Building Architecture and Design
A leading German provider of Technical Building Equipment (TGA) solutions.
Scope: The client specializes in systems like heating, cooling, air conditioning, building automation, energy management, sprinkler technology, insulation, fire protection, and sanitary engineering. They approached TechAbbot to replace their outdated diagramming approach using Microsoft Visio with a powerful, domain-specific desktop application tailored to the needs of building design professionals.
The Challenge
Before engaging with TechAbbot, the client faced several operational and functional bottlenecks:
- Generic Tool Limitations: Microsoft Visio lacked industry-specific features for building design, leading to inefficiencies and limitations in accuracy.
- Device Complexity: Each physical device (boilers, AC units, switches, sanitary wares, etc.) had unique technical parameters that were hard to manage with generic tools.
- Manual Design Process: Creating diagrams involved manually dragging digital shapes and manually inputting data, which was time-consuming and error-prone.
- Lack of Customization: There was no way to create domain-specific shapes, auto-generate unique IDs, or organize components systematically.
Our Solution
TechAbbot developed a custom desktop application specifically for technical building system design. The solution was designed to empower engineers and designers with:
- A WPF-based rich UI to build diagrams using real-world, custom-defined shapes.
- Centralized database integration to store reusable templates, device data, and project files.
- Offline access support for remote field operations.
- Azure-hosted APIs and authentication for secure cloud connectivity and identity management.
Key Features Developed
- Custom Shape Creator: Users can design custom shapes using basic geometric components to represent industry devices like boilers, fans, switches, etc.
- Project & Template Management: Ability to create, manage, and reuse building design templates.
- Article Master Data Module: Centralized storage of device data including parameters, installation instructions, and categories.
- Plan Designing Interface: Drag-and-drop diagram editor with support for layers, annotations, and device mapping.
- Offline Mode: Fully functional local database mode for offline access and syncing with the cloud.
- Exporting & Printing: Export designs to multiple formats including PDF while retaining layer and shape data.
- Azure AD Authentication: Role-based secure access to the application.
Business Impact
- Efficiency Boost: Drastically reduced the time spent on creating and modifying technical diagrams.
- Improved Accuracy: Tailor-made shapes and reusable templates led to better representation and fewer errors.
- Workflow Transformation: Engineers reported a significant improvement in usability and productivity due to the intuitive UI and automation.
- Centralized Control: Master data and template management brought standardization across projects.
Value Addition
- Domain-Specific Customization: Moving away from a generic diagramming tool enabled domain-specific workflows and accuracy.
- User-Centric Design: Multiple feedback loops with end-users during development ensured the final product aligned perfectly with daily operations.
- Seamless Cloud Integration: Azure AD integration provided enterprise-level security without compromising usability.
- Scalability & Portability: The architecture allows for easy extension of features like device libraries, reporting, and analytics in the future.
Tech Stack
Database: Microsoft SQL Server
Backend: .NET 6, .NET Core Web APIs
Deployment: Supports offline and online (cloud-connected) usage
Frontend: WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation), C#
Cloud Integration: Azure Active Directory for authentication
Third-party Tools: DevExpress Diagram & UI Controls
Warehouse Management
Warehouse Management Home / Case-Studies / Warehouse Management Well-known warehouse management platform Focus: Modernizing...
Building Architecture and Design
Building Architecture and Design Home / Case-Studies / Building Architecture and Design A leading...
