Application of 3D technologies in substation engineering works

The integration of Three-Dimensional (3D) digital technologies into High Voltage (HV) power substation design provides advanced capabilities for visualizing complex infrastructure in 3D space. This enables engineers to gain deeper insight into the spatial layout, arrangement, and interaction of the various components within these substations. However, although Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital twins, and advanced simulation technologies are increasingly discussed across industries, the required 3D data is often not available in the quality, consistency, and level of integration needed to support advanced digital use cases throughout the lifecycle of HV assets.

Within the power industry, 3D technologies have already been applied for several decades at different stages of the HV power substation lifecycle. Nevertheless, in many cases, their use remains limited to isolated applications and expert-driven workflows within design departments. Various attempts have been made to expand the use of 3D digital technologies across engineering, construction, and operational processes; however, many of these initiatives resulted in costly implementations, unmet expectations, or benefits significantly below what had been anticipated. In many instances, processes originally developed for buildings, machines, or single-pass manufacturing environments were transferred to HV power substations without sufficient adaptation to the specific technical and operational constraints of HV infrastructure.

There is no doubt that 3D data developed by Computer-Aided Design (CAD) systems is beneficial throughout the entire lifecycle of an HV power substation. However, HV power substations differ fundamentally from buildings or machines. Nearly every design decision in substation engineering must consider multiple electrical clearance distances, mechanical and electrical forces, safety requirements, and operational constraints associated with high-voltage and high-current systems. In addition, unlike many industrial products, HV power substations are continuously maintained, modernized, and reconfigured over several decades of operation. As a result, a single greenfield project is typically followed by several highly complex brownfield projects, all of which require continuous engineering adaptation, redesign, and operational coordination.

For this reason, the implementation of 3D digital technologies in HV power substations requires domain-specific methodologies, processes, and data models tailored to the characteristics of power systems. The Technical Brochure therefore introduces dedicated concepts such as Substation Building Information Modeling (S-BIM) and domain-specific Digital Twins in Power Systems (DTiPS), which address the specific requirements of HV power substations throughout planning, engineering, construction, operation, refurbishment, maintenance, and training activities across the full asset lifecycle.

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are additional 3D digital technologies that provide immersive and interactive experiences, allowing stakeholders to explore virtual power substations in real time, identify design flaws, and support decision-making during engineering, construction, and maintenance activities. These technologies improve multidisciplinary collaboration and contribute to the development of more resilient, safe, and sustainable power assets.