B3

Revit and AutoCAD are both drafting programs used by architects and engineers alike. However, their uses do vary. 

AutoCAD is a drafting program often used by architects. It is vastly useful for creating floor plans, sections, and elevations. However, it is best used for 2D renderings. While AutoCAD can be used for 3D renderings, it is slow and not the best use of the program. Engineering firms do still use AutoCAD. My second co-op was a residential structural engineering co-op, and all of our drawing were created in AutoCAD, and we were still creating new details in the program too. 

Revit is a 3D modeling program. It is useful for creating floor plans, sections and elevations. Revit can create sections automatically from a 3D rendering, as opposed to AutoCAD. In AutoCAD, the sections and elevations need to be hand drafted. I find that MEP engineering firms are beginning to lean more towards Revit. It is good for visualizing ductwork, for example. 

In my opinion, Revit combines the best portions of other drafting programs. Sketchup is useful for elevations. AutoCAD is useful for floor plans. Revit has a lot of powerful tools. It keeps tracking of added components, like doors, and can automatically create a door schedule. It makes sections very easy. It also helps visualize the 3D components of a building well, such as structural connections.  

Revit is not without flaw though. I find it has a steep learning curve, even for people who are technologically savvy. Terminology, such as families, can be confusing. Figuring out how to draw building aspects, like rooves, can also be confusing as it is not always like AutoCAD. However, learning Revit is worthwhile. It is nice to develop floor plans in AutoCAD then transition over to Revit to get a feel for the layout. Revit allows multiple engineering disciplines to come together on one model. Multiple people can work on the same file. Different layers can be turned on and off instead of creating entirely new drawings.  

Overall, Revit is a nice complement to the drafting programs already available to architects and engineers. I do not believe it should serve as a replacement, as other programs do provide functionality that Revit doesn’t. Sketchup is quick and simple. It allows a building to be placed anywhere in the world easily for rendering purposes. AutoCAD’s learning curve is not as steep and is useful for creating floor plans. Maybe one day the line between AutoCAD, Sketchup, and Revit will blur, but until then, Revit is a nice new addition to drafting programs. 

Jake: I agree that BIM is a huge time saver because of its parametric components. It's nice being able to widen the floor in the 2D view, and the 3D view automatically adjusts. This reduces the risk of an error being overlooked until the construction phase. 

Regarding file sharing, I have actually found it's not as advantageous as theorized. Different firms have different software versions. Generally speaking, newer files cannot be opened in older versions. However, if all firms use similar versions, it does work well. 

Michael: Everything you said about transitioning from CAD to BIM makes a lot of sense. It is definitely an expensive transition and sometimes not worth it to small companies, like you said. I’ve experienced smaller companies using older versions of AutoCAD for as long as possible, since upgrading every employee is expensive. This then creates file sharing issues when clients use 2020 and a firm used 2017. It’ll take a while before BIM becomes an industry standard, though I believe it is the way to go.  

Michael: The new uses for virtual reality you mentioned are fascinating. It would be incredible to see a complete building design in real life and walk through it. It would help identify issues with the design as well as aesthetically non-pleasing aspects of the design. This would revolutionize the industry. It would leave no room for guesswork or last-minute decisions, as everything could be visualized up front. I absolutely hope this becomes part of our field within our lifetimes. Of course, with everything, new problems would be created, but this solves a lot of issues, so it’s worth it.