The Evolution of Information Management
Manual drafting is the practice of creating drawings by hand. Manual drafting techniques have traditionally enabled the planning and communication of design ideas and construction information.
As a very diverse range of information may need to be communicated, there is a similarly wide range of drawing types.
Traditional draughting relies heavily on 100% paper-based information exchanges, so drawings were very slow to produce.
Hard copies are generally stored in one location, which means information can easily be lost or damaged, which makes it difficult to, manage, re-use and update.
Managing traditional draughting information meant it was unsearchable and heavily reliant on manual filing systems.
Welcome to the world of computer-aided design, or CAD (pronounced cad) for short. We’ll focus on 2D CAD, software that allows users to create, edit, and analyse two-dimensional technical drawings.
2D CAD is often used by architects, engineers, and designers to create detailed floor plans, electrical schematics, mechanical layouts, and architectural blueprints. These drawings are used for various purposes, including construction, manufacturing, and engineering.
The software provides various tools for creating and editing technical drawings. You can use it to create and edit geometric shapes like lines, circles, and polygons. You can also use it to annotate and dimension your drawings. And you can use it to create and edit text and symbols.
It also typically provides snap-to-grid and snap-to-point tools, which make it easy to create accurate and precise drawings. And you can work on different layers, which allow you to separate the different elements of your drawing and work on them individually.
Popular examples of 2D CAD software include AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, and SketchUp. With the help of 2D CAD, professionals and amateurs alike can create high-quality technical drawings and make their designs a reality.
3D CAD is also a type of software that allows users to create, edit, and analyse three-dimensional models of objects.
3D CAD is widely used in architecture, engineering, and product design fields. It allows professionals to create detailed and precise models of buildings, mechanical parts, and consumer products.
The software provides a wide range of tools for creating and editing 3D shapes, including tools for extruding, revolving, and lofting surfaces and for sculpting and editing vertex and polygon meshes. You can also apply different materials and lighting to your models and create realistic renderings and animations of the final product.
Additionally, the software usually includes advanced tools for measuring and analysing the physical properties of the model, such as weight, volume, stress analysis, and others. It also enables simulations and testing, allowing you to simulate the performance of an object under different conditions, such as strength, durability, and thermal analysis.
Popular examples of 3D CAD software include SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor, and Siemens NX (pronounced NX). 3D CAD is an essential tool for professionals working in a wide range of fields and can be used to create everything from simple designs to highly complex and detailed models. The ability to create, edit and analyse 3D models is a powerful tool to bring any design to life.
Typically, CAD software is used to design an object in 3D, create 2D schematics of that object for manufacturing, and then make edits to the design.
While 3D modelling is mainly used for artistic and entertainment industries and BIM (pronounced bim) is specifically designed for buildings and infrastructure, CAD can be used in almost any industry.
Traditional draughting relies heavily on 100% paper-based information exchanges so that drawings could have been produced faster.
Hard copies are generally stored in one location, which means information can easily be lost or damaged, which makes it difficult to, manage, re-use and update.
Managing traditional draughting information meant it was unsearchable and heavily reliant on manual filing systems.
What is parametric modelling, and how does it relate to BIM?
Parametric modelling is creating a mathematical representation of a system or process using a set of parameters. In BIM, parametric modelling allows for the creation of intelligent objects that contain geometric and non-geometric data, like schedules and fabrication models.
These intelligent objects can be used as a base for generating shop drawings, fabrication models and schedules. Also, it allows users to define relationships between components in the building model so that changes made to one component automatically update other related components.
Using parametric models in BIM can improve the efficiency and accuracy of building design, construction, and maintenance. By using parametric models, designers can quickly and easily test different design options and make changes to the building model without having to rebuild it from scratch.
An asset is anything that adds value by supporting business objectives. This can include physical assets, such as roads, bridges, buildings, and rail networks, and virtual assets, such as information. In the built environment, physical assets are often referred to simply as “assets,” while virtual assets are called “information models.”
Understanding the relationship between physical and virtual assets and how they work together to support business objectives is essential.
The receiver and provider of information have specific needs and require time and knowledge. They need data for various purposes at all stages of an asset’s life, such as answering questions about the asset, its location and ensuring compliance with legal and safety regulations and that the asset meets the project brief.
Once the need for data has been established, the receiver and provider must work together to establish when data needs to be exchanged. This can include a fixed date, milestones, frequency, or a trigger event like a maintenance event.
Determining when the receiver and provider can work together to establish how the data needs to be exchanged includes determining the format, structure, naming, and how the data will be exchanged.
Finally, the receiver and provider must identify the minimum amount of data needed to satisfy each purpose and opportunity and for reuse in other capacities. They must determine what non-graphical, graphical, and documents are needed and ensure they have them.