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Why Convert CAD or Hand Sketches to Revit?

Written by Michael Tobias | 11/23/18 4:48 PM

Revit has proven to be the most convenient, efficient and multifunctional software application that MEP Engineers, Architects and other building professionals rely on for their high-definition designs. But, learning how to use Revit comes at an expense of your valuable time while developers seldom have time or the aptitude to go a steeper route of learning the IT skills embedded in Revit. However, if you are well rounded in hand sketches and computer-aided drawing (CAD), Revit provides you a better way to convert them to its platform.

One may ask that why convert hand sketches or CAD drawings into Revit instead of using them for the duration of construction. Well, Revit has a competitive edge over hand sketches and CAD designs in providing multiple tools that let you modify the designs intelligently. Most importantly, Revit supports Building Information Modeling (BMI) workflows. We shall go through the features and the benefits of using Revit compared to hand sketches and CAD drawings.

Want to convert CAD or Hand Sketches to Revit?

What is Revit?

Revit is a software application designed by Autodesk to take architectural designs and documentation to new heights by providing tools that support BIM workflows. The software was tailored for a variety of building professionals, MEP Engineers and architects. BIM technology transforms the way building infrastructure is designed and operated. In simple terms, BIM is a 3D model-based process that provides intelligent tools to building professionals so they can efficiently plan, design, construct and operate buildings. Building process has never been this easy before despite the expertise of architectures to sketch drawings or to use CAD. BIM and Revit software application optimize decision-making and collaboration in the building industry.

Compared with CAD, BIM helps Revit to make use of dynamic info in intelligent models thus making complex building infrastructures to be documented and designed in not time. Because constructions are always on schedules, Revit expedites the design process so that the construction can be commenced quickly. The 3D model created and stored on a Revit platform represents the whole project and changes can be made with ease my automatically transmitting changes in one side to the other side. This can seem all technical to you if you have never been exposed to this software hence the need to work with professionals who are well-versed in handling the software.

Benefits of using Revit over CAD or Hand Sketches

There are plenty of benefits for using Revit than CAD or hand sketches. Building professionals can maximize productivity, streamline the designs, and handle documentation workflow efficiently with Revit. This software platform expedites the projects from concept to completion. In a nutshell, there is a plethora of tools that Revit offers and they include Autodesk 360 Integration, Construction Modeling, Physical Materials for Building Performance Analysis, Parametric Options, Worksharing, and others.

Key features of Revit:

Design options: Revit helps you model buildings, simulate and analyze the structures efficiently, and also helps you generate documentation workflow. Moreover, you can iterate designs.

Collaborate with others: Although you can collaborate with others using hand sketches and CAD drawings, the process becomes very tedious and you might have to spend more time waiting for the respond from others. With Revit, on the other hand, you collaborate instantly with other stakeholders in the project. It gives you the tool to share the models where everyone can access them.

Visualization: Revit lets you create high-definition 3D designs that are crystal clear to other team members or project owners. It becomes easy to communicate your ideas using these 3D models combined with BIM intelligent tools.

Multi-disciplinary tools in Revit

Revit turns out to be a multi-disciplinary platform leveraged by many professionals. It has a myriad of discipline-specific tools:

  1. Architectural tools – architects can use the single database file to create the best designs from concept to construction documentation.
  2. MEP Engineers MEP Engineers can also design building systems using Revit. They can even convert other drawings such as CAD and hand sketches into Revit, thus streamlining the design and enhancing it with BIM features. Engineers can collaborate with other professionals through Revit software application.
  3. Structural Engineers – the structural engineers can evaluate how the building will comply with the safety regulations. They also make use of intelligent 3D structure models to coordinate them with other components.
  4. Contractors – they will have a better insight into the construction before it commences. Revit helps them evaluate the designs so they can have a holistic approach in completing the projects.

How to convert CAD or Hand Sketches to Revit?

Converting CAD or Hand Sketches to Revit can seem burdensome to non-technical project owners. The technicality behind that task seems increasingly difficult and as thus others would rather opt out of it. With necessary skills, it can be achieved with ease. This YouTube tutorial helps explain the process in a nutshell. Like we said, it’s in a nutshell and thus gives you a glimpse. New York Engineers can save you enormous time by converting CAD or hand sketches to Revit while you have other administrative tasks to carry.

Wrap up!

To wrap it up, computer-aided drawings and hand sketches do not surpass the intelligence of Revit combined with BIM tools. The software’s parametric design features make it unparalleled and thus one of the reasons why other drawings should be converted to it in a building process. There are plenty of tools within the platform that make construction seamless from an idea to completion.

By following screen prompts, Revit can configure and maneuver hand sketches and make it possible for all the stakeholders to collaborate by sharing the intelligent 3D designs. All the components in the design, for example, contain important information such as the classification and materials to be used. That’s the expertise of Parametric Design.

The bottom line with Revit is that it is a multifunctional and multidisciplinary platform used by many professionals. Each professional can use specific tools to accomplish his mission. For project owners, it is good news to use the application as it streamlines and expedites the building process.