Autocad Architecture and Revit Whats the difference?

[Sketchrender]

I am actually trying to decide what software to plan for in relation to inputting GPS coordinates, ie easting and northings and heights for EIS work?

 

What do people in the business use?

 

thanks

 

phil

[Fernando Lino]

AutoCAD Architecture(AKA Architectural desktop), which is a hybrid between regular Autocad & Revit...Revit is pretty straight forward software, easy to use but I think you need something different, AutoCAD Civil 3d may work for GPS and EIS work.

[dande]

I use both. Revit is a BIM (building information modeling product). AutoCAD Architecture is basically a customised version of AutoCAD.

 

Both are very powerful. AutoCAD Architecture I find more flexible as you have all the surface, mesh and solid commands of AutoCAD

 

Revit is more strict, you have to do things correctly construction wise as you are building not just a 3D model but also a model that enabales you to do coordination of the job and a lot more. To build additional content it can sometimes take a bit longer because everything has to be fully parametric.

 

If I am doing a 3D to take into MAX and if it does have a BIM requirement I use AutoCAD Architecture. I find it quicker. That's probably because I have been using AutoCAD for longer and I find it more flexible. Both are very good packages, but it depends on what you are doing. (That is my opinion before the Revit only brigade start attacking me).

 

But if you just want to take Northing, Eastings and z coordinates into a model you can just use AutoCAD. Once you have the points in AutoCAD you can join them up with 3D polylines to create contours. You can then loft between them to create a surface. If you search the web you will probably find a lisp routine that will take in the points and draw the contours for you.

 

3D Civil will also do it for you. But it is a full highway and road design package and a very good one at that. If you don't have a need to do Road and Highway design regularly you don't need to buy the package.

 

The surveyor may be able to supply 3D contours in AutoCAD format for you. A lot of Surveyors who use GPS have the software to do create contours. The first thing I would do is check with the surveyor and see if he can supply you an AutoCAD drawing with 3D contours.

 

If you need any more help on this let me know. You can post here or send me an e-mail.