For years Computer Aided Design has presented a sledgehammer image to construction industry professionals seeking cost-effective design tools. Expensive hardware and general purpose software limited the penetration of advanced CAD to those with huge computing budgets. Most other organisations - which includes at least 95% of the construction industry - have yet to benefit from CAD beyond the automated draughting of traditionally produced designs.

The emergence of high-performance 32-bit supermicrocomputers (386PCs) has dramatically altered the potential for CAD in construction. Initially, CAD on PCs suffered from underpowered hardware and low resolution graphical displays. Now, for under £10,000, the new breed o f processors and high resolution screens offers the opportunity to develop interactive graphics systems tuned specifically for construction design. The age of PC-CAD for building and civil engineering design has arrived.

purchase the full-text of this paper (price £20)

go to the previous paper
go to the next paper
return to the table of contents
return to the book description
purchase this book (price £78 +P&P)