Software trends and Development By Dishon Obwaya

Software trends and development in the industry

By Dishon Obwaya

Programmed application softwares are tools that aid in the automation and management of processes. In the architecture industry there are a number of softwares that help in the execution of design and construction processes. In the 21st century Softwares developer have created android and windowsbased programs that assist clients and professionals to monitor and track every step of their construction projects anytime anywhere.

Close to my heart is the trend and development of architectural application software from the very first time I had interacted with Computer Aided Design (CAD), Autodesk and Graphisoft based softwares in the year 2007.this was a game changer in the industry as there was time saving and quality of work produced in the tracing papers and blue prints in comparison to the traditional method of graphite T-and set square I mean hand drawings.

Selection of the software to use will depend on the works to be executed, the cost compatibility of the machine at hand and time that is required to deliver the work. Below is a list of softwares that I have ranked as per the hierarchy and experience in the years of using CAD.

Primary input softwares.

AutoCAD-Autodesk. ArchiCAD-Graphisoft Sketchup pro. 3d solid works. Revit

Parametric design softwares

Rhino 3D. Grasshopper.

Rendering softwares

Twin motion-Epic. Abvent Artlantis. 3Ds-max. Lumion. Unreal engine-Epic

Software like ArchiCAD have been improved over the years with many versions being in place, currently version 25 has greater working flexibility with other family of softwares and has minimal errors in the workflows.

Plugins like Vray installed to the primary software have been developed to aid in synchronization and exporting BIM data to the rendering softwares hence time is saved in the workflow of exporting to other file extensions. All this softwares when integrated together they form BIM. Even though Revit takes president as the Author of BIM this is a result of the key features like that are grouped into families this helps in the Automation of the building systems. In the current market place AutoCAD, ArchiCAD and Revit have been the key requirement because of the level of precision they offer the practicing professionals. Rendering softwares like twin Logos of the majority of software that have evolved over the years

Proposed exterior renders done in ArchiCAD + Twin Motion ©Dishon 2020 Proposed interior render of a spa in Juba South Sudan ©Dishon 2019

motion has been embraced by the design team because it offers greater flexibility to architects, landscape architects, interior designers and visualization artist.

Rhino 3D and Grasshopper are design softwares that have displayed greater superiority in the designing of parametric models that cad be exported directly to rendering softwares of the primary softwares like ArchiCAD.

In conclusion of the matter software trends are being improved everyday for better delivery of proposed and ongoing projects with new versions release to the market for educational and commercial use therefore it requires a one to be on the look out and lean on the new features added and

AUTHOR BIO

Dishon Obwaya has over 10 years experience in Architecture and Construction related projects. He currently works as a Project Assistant at GAPL Kenya. learn how to use it to make the design and construction industry progress in the adoption of BIM. When a professional gets good foundation on the basics of a software and explores in depth the new versions of a software there are always improved results in projects delivery. Rendering softwares like twin motion have the capability of harvesting the context of a location and assist a designer in overlaying his model on the exact site location with a view of existing nearby blocks through Google Maps.

Twin motion location grabber for laying models