| Use of 3-dimensional (3D) Computer-Aided Design | | | | between various parties involved in the project and the |
| (CAD) software has become essential in most design | | | | future owners. From the 3D model many more |
| professions, including engineering, architecture, | | | | detailed 2-dimensional (2D) drawings are produced for |
| construction and branches that deal with the built world | | | | specific aspects of the building (floor plans, electrical, |
| - past, present or future. CAD 3D modeling is also | | | | HVAC, etc). |
| frequently used in medicine, science and technology to | | | | There are also artistic renderings delivered to clients - |
| explain and visualize physical phenomena. 3D models | | | | photographs, photorealistic images and videos of the |
| depict the geometry and various aspects of physical | | | | construction site - and ample email and document |
| objects and are dynamically visualized with computer | | | | exchange between client, architects, contractors and |
| graphics. 3D CAD models are very complex and the | | | | other parties. While the 3D CAD models are of |
| storage formats are usually proprietary to a specific | | | | substantial importance, contextual files are often |
| software product. | | | | required to understand them correctly. For example, |
| In architecture domain, 3D CAD software is popularly | | | | client presentations help clarify an architect's design |
| becoming the design tool of choice. There are many | | | | goal as implemented by a model, so researchers |
| software vendors catering to the architecture, | | | | looking at the 3D model need the context of the |
| engineering and construction (AEC) industry, especially | | | | presentation to make sense of it. |
| AutoCAD, Revit and Microstation. 3D CAD models are | | | | 2D drawings generated by tools like AutoCAD present |
| increasingly used across all phases of building project | | | | many advantages since they are industry standards |
| life cycle management. The modern AEC industry has | | | | (DWG, DXF formats) and can be easily converted into |
| defined "Building Information Model" as a standard way | | | | other standard 2D formats such as PDF or JPG. For |
| to model building in 3D. BIM consists of 3D CAD model | | | | places in which 2D CAD is the best illustration of the |
| plus important properties of the model (e.g., attributes | | | | object, standard formats and 3D CAD model |
| and materials) to facilitate better communication | | | | strategies can reasonably be applied. |