordinary effort or cost. pdXML(tm), using the XML technology, provides a vehicle to begin true lifecycle data management. When using pdXML(tm), data received or accessed from multiple sources can be simply and accurately integrated into the facility's systems. Another key aspect of using pdXML(tm) is that by using simple XML style sheets, the facility's end users can view and manage the pdXML(tm) data in the manner they are accustomed to, such as spreadsheets. Also, pdXML(tm) can be used as a means to share data extracted from various plant systems with others - within the facility, within the company, seed new projects, vendors, contractors, etc." As the leader in the pdXML(tm) initiative, PDAC believes it will become the supplier of choice for the implementation of this technology regardless of software vendor or platform. Typical services would be project management or consultation, implementation strategies, data modeling, XML schema adaptors, data migration, and training. About PDAC "The Implementation People" Founded in 1996, Plant Design Automation Consulting, Inc. is one of the premier engineering automation consulting firms specializing in implementations for the process and power industry. With expertise in work processes and automation technology, PDAC provides services to engineering firms, facility owners/operators, and other high technology companies. These services include consulting, training, database conversions, data and information management, technical support, automation tools implementations, project audits, and project deliverables. PDAC is the company with real world automation implementation expertise. For more company information on PDAC, inc. please contact the company at +1 281-820-7896, through email at {HYPERLINK "mailto:Craig.Townsend@pdac.com"}Craig.Townsend@pdac.com or by visiting {HYPERLINK "http://www.pdac.com/"}www.pdac.com.
William G. Beazley, PhD |