CATIA (Computer Aided Three dimensional Interactive Application) is a multi-platform PLM/CAD/CAM/CAE commercial software suite developed by Dassault Systemes and marketed world-wide by IBM. It was used by Frank Gehry in his building of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. CATIA is written in the C++ programming language using the Standard Template Library.
Catia V5 software solution ,addresses advanced mechanical process centric design requirement.In addtion to leading edge featur-based design function,it includes highly productive capabilities for the design of mechanical assemblies and for drawing generation.
catia v5 is avilable on both unix and windows enviroments. Also as an open solution,it includes interfaces with the most commonly used data exchange industry standards.
Catia V5 features a parametric solid/surface-based package which uses NURBS as the core surface representation and has several workbenches that provide KBE support. 3DXML is the basis for model visualization, persistence, and distribution.As of 2007, the latest release is V5 release 17 (V5R17).One of the main reasons customers choose CATIA V5 is its ability to seamlessly interact and work in tandem with a host of other applications like Enovia , Smarteam , various CAE Analysis applications etc.