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AEC From the Ground Up--Software Strategy: CAD Options for AEC
1 Feb, 2005 By: AIA ,H. Edward GoldbergLow-cost software targets residential design.
Last month's column (http://aec.cadalyst.com/105 aec.htm) discussed the major BIM (building information modeling) software packages in the AEC arena. This month we focus on a range of other CAD products for AEC design. Many of these products have the advantages of lower prices and less complexity, which makes them easier to learn and to operate.
After twenty-plus years of use, all CAD products for the AEC industry have matured. Today, creditable residential CAD products selling for less than $200 and capable of creating 3D views and construction documents are found at the local computer store. For the design professional or builder who needs a tool for smaller commercial projects or residential work, several excellent packages are available at good price points. Among these are Chief Architect, SoftPlan, ArchT, IntelliCAD, DataCAD, ArrisCAD and AutoCAD LT. All these Windows-based products have a long history of successful use in the AEC industry, and with the exception of AutoCAD LT, are capable of creating rendered 3D views. Macintosh fans will want to check out the soon-to-be-released VersaCAD 2005 for OS X.
Each product is aimed at a distinctive market niche. SoftPlan and Chief Architect target the residential market, although they can be used for light commercial. ArrisCAD and DataCAD are full-fledged CAD programs for residential and commercial buildings of all sizes.
Autodsys IntelliCAD, ArchT for AutoCAD and IntelliCAD
www.autodsys.comArchT ($799) is an architectural software package for IntelliCAD that also works with AutoCAD 2000-2005 and all platforms based on those versions, including Architectural Desktop, Building Systems and Map. An add-on product, ArchT provides AEC-specific functionality such as 2D production drafting utilities, style-based design features and customizable records. It also provides dynamic block and layer control and 3D modeling tools.
ArchT allows designers to work in 2D or 3D, and rendering materials may be preassigned to objects so that once a model is built it can be easily rendered in IntelliCAD, AutoCAD or AccuRender. ArchT comes with more than 7,000 2D and 3D blocks that are ready for rendering. Styles allow the user to create libraries of unique walls, doors, windows and other building objects that may be used over and over again. Changing a style changes all objects that use that style. Reporting features can generate custom schedules of any objects in the model. Door schedules, window schedules, finish schedules and area usage reports can be produced, and data can be attached to any object to create custom reports with user-defined formulas. Keynoting is also a standard feature. ArchT includes walls that automatically clean up the intersections or break when a door or window is inserted. Time-saving routines handle column grids, area bubbles, parking stalls and managing multilevel designs.
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About the Author: H. Edward Goldberg
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