Impact of CAD Development on Architecture - Term Paper Example

? Impact of CAD development (Evolution) on Architecture Other (s) Modern architectural are increasingly using a number of CAD software for various applications such as to improve the design quality, improve the productivity of designers as well as to enhance communication through documentation. The earliest form of computer aided design developed in the early 1960s and 1970s were the first simple 2D drawing programs. However, the rapid technological advancements have resulted in the development of the current high quality 3D programs particularly for architectural designs. The evolution and development of CAD has significantly impacted on architectural design. Some of the potential impacts of CAD development (Evolution) on Architecture include reduced design mistakes, time saving and design efficiency, and clear communication of architectural details among others. This paper highlights the evolution as well as the transformational impact of computer aided design on the architectural design process. Impact of CAD development (Evolution) on Architecture Introduction Computer aided design (CAD) is the concept of using computerized systems to help in the technical creation, analysis, modification and optimization of technical designs. Prior to the evolution and development of CAD, architectural design was primarily a hands-on process that involved a variety of manual and physical media tasks. However, the introduction of computer aided design in the 1980s completely revolutionized architecture particularly in the filed of design. According to Tai (103), modern architectural designs employ a number of CAD software to enhance to improve the design quality, improve the productivity of designers and enhance communication through documentation. The contemporary computer aided design era is particularly characterized by remarkable improvements in modeling capabilities, incorporation and faster and quality designs. In architecture, CAD systems normally employ the use of databases and geometric properties of objects to manipulate visual representation and assemble designs of architectural objects. Computer aided design (CAD) refers to the use of computer system to assist in the analysis, alteration, optimization or even the creation of a design. The CAD software system normally increases the architectural productivity and design. This system as well improves the communication system through the documentation and the creation of a database used for manufacturing. Most of the CAD software often works like a large database with numerous geometric information points, curves and lines that can easily translate into imagery visible through the graphical user interface (Robertson 144). Despite a few limitations, there a number of enormous and obvious potential impacts of CAD evolution on architecture. This paper seeks to critically investigate the development of computer aided design in the architectural field. The paper, in addition explores the development of digital technology and it impact to the architectural subject. Chronology of the Development of CAD The evolution and development of CAD had its beginnings in the early 1960s and 1970s after various automotive and aerospace companies began to independently develop the first CAD systems. The real breakthrough point was particularly witnessed in 1963 after SKETCHPAD computer aided design program was developed at MIT. One of the main beneficial features of the program was that it allowed architectural designers to effectively use a light pen to draw on the computer screen. Essentially this was the first known graphic user interface (GUI) which is currently one of the most important features of CAD. However, the initial CAD programs were expensive and as a result were only available to large corporations in the aerospace, automotive and electronic industries such as Renault, GM and Lockheed among others. Throughout the 1970s, CAD programs were only capable of helping in the creation of 2D drawings that were largely to hand drafted drawings (Szalapaj 68). Nevertheless, the first simple programs significantly impacted on architecture in a number of ways. With the increasing graphic capabilities, speed and power of computers, the programs rapidly evolved over the years and their applications in architectural design expanded tremendously. Fig 1: An example of a 2D CAD design of a Floor plan In the 1980s many steps were made towards the development of modern 3D computer aided design system. The developments significantly aided the reduction of the need to have draftsmen in the field of architectural designing. The affordability and capability on a individual allows the architectural engineer to their own analytical and drafting work. In the contemporary world many architectural engineering students are not well acquitted with the drafting techniques due to the fact that the digital technology has finally taken over in this subject. During the early 1990s, solid kernels used for 3D designs were successfully integrated into the CAD programs for the first time in the history of its development. The rapid reduction computing prices within the last few decades particularly played a key role in these developments as even smaller architectural companies began to afford high quality CAD programs for architectural designs such as Solidworks (released in 1995), SolidEdge(1996), and IronCAD(1998). Currently, the computer aided design software packages range in between 2D vector based sampling to 3D drafting surface modellers. The emerging computer aided software packages frequently allow the rotation in three dimension figures hence allowing the viewing of the architecturally designed object from any preferred angle. The computer aided design is capable of various mathematical modelling procedures which are marketed as the CADD architectural systems in the file of architecture. The CAD in this technological era has evolved into various architectural uses. This type of computer software system is used in the architectural designing of tools, machinery as well as in the drafting and designing of almost all the outstanding skyscraper buildings. CAD is majorly used for detailed engineering of both the 2D and 3D drawings of the physical workings. In the architectural engineering, throughout the designing process from the layout to the conceptual design, the strength and dynamic analysis of the computer aided design assembles a perfect definition of the manufacturing procedures of these proponents. The computer aided design can be used in designing objects through the application of 4D BIM procedure which is used in the visual construction engineering reproduction in the collaboration of both the time and schedule related evidence for the object design management. The architectural design field has in this technological advancement era due to CAD emergence become a lesser demanding profession due to the emergence of this computer software system. The CAD is an important technology within this range of the computer aided technologies with increasingly benefiting individuals through the lower product development costs and shortening of the project phases (Kalay 38). The computer aided design has to a great deal enabled the architectural designers develop and layout a perfect