CAD?

[anonymous-user]

Calling all Suveyors and Architects!

What is the best CAD software for a Building Surveyor? I guess Autocad is a good starting point, but wonder if there is a more building/construction specific program that works better for plans and elevations.

I need to to teach myself this summer as most building surveying jobs require CAD as an essential skill and I only have very basic training in Autocad.

Thanks

[camp freddie]

AutoCAD is popular with engineering firms and surveyors. I have found architects have a tendancy to use a variety of software such as Vectorworks, Archicad and Revit all of which can be exported to .dwg format for use in AutoCAD

[andye30m3]

I'd learn AutoCAD first, It's quite easy to get the basics and everything else you'll work out as you go along.

I've worked for Architects for the last 10 years and only my current employer uses any thing but AutoCAD, we're using Vectorworks which isn't all that different in what it does just uses a different bloody key for almost every command.

[Odie]

I use AutoCAD architectural Desktop

[a boardman]

I work at a structural engineers and I have just started to use Revit Structures. you could try Revit Architecture.

[Stegel]

I would suggest getting fully conversant with AutoCAD, as choosing anything else could see you becoming an expert in the wrong software for wherever you end up working. We use AutoCAD, and that's been the case with the previous 2 practices. We just use plain old AutoCAD without any of the architectural add-ons, as it's perfectly suited to the type of work we do.

[poprock]

AutoCAD is the industry standard, so learn that and you can then retrain for alternatives with just a quick refresher course if the need arises.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks chaps!

[Dodgey_Rog]

A good book to learn, follow the exercises etc is this one;

AutoCAD 2008 Exercise Workbook for Beginning AutoCAD by Cheryl R. Shrock.

Its what i used to learn it and i can recommend it totally. Good luck!

[eps]

Most local colleges offer evening courses (typically City & Guilds) which run for a term. They are very useful and not too expensive. If you enroll and are at the wrong level they are usually happy to move you to a more difficult or easier level (if one exists). Worth checking imho.