The Trove of CAD Informatics: Acquiring and Analyzing CAD Data for Design Process Insights and AI Applications

Sunday August 25, 2024 2 PM - 5 PM ET

ASME IDETC-CIE, Washington DC

Recent advances in design tools have transformed CAD models – and the processes by which they are created – into rich data troves for researchers investigating collaborative design processes and developing the next generation of AI driven design tools.

This workshop will feature presentations from researchers from a few different fields doing informatics research with CAD data, as well as a panel discussion about the future of design tools. The hands-on portion of the workshop will allow participants to work in focus groups to explore a few shared CAD data sets, brainstorming research questions and analysis methods that could provide insight into design processes or inform the next generation of CAD tools. Participants will walk away with an understanding of how to acquire CAD data from models and processes, as well as ideas for future research projects and collaborations.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop to participate fully in the hands-on portion.

Agenda at a glance

2:00-2:10

Introduction from Organizers

Review of the history of CAD technologies, where we are today, and expectations setting for the workshop

2:10-2:50

Invited Research Presentations

  • 2:10-2:20 Kathy Cheng, University of Toronto
  • 2:20-2:30 Md Ferdous Alam, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • 2:30-2:40 Gregory Mocko, Clemson University
  • 2:40-2:50 Zhenghui Sha, University of Texas at Austin
2:50-3:30

Panel Discussion/Q&A

Invited research will have a panel discussion on the future of CAD tools and what research can help improve the ways that companies design and develop products. Moderated by workshop organizers using prepared and audience questions.

3:30-3:40

Networking Coffee Break

3:40-4:30

Interactive CAD Data Challenge

Organizers will introduce participants to four different CAD data sets, show how they were generated, and example analyses that have been done. Participants will then form groups to explore any of the data sets, brainstorming research questions that could be answered with the data and how that could help inform the next generation of CAD tools. Provided data:
  • Audit trail from a collaborative design project (CSV with 49k rows of data)
  • Model data over time and audit trail from a bracket design challenge
  • Model, feature, and process data for different users creating the same model
  • Onshape repository of public documents and ABC data sets
4:30-5:00

Group Discussion

Each group will share a recap of their discussion and ask questions about continuing to work with CAD data and exploring research collaborations.

Resources

Presenters

Kathy ChengPhD Candidate in Mechanical Engineering at University of Toronto, HCI Researcher at Ready Lab and FORCOLAB
Dr. Zhenghui ShaAssistant Professor in the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin
Dr. Md Ferdous AlamPostdoctoral Associate in Mechanical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Dr. Gregory MockoAssociate Professor in the School of Mechanical & Automotive Engineering at Clemson University

Organizers

Dr. Matthew MuellerEducation Innovation Manager at PTC
Dr. Matthew ShieldsEducation Program Principal at PTC