Boards to BIM

Let’s go back to 1990.

About 90% of architectural and engineering firms in India used drafting boards for drafting and only 10% used CAD applications like AutoCAD.

Today at 2010,

About 90% of architectural and engineering firms in India use CAD applications (like AutoCAD) and only 10% use BIM based applications (like REVIT).

This indicates that a new revolution is on the way. Can REVIT really replace AUTOCAD? Many say “YES”, many say “NO”. 

Let’s ask these 3 questions before we form our own conclusions.

1. What is so special about REVIT? 

REVIT uses a technology called “BIM – Building Information Modelling”. Due to this technology, while you draw a plan of a building, it makes elevations, sections, 3D views and schedules automatically; saving you time, money and energy. 

BIM software thinks the way you think of the design and this is what makes it different from CAD application, giving you more time to design rather than draft.

2. Why should I spend my time, money & energy in migrating from AutoCAD to REVIT  when AutoCAD can do all the work that I need in the office? 

Of course, AutoCAD is a powerful drafting software, which is why it has been used worldwide so intensively. But if, going one step forward can double the productivity in your office with less overhead and infrastructure cost, then it surely needs a second thought.

It is true that most firms assume that if they implement a BIM solution, they’ll experience productivity losses during the transition period. Indeed, a Revit implementation, web survey conducted by Autodesk cited an average productivity loss of 25-50% during the initial training period on Revit. But the reality is that these initial productivity losses get quickly wiped away by productivity gains. 

For Example: Following is the table, comparing productivity between CAD tools and BIM tools during different stages of the design process.

  

Task	CAD (hours)	BIM (hours)	Hours saved	Time savings
Schematic design	190	90	100	53%
Design development	436	220	216	50%
Construction documents	1023	815	208	20%
Checking and coordination	175	16	159	91%
Totals:	1,824	1,141	683

The above findings are based on experiments carried out by Lott+Barber architects from Georgia who compared the time spent on different stages of the design process for two projects of similar size and scope.

3. What are the disadvantages of REVIT?

Revit is more powerful and advance than our current drafting software. But as it is a new software, it is continually under development. There are still many tools which need to be incorporated and developed for better productivity. But with each new version launched in the market, we see new heights being achieved. 

This is the age where we need to give quality, economy and speed – all together. 

REVIT is the technology of tomorrow. Sooner or Later the equations will change and we will have more professionals and firms working with REVIT than CAD. 

Let’s pace up and be more productive with our drafting and designing tools. 

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* AUTOCAD® , AUTODESK®, REVIT®, 3dsMax® are registered trademarks of Autodesk Inc. and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other trademarks, brand names or product names belong to their respective holders.