Writing 3. semesters "bachelor" project, please take 1 minute.

[FrankN]

Hello, my name is Frank, i'm studying as an Architectural Constructor in Denmark. I'm writing my 3. semester "bachelor" project.

 

I'm writing about how, and which cad-applications to use in both smaller and bigger architectural firms. Therefore i would love to hear your input.

 

What software do you use for moddeling (revit, archicad, 3d-max) especially for construction details, but also models for rendering, and what do you use for rendering?

 

If anyone could take their time to write how these application became a part of their personal, or the firms natural workflow, and what problems/advantages they gave, this would be REALLY appreciated. (if you don't want to post it on the forums, please write me a PM)

 

 

Thanks a lot for your time, i'ts a great help for my project!

-Frank

[vizfx]

Hi

You need to do a lot of research just to scratch the subject.

The choices are quite obvious for a bigger company

http://www.cgarchitect.com/vb/polls/poll-6-a.html

the providing leader is Autodesk (Autocad, Revit, 3DS Max, Maya, etc.).

The options don`t stop here with only expensive software so for a smaller company, beginners, or freelancers the choices are: Google Sketchup (which has even a free version), Blender, FreeCad, Archimedes, Hycad, etc.

http://yorik.orgfree.com/index.html (see “open source corner”)

Best regards.

Mihai

[BillyElNino]

In my previous firm AutoCAD LT was the base program used by all the technicians to put together the construction drawing packages in 2D. Google SketchUp was used at the conceptual and massing stages of a project by Architects and Architectural Assistants. Any photo real images or animations were produced using 3D Studio Max and VRay by a separate in-house 3D team utilising the information produced in other stages if the design process. I would assume this is quite common practice although in 'super practices' the CAD can be much more integrated, sometimes using Building Information Management packages... How widespread their use is, I don't know.

[Horhe]

In your case, 3D surveys would come in really handy. Search CGA for them.

[AJLynn]

How do people on this forum come up with such boring paper topics?

[FrankN]

I might have asked in a wrong way.

 

I already have experience, and know a lot about different applications plus how they work and what they're capable off.

 

My intention with this post is not to learn about different applications, but to find out what software (to find the best workflow) is used in other countries (that's why i didn't post this on a danish board), and how far the building industry in general is in these respective countries when it comes to Archviz and 3D modelling. I want to compare this with Denmark.

 

Thanks for the help so far vizfx, BillyElNino and Horhe.

[vizfx]

More about the open source world and free software …

As you can see on Yorik`s page the preferred pipeline for him and for many others who cannot afford expensive packages is FreeCad for cad specific work and Blender for extensive modeling, texturing, animation and rendering. There is even a comparison between some free rendering engines (speed/benefits) http://yorik.orgfree.com/tutorials/blender-renderers.html. Kerkythea renderer (the best on Yorik`s tests) can be integrated with 3DS Max, Gmax (the limited version of 3DS Max is available on http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax), Blender, Sketchup.

There are even specialized communities on architecture based on Open Source:

- http://www.blender3darchitect.com/

- http://blender-archi.tuxfamily.org/Main_Page

- and let`s not forget the Sketchup community which is quite huge: forums, support groups, warehouse, blogs, case studies and so on.

About the flexibility:

- the access to collada, fbx, dxf and many other type of files offers the possibility for a bigger pipeline which can be connected with some big names in the field.

- example for a connection between the free version of Sketchup and Blender http://alexvaqp.googlepages.com/sketchupblender