B3- Laura Hill

Today, there are various building design software’s to choose from. Typically, we hear about AutoCAD and Revit as the main platforms for todays building modeling. Both of which are great tools for different reasons.

Starting with AutoCAD, the program was originally designed with the intention of helping with manufacturing and mechanical design. With AutoCAD, you typically design in detailed 2D, however the most recent AutoCAD software includes 3D design tools. AutoCAD has become the go to for many firms worldwide, despite its minor complexities in use. AutoCAD is used to create blueprints and floor plans, but has also become a tool for graphic designers, engineers, and project managers. Its format is easily read and understood across the board, however, learning to understand the tools of the program takes time.

This is where Revit comes in as a helpful tool. Revit was designed to simplify the design process, specifically for Architects. Revit allowed for 2D and 3D design from the start, and therefore has managed to perfect these tools. Revit has also recently brought in a 4D aspect, which AutoCAD has not. Revit not only allows you to design and annotate in 3D and 2D drawing, but it allows you to access the building parts and information from a large database. Meaning, if there are features (i.e. furniture, parts, mechanical elements) that you want to add to the building design, you can find those things through the Revit database, look up information on them, and add them to your model. Revit also makes it easy to create drawing sets with the built in sheets tool. Finally, Revit allows you to easily create a building using scaled floors, walls, windows, and roofs, all in the same file, rather than having to create separate drawings for each element and manually scaling.

Google Sketchup is another very easy to use tool for 3D modeling. Google Sketchup is probably the easiest 3D modeling software to learn, and creates some of the most visually appealing designs because of its many components and tools. Google Sketchup is also free software; therefore it was most likely created to reach more of a variety of users as compared to AutoCAD and Revit. Going back to AutoCAD, this software does excel in its capability to transfer into other software. For example, it is relatively easy to take a dwg from CAD and place it into a program like Google Sketchup and build your 3D model from there. You can do the same with a Revit 2D drawing, however, with the 3D capability of Revit being so easily accessible, it doesn’t make much sense to do so.

Google Sketchup is a great tool for quickly creating 3D models without the technicality. However, when it comes to technical building design and models, AutoCAD and Revit are definitely the better options. Although many firms will continue to stay set on AutoCad as the go-to BIM software, I believe Revit proves to be more advanced and overall beneficial to Architectural design and Engineering.

http://www.architecturalevangelist.com/building-information-modeling/revitology-the-evolution-of-revit-over-autocad.html

Comments

Allison Lock:

I also decided to compare Google Sketchup with AutoCad and Revit. I like how you emphasized that Sketchup works well for general shapes. A lot of our information was similar, for example, the fact the AutoCAD is commonly used in the industry right now, and the aspect of Revit that deals with the simplicity of the floor, wall, roof, and ceiling constructions. Overall, I like the way you set up your post. It was easy to read and understand the differences that you pointed out between all three tools.

Adrian Kuzniarowicz:

I like how you started out your post with a brief history of the two products you are comparing. For example, specifically pointing out the AutoCAD was created before Revit gives the audience a good backstory of the products. Moving forward with your post, you continued to add specific dates and details of each of the two BIM tools, which made it very easy to read and understand the difference in uses between them. I agree with you that Revit is extremely valuable as compared to other software on the market today.