04-08-2012, 04:37 PM
CAD APPLICATION IN ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE: THE THREAT AHEAD
ARC 624 CAD.docx (Size: 21.26 KB / Downloads: 23)
ABSTRACT
The world of Architecture today is greatly influenced by information technology, as virtual reality and electronic technologies has moved Architecture from the traditional drawing board to the use of CAD application packages which include CorelDraw for art work, others include Archicad, Autocad, Autodesk 3d studio max, Autodesk Revit, 3d Home Architect, TurboCAD, Accurender (rendering package), and Micro-GDS, Architectural desktop among others are used for architectural and engineering drawings. This transition has resulted into a decline if not a total neglect in the manual drafting of architectural drawings except for the school of architecture in Nigeria. This resultant influence consequently, paralyses the individual graphic uniqueness and flexibilities in practice. This paper, therefore is aimed at providing answer to these two principal questions: What are the advantages of Computer aided design (CAD) over Manual drafting? , Are these advantages a threat indeed? .
INTRODUCTION
Computer aided design (CAD) drafting is the application of computers in the design of components used in the production of engineering and architectural drawings. The introduction of microprocessors and computer combinations has made possible the development of computer-aided design (CAD) technology. With the use of these systems a designer draws a part and indicates its dimensions with the aid of a special light pen on a televisionlike cathode-ray tube computer display screen.
Engineers and Architects used CAD to create two- and three-dimensional drawings, such as those for automobile and airplane parts, floor plans, and maps. While it may be faster for an engineer and architect to create an initial drawing by hand, it is much more efficient to change and distribute drawings by computer. In the design stage, drafting and computer graphics techniques are combined to produce models of objects.
HISTORY OF CAD
American Ivan Sutherland invented CAD in 1963. He described a computerised SKETCHPAD in a doctoral thesis while attending the Massachusetts Institute of technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He designed CAD to replace the traditional drafting board and other tools drafters used. These include the ink pen, plastic stencil, and electric eraser. The main feature of SKETCHPAD was that it allowed the designer to work with the program by drawing on the monitor with a light pen. This was essentially the first GUI (Graphical User Interface) and is the most important feature of CAD.
These CAD programs were only capable of creating 2D drawings similar to the hand-drafted drawings of the time. The programs quickly evolved over the years as computer processing speed and power and graphics capabilities increased. In the 1980’s the next major step toward modern CAD was achieved with the advent of the ability to do 3D solid modelling.
In 1981 two solid modelling packages were released- Romulus by (ShapeData) and Uni-Solid by (Unigraphics). In 1982 John Walker founded Autodesk which developed one of the most famous 2D CAD programs, AutoCAD.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Architectural draughtsmanship has under gone series of metamorphoses in its evolutionary trend. This change from mere verbal explanations and gesticulations to graphical representations through free hand sketches and later to the use of mechanical aids such as rulers, squares, and drawing boards. These mechanical aids also transformed from rigid wooden drawing tables to the adjustable type and consequently to the more prestigious hydraulically controlled ones. All these transformations are to make the task of architectural draughtsmanship easier and more comfortable. Despite these trends, the wearisome nature of manual drafting is a problem that has been dealt with through the use of CAD. This invention will sooner than later cause the job of a professional Architect to be threatened.
COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN (CAD) PROWESS
According to Oruwari and Tonye, (2001). As CADs are being introduced... it is expected that by next two decades, manual design and drafting will only be a basic knowledge of the students in the professions while in the construction industry, the use of computer will surpass manual design and drafting as it is better faster and smatter... In the same vein, Solanke (2001) writes... Architectural curriculum change planner must harness all change effective forces in order to take the right decision. Technological advances in term of new construction technology and computer aided design (CAD) must be taken into consideration...
One of the major advantages and one of the biggest payoffs of CAD drafting today, is the reduction in design time and therefore the amount of money it can save on a project. In manufacturing, CAD drafting helps keep design costs down which translates into cost savings for the consumer. Other benefits include communication and management.
CONCLUSION
This paper has shown the origin, evolution, types of CAD technologies that have revolutionized the dynamic process of design. The advantages are outrageous. This use of CAD encourages other allied professionals like the town planners, builders, estate surveyors, land surveyor, quantity surveyors who were thought the rudiment of architectural designs while in school, to use it to carry out illegal designs. This act poses a threat to the profession of architecture because the advantages listed above are systematic in the operation of CAD and hence reduces the numbers of job to be done by professional Architect.