FOUR SOFTWARE THAT CIVIL ENGINEERS SHOULD KNOW
1. AUTOCAD
What does AutoCAD stand for?
AutoCAD stands for Computer Aided Design. This software is owned by AutoDesk and it is used for designing and drafting of components. It allows a user to conceptualize ideas, product designs and drawings to the required level of technical accuracy, perform rapid design calculations and simulations in the field of manufacturing industries.
What do you use AutoCAD for?
AutoCAD can be used to create civil, mechanical, electrical and architectural drawings, drafting and modelling.
Applications
Auto cad applications are not limited to the following:
• Aerospace industries.
• Automotive industries.
• Electrical and electronics industries.
• Rail and marine industries.
• Civil industries.
• Mechanical industries.
What are the benefits of using AutoCAD?
Benefits associated to AutoCad software are limitless, as it allows users the ease of automating process, reducing manual work inputs, increasing efficiency and output through server base DWG technologies that allows for team work.
Benefits of using AUTOCAD:
• It has the ability to produce very accurate design drawings.
• Drawings can be created in 2D or 3D and rotated.
• Other computer programs can be linked to the design software.
• AutoCAD as an architectural planning tool: It enables architects to design, plan, execute and analyze the strength of a building, at design stage level.
• AutoCAD as an engineering drafting tool: It helps engineers to design, analyze and solve design issues resulting in accurate designs.
• In 3D printing: A 3D print has its own advantages for designers and for this software helps them. The designs can be exported to various preferred formats.
• AutoCAD in the fashion industry: It has the tools necessary for planning designs for the manufacture of jewelry, toys and other delicate objects.
• AutoCAD as industrial design tool: It helps to reduce manufacturing costs as it saves time and efforts required for manual designing.
How is AutoCAD used?
It’s a 2-D and 3-D computer-aided drafting software application for architecture, construction, and manufacturing to guide making blueprints for engineering plans.
Training Programs
This CAD and computer-aided designing can be found in many institutions for skill updating with certification and degree programs in AutoCAD, they give training to students to have hands-on usage of software for industrial drafting and assembling with certification. See our training section as we are one such training institute.
2. CAD RC
Introduction
Running CADS RC in AutoCAD has been the market leading reinforced concrete detailing software in the UK and around the world for more than 20 years. CADS RC’s has recorded successes due to its advanced detailing features and technical excellence. These features include integration with different design and fabrication software. The automatic bar bending schedule is updated in real time which means errors are eliminated and time is saved. CADS RC can detail anything and has been successfully used on all sorts of building, transportation, water, process and power projects including precast concrete elements.
Key Features
AutoCAD
CADS RC builds on AutoCAD, the industry standard CAD platform. It fully exploits the stable 2D drawing environment of AutoCAD, tailoring a solution for rebar detailing and bar bending scheduling that meets the stringent requirements of the industry. As an integrated AutoCAD application, CADS RC adds functionality and toolbars to your AutoCAD system and is supported by quality user manuals and training.
If you are a CAD Manager you will find it easy to recruit trained and experienced technicians for such an industry standard solution, whilst the level of support, advice and expertise available through our help desk will impress all users.
Global codes
CADS RC is a global player in the truest sense of the word. Since the original software was launched as CADS RC in the UK over 20 years ago, further versions for North America, India and South Africa have been released. High quality output, stability, integration and flexibility have seen the adoption of CADS RC across diverse worldwide markets. CADS RC is often the default choice for many international and prestige projects, the software having earned its’ reliability and consistency credentials.
Quality
CADS RC maintains a reinforcement database that always reflects exactly what is on the drawing. In addition, all new bars and changes are instantly added to the bar bending schedule which means that checking is reduced and errors virtually eliminated. Additional audit commands detect incomplete or unlabelled bars and ensure compliance with the configured detailing standard. CADS RC drawings require less manual checking, thus scheduling errors are virtually a thing of the past!
Savings
Rebar detailing can be a slow manual process, with no certainty as to the accuracy or consistency of the eventual drawing output. Scrap and wastage due to inaccurate reinforcement drawings, mistakes in Bar Bending Schedules (BBS) and unutilized off-cuts costs the construction industry. Reinforcement detailing and bar listing has never been easier. CADS RC helps you accomplish this faster and more accurately than manual methods by creating drawings whilst automating the preparation of BBS.
3. Staad pro
This is a structural design and analysis tool developed by Research Engineers which was later acquired by Bentley Systems, a CAD/CAM software company based in Pennsylvania. STAAD Pro is considered as the best structural analysis software and adopted by over a million structural engineers around the globe. It features ease of use and an array of essential tools required for accomplishing an analytical process on different structures.
STAAD Pro further integrates with a number of other Bentley products. The models created using STAAD Pro can be imported to OpenSTAAD so as to make the models transferrable to other third-party tools. See our training section
4. Orion
Orion Structural Software is very good for multi-storey building design as floors are repetitive and modelling of one floor can be repeated to many storey. Imagine the speed of modelling, loadings, analysis and designs for such repetitive structures, and most importantly, for output of Drawings, Building Quantities and Costs.
This software is ideal for those involved extensively in the design of reinforced Concrete Building Structures. It has 2D/3D modelling environment from which automatic analysis, design and drafting is provided for the engineer.
Orion is perfect for any size concrete building project and caters for a wide range of concrete structural systems. The design engineer will input everything into the software from modelling to loadings, analysis, codes used, and output drawing requirements.
Multiple tender schemes can be assessed in a fraction of the time taken by conventional software. Once the project is secure, detailed design and drafting time is dramatically reduced. Project changes are handled automatically by simply amending the central model or loading. Orion updates the rest, enabling your company to provide a responsive service to demanding clients.
Detailed calculations, material quantities, structural layout plans, beam and slab elevations and column schedules are all produced automatically from one central model.
Cons - the software is pricy and thus not many Firms will have it. The learning curve is steep, and unless you do it every day, and guided by experienced user, you would not easily remember how to do it the next time around. Only handle reinforced concrete structures, does not do steel members. In the hands of inexperienced or junior engineers can poise dangers as with all integrated software.
Pros - a good software for the experienced structural engineer in reinforced concrete as you can model everything on one platform, even complex structures. Fast, accurate and efficient software. Even automate drawings output will save on drafting costs. Basically a one-man software.
Our Recommendations - Orion Structural Software is recommended for very experienced Structural Engineers specialised in Reinforced Concrete Buildings and Structures. Recommended to buy for personal use so you can obtain full technical support from the software vendor CSC (UK) Ltd, which also produce a suite of related softwares, TEEDS, FASTRAK, BREVe3, S-FRAME.
See our training section for trianings.