Over the past decade, computer-aided design (CAD) has become an integral part of building design and construction. And for good reason. Efficiencies in drafting, improved accuracy, and added design-phase flexibility with CAD have translated into faster project turnaround, fewer mistakes and better quality - all with favorable bottom-line results.
For professionals, using CAD software helps keep schedules and budgets on target and provides a competitive edge for today's projects and tomorrow's opportunities. Understandably, clients today expect CAD-based documents.
The intellectual challenge of design remains the creative province of the architect and designer, and CAD software helps remove traditional constraints on design development. You can take ideas further, with less effort, using 2D drawings and 3D models, easily combine elements of different design ideas, and view massing models from difference perspectives without adding to design time. And add-on applications allow you to complete landscapes and interiors, and provide commonly used drawing elements and drafting shortcuts.
Creating a design model in CAD software allows you to add visual information 2D drawings simply can't convey - lighting, materials, 3D perspectives and realistic renderings that generate a more understandable vision of your design. These touches enhance the client's understanding and appreciation of project-bid presentations, and they play a critical role even after you've won the bid. Through visualization software, such as AutoCAD's AutoVision or 3D Studio, clients can "experience" a design's look and function - views, traffic flow, aesthetics - and make changes early, when it costs the least. The same presentation can simplify review by planning commissions, regulatory boards, and neighborhood associations, and is a cost-effective alternative to traditional marketing publications.
Architectural background drawings developed in CAD software give consulting engineers a clear, accurate starting point for design, analysis, visualization and documentation. The detailed information, notes and graphics communicate unambiguous design direction, reducing the risk of miscommunication and costly, frustrating redirects. Engineers all begin with the most up-to-date, baseline drawings, eliminating redraw time and opportunities for mistakes and promoting consistency across disciplines.
Smooth coordination in drawing development depends on good communication across the board, consistency among disciplines, immediate, widespread notification of changes and effective project-review tracking. With data management software, you can keep everyone well informed and working on the most current document sets through centralized document storage and revision tracking, and have viewing and redlining capabilities. These types of software provide flexible information access, reliable document routing, and the security of knowing that everyone is working with the appropriate, up-to-date information set.
By taking advantage of unique data-access capabilities of CAD software, you can ease the laborious process of gathering, organizing and preparing construction documents. You can collect categories of information from any number of separate drawings - quantity counts for electrical components, for example - or gather information from all drawings in a selected grid. And you can make global changes to a set of drawings to highlight information for subcontractors - indicating telecommunications cables, for example.
The success of the construction-administration phase depends on excellent implementation and documentation of each preceding step, and your CAD records become a vital control point. Once in the field, you can use CAD software on your laptop to reference and update documentation, and clarify issues as they arise simply by accessing drawing information. And on-site design adjustments save drafting time and ensure accuracy of final documents.
From the first sketch to the last change order, CAD software is at the core of thousands of task-specific and process-management solutions. So you can consistently delivery the produces and services that best meet your client's needs - today and tomorrow.
--Written by Nancy Maul, Product Manager for AutoCAD LT/Autodesk MC.
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