Computer aided design CAD

[edit] Introduction

The term computer aided design (CAD) refers to the use of computers to create graphical representations of physical objects to assist in the design process. It can also refer to the use of computers to prepare presentational images or to prepare production information enabling objects to be manufactured, although sometimes this is referred to as computer aided drafting as it does not necessarily involve designing. In combination, these processes may be referred to as computer-aided design and drafting (CADD).

CAD can be used to create 2D or 3D representations, and can also be used to generate animations and other presentational material. It may allow the addition of supplementary information such as dimensions, descriptions of components, references to specifications and so on.

Specialist CAD software is available for specific purposes, and a wide range of software applications have been developed for use in the design and construction of built assists such as buildings.

[edit] Benefits of CAD

CAD can be used to help:

• Improve the speed of production.
• Improve the quality of drawn information.
• Reduce development costs.
• Generate visualisations during the design process to help decision making.
• Improve accuracy.
• Reduce errors.
• Enable changes to be made more easily and so facilitate the consideration of a wider range of options.
• Allow drawings to be generated at a wide range of scales, and with the addition of accurate information such as dimensions.
• Allow easy re-use of information.

[edit] Computer aided manufacturing

The combination of computer aided draughting and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) has allowed computer numerical control (CNC) of highly-automated end-to-end component design and manufacture. Computers can produce files that translate design information into commands to operate machines, singularly or collectively, to perform pre-set sequences of tasks in the production of building components.

See Computer aided manufacturing for more information.

More recently, the range of possibilities has been increased further by the introduction of economically viable 3D printing.

[edit] BIM

The introduction of building information modelling (BIM) allows further reduction of errors and improvement to the quality of information and can enable the automatic generation of quantities, cost estimates, ordering and tracking information.

BIM is a very broad term that describes the process of creating and managing a digital model of a building or other facility (such as a bridge, highway, tunnel, and so on), which includes:

• Level 0: Unmanaged CAD.
• Level 1: Managed CAD in 2D or 3D.
• Level 2: Managed 3D environment with data attached, but created in separate discipline models.
• Level 3: Single, online, project model with construction sequencing, cost and lifecycle management information.

See Building information modelling for more information.

[edit] Neural CAD

It is thought that the term neural CAD was first used (in relation to a specific commercial application) by Autodesk during their Autodesk university event in September 2025, in particular Mike Haley, leader of the machine intelligence group at Autodesk Research. Neural CAD refers to a new category of generative AI foundation models which are designed to directly reason with and create CAD geometry through prompts Autodesk defines this as where AI models are trained to understand and generate editable Boundary Representations (BREP) geometry, which are ready to edit parametric models rather than static forms, from text prompts. This work moves beyond simple Large Language Model (LLM) integration into completely new CAD engines, where by initial base models can be created from prompts such as 'design a 5 storey building' whereby the creation is an editable 3D CAD model as opposed to a 3D form or image. see AU 2025 The Design & Make Conference

See also Key AI related terms to be aware of, with UK government explanations

[edit] Common standards and collaborative practices

Particularly important to the effective use of CAD is the ability to share and re-use information, and this requires the disciplined application of agreed standards of drawing preparation across project teams. This means that the effective use of CAD is as much about collaborative practices as it is about software.

Project standards can be formalised as standard methods and procedures (SMP's) which should be agreed as early in the project as possible and should describe how information is structured, how it will be produced and how it will be managed and exchanged.

The SMP might include agreed standards and procedures for:

• Software.
• Layering.
• Zoning.
• Co-ordination
• Origin.
• Orientation.
• Fonts, line types and weights.
• Dimensions, abbreviations and symbols.
• File structure and file naming.
• Standard templates (for example, drawing titles).
• Page sizes and scales.
• Permissions and change control procedures.

The great variety in the extent to which CAD and building information modelling can be used on a project means that it is important to clearly define what is expected and to set this out in tender documents and appointment documents.

[edit] Software

According to the NBS National BIM Report 2015, the most popular drawing tools are:

• Nemetschek Vectorworks 29%
• Autodesk Revit (Architecture/Structures/MEP) 25%
• Autodesk AutoCAD 15%
• Autodesk AutoCAD LT 13%
• Graphisoft ArchiCAD 8%
• Other 7%
• Bentley Microstation 3%
• Bentley Building Suite (Architecture /Mechanical/Electrical/Structural) 1%
• Trimble Sketchup (formerly Google Sketchup) 1%
• Nemetschek Allplan 0%

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Building information modelling.
• CAD layer.
• Computer-generated imagery (CGI).
• Construction Operations Building Information Exchange.
• Computer aided manufacturing.
• Computer numerical control.
• Computers in building design.
• Construction drawing.
• Digital model.
• Elevations.
• Floor plan designing software.
• Information and communications technology.
• General design theory GDT.
• Generative design.
• Geographic information systems.
• How technology can support social distancing.
• Layer.
• Manual drafting techniques.
• Parametricism.
• Rapid prototyping.
• Revit.
• Techniques for drawing buildings.
• Types of drawing.
• Visualisation.

[edit] External references

• BS 1192 Part 5: 1998: 'Construction drawing practice'.
• ISO 13567: 'Technical product documentation: Organisation and naming of layers for CAD', 'Part 1: Overview and principles' and 'Part 2: Concepts, format and codes used in construction documentation'.

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