The construction industry is one of the mature sectors in the world economy today. Opportunities abound in this industry, considering the growing human population, and the continuous building and improving of national infrastructures like highways, bridges, tunnels and ports. There are still a significant number of emerging markets in other countries, which holds vast potential for the construction industry in various areas. There is also a constant demand for upgrades because of more innovative technologies developed in architectural and structural designs and infrastructure. There is also a great need as well for the maintenance and preservation of the existing ones.
In the US, a 2016 statistics is forecast to have an additional 6% in increase in the growth of its construction industry from that of last year, which closed at having a 15% increase. Although a massive recession hit the country in 2008, today the industry is seeing more bright spots which are believed to be more positive and expansive in the coming years.
The construction industry is also the hub of a dynamic workforce, which includes both white collared and blue collared jobs. Through the continuous advancing of technologies in construction and design, it remained as a promising sector that holds many doors for work and learning experience.
Professionals in the construction industry like architects and engineers are part of the higher income bracket, which is fairly relative to how critical their roles are in a construction project. Their jobs require mastery and exclusive attention to detail, and also their close monitoring of project execution. They are responsible for the appropriate design and material specifications required in a project, and is declared publicly in the blueprints that hold their signatures and professional identification numbers.
Architects and engineers are both involved in the design, planning, and construction stages of a given project, and render important work which are vital in establishing its foundations. Technical design is an important aspect of the jobs of architects and engineers, which also serves as the starting point and visual representation of a project. It is the basis of how other workers, especially those who are involved in the construction phase, in executing their respective roles to the project output.
The construction industry continues to progress, the same as with other industries,to be able to stay part of the advancing of the world’s processes and sectors. It is open to adopt technologies in order to meet the growing demands of the clients, which are evolving too. The computer technology plays a huge part in making the construction industry thrive in the modern world.
Computer Aided Design (CAD)
In the business perspective, architectural and engineering firms are constantly updating their methodologies and technologies in order to leverage their businesses in the market. The adoption of technology based tools can make a significant addition to the credibility of a business in giving solutions to their clients.
Computer aided design, or CAD, is a technology based tool used in designing and drafting technical drawings used in many industries like the construction and manufacturing industry. It is the automation of the traditional methods of design, which involves physical tools and equipment, and manual execution of drawings by hand. Computer aided design not only brings leverage to the business, but it also increases the user’s productivity and efficiency in the workplace.
As an engineer or an architect, you should have a strong sense of detail and visual awareness upon design conception. He/she also needs to have good drawing skills, either by manual or CAD tool based, and the ability to render your design in 3D. Many architects and engineers find that using CAD tools will help them to be better with their tasks, and have chosen to continue learning to maximize it with their respective lines of work.
Benefits of CAD Software
A CAD software is particularly useful for architects and engineers in turning their ideas in a visual form faster and more accurately. An engineering CAD tool also enables a flexible version of work, which is also scalable without compromising quality.
An engineering CAD software offers a lot of benefits which bring an optimized user experience out of the efficiency of using computer aided design methods. A CAD software is a suite of tools and features that allow the user to access everything he needs to execute high quality 2D and 3D designs.
- Collaborative designing
A CAD software allows the projects created to be stored centrally in a database. This permits multiple users to access it either locally or through the internet in order to initiate collaborative designing. Collaboration promotes insight sharing and better accountability in making sure that no detail is overlooked.
Collaborative work also improves the quality of the output in terms of design and accuracy. Sometimes, it helps that there are many users that can assume responsibility with the overall design, especially when dealing with big projects that is composed of different areas. Having a single software to use provide the consistency in executing designs, which is not only visually appealing, but multiple project parts can be integrated seamlessly.
- Absence of physical materials to execute drawing
An engineering CAD software is also a cost efficient design tool, which omits the use of the physical elements of executing a design like a large workspace, drawing tools, and paper.
Executing designs on paper require hard work and precision in handling tools, which require more time to do. In a CAD software, all the tools are already integrated and available to use in the program. No need to use rulers or other measuring devices, as measurements can be directly input for more accuracy.
For users who are more comfortable in using codes rather than freehand drawing, there is a portion in the CAD software where you can type in commands instead of dragging the pointer to produce lines and geometric shapes.
A printer or a plotter can be connected to the computer which prints the designs according to the same standards followed as with traditional drafting.
- Reduced storage space required
Working with electronic documents significantly reduce the need for a physical storage space to contain finished works, especially big blueprints that architects and engineers typically use. All CAD software drawings can be stored in the computer or in any electronic storage device for easy access and transfer to other terminals or devices. It can also be stored in the internet via the cloud.
- Corrections can be made easily
It is inevitable that designs undergo a series of revisions upon client’s requests or other subsequent changes from the original plans. Corrections and revisions can be executed better with less time and less use of resources when dealing with electronic versions of design drawings, which is what CAD users can benefit from.
An engineering CAD software can also introduce great savings, particularly when there is a need to make prototypes. It has the capability to turn two dimensional drawings into three dimensional version, which is as good as a tangible prototype. Viewers can easily rotate or scale 3D drawings to better inspect the design. Using a CAD software can let designers finalize the design first before printing or production.
- Repetitive parts can be saved and reused
A CAD software can enable users to make a basic version of parts or drawings, which can be easily stored and reused for other projects. Electronic drawings can be easily modified, and the saved parts can also be integrated with other drawings to form a new design as needed.
- Less time to execute a design idea
Architects and engineers may need to do several design versions to present their clients, and it can be time consuming to always do one from scratch. A CAD software also has a variety of tools for editing the textures and colors of their designs, so that clients can visualize the output, and help them decide better.
- Standardized layout
Using one computer aided design tool for your engineering or architectural firm can standardize the way layouts are executed, for an added touch of uniformity that translates to a more professional appeal to clients. This can also make filing and archiving more efficient to do, to aid searching drawings for later.
- Scalability features
Drawings done using a CAD tool can be easily scalable according to preference without sacrificing the quality of the printed design.
- CAD/CAM integration
In the earlier days, computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) are two isolated technologies. But since both are dealing with executing processes in the computer, efforts were made to integrate them with each other, resulting ina CAD/CAM integration. This makes a streamlined approach in the processes involved in manufacturing, which starts from design, application of part functions then to the automated manufacturing process.
- Ease of documentation
Documentation is an important aspect in technical design, which includes metric measurements used, scale, sub-assembly parts and processes, material specifications, bill of materials, etc.. All of these can be conveniently itemized and specified using the same software.
Computer aided designs are practical solutions for time and resource costly methods used in traditional drafting. Finding the best engineering CAD software is no easy feat, but by research and meetings with tool vendors can help you find the best solution to your unique needs.
Read these reviews of engineering CAD software to broaden your understanding about the wider benefits of integrating technologies with your job.
Jeev Trika
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