work schemes on the screens, design it out and save it for the future excision. This saves their time used in drawing activity which initially was a cumbersome activity. Bonnardel (181) argues that the computer aided design is one of the varieties of equipment used by the designers in many outstanding ways depending on their profession and nature of work. CAD is normally one part of the Digital Product Development (DPD) operation within the architectural field in the Product Life Cycle Management (PLM) developments. The computer aided design in the modern contemporary world in the field of architecture has integrated various modules which include the following: computer aided manufacturing; computer aided engineering, photorealistic rendering as well as the document management revision control. Lastly, CAD has been recognized to be the most useful technological instrument in architectural engineering profession. This is through the use of its properties such as features, high level constraints and the parameterization which boosts the architectural designing approaches. Fig 2: Modern 3D CAD Design of a Building Transformational impacts of CAD development on Architecture The evolution and development of CAD has forever transformed and changed the concept of architectural design. There a number of enormous and obvious potential impacts of CAD evolution on architecture. Most of the CAD software often works like a large database with numerous geometric information points, curves and lines that can easily translate into imagery visible through the graphical user interface. On the other hand, the evolution of architectural visualizations based on the integration of various CAD applications has resulted in the development of high end design presentations that have never been there before (Jefferis 423). Time Saving and Design Efficiency One of the major positive impacts of the development of CAD on architecture is that the technology has significantly made creating technical drawings faster that the conventional paper and pencil architectural design methods. With the use of the contemporary 3D computer aided design technologies, fixing mistakes or erasing some parts of the design no longer requires scraping the entire work (Robertson 124). A simple computer command allows architects and designers to fix any problems within seconds and complete their designs faster. The resultant deduction in the design time is arguably one of the biggest payoffs of the CAD on the architecture. For instance, CAD speeds up both the creation and development of architectural projects thereby giving modern architects a significant edge over previous counterparts who relied on traditional design. According to Burleson and Selker(112), this is particularly evidence in most of the contemporary residential and commercial architectural design since designers can now easily create designs from scratch based on the concepts provided by the customer without having to spend much time. On the other hand, the use of various CAD programs has enabled many architectural designers to save a lot of money on projects while at the same time keeping their costs down. Additionally, this has not only helped reduce the number of potential contractor generated errors during the design process, but has also translated to considerable cost savings and better service delivery on the part of consumers. This is usually because CAD normally changes the format of the drawings. Reduced Design Mistakes Another important positive impact of CAD evolution on architecture is attributed to the fact that the contemporary 3D computer aided design applications can now allow architects and design companies to easily modify any portion of their designs during any stage of the project design process. For example, recent developments in CAD technologies allow designers to visualize various 3D components of objects in order to effectively integrate them or test whether they can work together. According to Kirk (35), this has not only helped to minimize future mistakes during the construction process, but has also enabled designers to eliminate the need to restart designing the project over again in the event that anything fails in the initial design. Most importantly, many architectural designers have been able to create several versions of one project with only slight differences depending on their needs for the final design. For example, using CAD, it is significantly easier to make changes in the design such as by moving windows, walls or even rooms from one part of the designed building to another. Clear Communication of Architectural Details Architectural data communicated by CAD drawings are often more detailed and clearer compared to those drawn manually by hand. This is particularly because the use of computer aided design software enable architects and designers to limit the possibility of human errors by providing them with more accurate and clear lines. On the other hand, the integration of architectural design information and the improvement of design realization by limiting iteration has also enabled the contemporary architects to avoid many unnecessary design mistakes. For example, architects who use CAD do not necessarily need to change the basic information flow in any part of the design realization process. Consequently, without computer aided design technologies, making changes in the design can take up to several days. Case Study of the use of CAD in Architectural buildings Since its evolution, computer aided design techniques have been used in different parts of the world for the design and construction of various buildings as well as the renovation of old buildings. Modern architectural designs employ a number of CAD software to enhance to improve the design quality, improve the productivity of designers and enhance communication through documentation. The contemporary computer aided design era is particularly characterized by remarkable improvements in modeling capabilities, incorporation and faster and quality designs. Case Study 1: Willis Tower Willis towers (previously known as Sears Tower), in Illinois, Chicago is one of the best examples of a remarkable building designed using the older 2D CAD technique. At the time of its completion in the year 1973, the tower was one of the world’s tallest buildings. The earliest CAD programs used by its chief architect Fazlur Khan were those that were developed in the early 1970s were only capable of creating 2D images and drawings that were similar to the hand drafted drawings. However, despite their limitations compared to the modern 3D CAD technologies, the first simple programs significantly impacted on architecture in a number of ways as was evidenced by the iconic design of Sears Towers. Fig: 1: 2D CAD design of the floors of Willis towers in 1970 Fazlur Khan who designed the building was one of the leading pioneers of the use of Computer aided Design in the architecture. Apart from using the programs of the time in the design of Sears tower, Khan is also widely recognized for having initiated the use of computer systems in the architectural structural engineering (Leondes 44). Fig 2: Completed Willis (formerly Shears) towers in Illinois, Chicago Case Study 2: Walt Disney Concert Hall Project The design and construction of Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California is one of the most remarkable examples of how modern 3D computer aided design technologies have been successfully used in Architecture. Designed by Frank Gehry in 1989, Walt Disney Concert Hall is currently regarded as one of the worlds most iconic buildings designed using modern CAD technologies. From the onset of the planning and design of the building in 1989, the architects primarily employed modern CAD tools to help them determine the dimensions, shape and configuration of the unique architectural landmark. Additionally, 3D CAD tools were employed in the design of the building’s seating layouts, concert platform, sightlines as well as the design of the performance lighting. Fig 1: Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California Throughout the project which took nearly 16years to be completed, the architects together with the acousticians who were working on the building were able to effectively monitor changes that occurred in the layout and levels of seating by simply using a number of 3D CAD programs that provide them with a unique capability of sightline studies from any location or seat in the hall. The key elements of the theatrical design included the main concert platform that comprised of 13 stage lifts, each of which was driven by individual motors and could be easily subjected to a wide range of stage configurations (Hew 459). Fig 4: 3D Design of the layout of the seats inside Walt Disney Concert Hall The use of Modern computer aided design systems enabled the designers and architects of the building to easily modify any portion of their designs during any stage of the project design process by visualizing various 3D components of objects in order to effectively integrate them or test whether they can work together. This capability not only helped to minimize future mistakes during the construction process, but has also enabled designers to eliminate the need to restart designing the project over again in the event that anything fails in the initial design. However, some of the challenges faced in the use of the CAD technologies included the fact that the CAD tools were not capable of discerning the real world concepts of the buildings being designed such as their functions. Genry became one of the architectures practitioners who have widely relied on Computer aided design techniques in his designs. This was primarily due to the fact that most of his design projects have always based on specialized placement and fabrication of materials. According to Haymaker (201), the use if modern CAD techniques during the design of Walt Disney Concert Hall enabled the architect to design the building using fantastic curvilinear shapes based on 3D computer models. Potential limitations and Challenges facing the use of CAD in Architecture Despite the numerous potential benefits of the development of computer aided design in architecture. However, most of the limitations are currently being addressed by a number of ongoing researches and are therefore likely to be solved in the near future. One of the major limitations of CAD systems are currently not capable of discerning the real world concepts of the buildings being designed such as their functions. In an attempt to solve this limitation, researchers are currently seeking ways of developing computer based artificial intelligence that can be effectively incorporated in CAD systems to provide architects with CAD with geometrical rule based modeling capabilities. On the other hand, some of the potential negative impacts of using CAD in architecture include the fact that CAD is a disruptive technology that has rendered previous architectural technologies to be useless. For example, hand drawing which was initially part and parcel of the architect’s education is no longer in this practice. This has reduced the passion and naturalist nature of the architect’s students towards their designing work. These impacts are felt more indirectly in the architecture field for example, in there have emerged increased designing speeds and the rates at which the architectures design and build new buildings. This has resulted into shoddy architectural designing works though the computer aided design work. Architectural designing projects in the ancient times involved enormous undertakings with a total guidance from the historical precedent which enhanced the necessitation of a construction period uniquely outstanding architectural designing techniques. In this technological era with the emergence of the computer aided designs most architecturally designed buildings do not follow the historical precedent guidelines. The designers practicing the building information systems through the computer aided design as their primary tools no longer facilitate the recognition of a fabricated project from the world architectural schematic design. This has in turn affected the speed of the design and the end product in the architectural designing field (Lewis 98).It is arguable that the evolution of commuter aided design has naturally created an instant delight though it has greatly cheapened the architectural filed in relation to the results given after the designing and construction of buildings. When buildings designed and constructed by the knowledge from the CAD cannot last for more than one decade, then the designers and these buildings users naturally treat them with less permanency and as just mere artifacts. The computer aided design in addition with its association with the digital production techniques only fulfils a trend rather than serving as a tool of design. Conclusion and Lessons Learnt In conclusion, with the increasing graphic capabilities, speed and power of computers, the programs rapidly evolved over the years and their applications in architectural design expanded tremendously. Despite a few limitations, there a number of enormous and obvious potential impacts of CAD evolution on architecture. With the continued technological advancements in the computing industry, CAD will no doubt continue to evolve into the future and even have greater impact on architecture. Since, its evolution, computer aided design has inc4easingly become one of the most desirable tools in the field of architecture. With regard to the contemporary development in the computing industry, the future of CAD will not only be used for conventional tasks in the architectural industry but will also enhance other important applications such as efficient integration of perspective views into drafts as well as allow architects to solve more complex problems. One of the lessons learnt from this research is that computer aided design has a number of roles on both the current and the future form of architectural practice. The complexity of architectural design demands a number of tasks that can be effectively enhanced by CAD to promote the creative process. Additionally, despite the various potential benefits, one of the limitations of computer aided design that has been leant is the fact that CAD systems are currently not capable of discerning the real world concepts of the buildings being designed such as their functions. However, future researchers are likely to address some of the minor limitations of CAD technology particularly with regard to architectural design. Works Cited Bonnardel, Zenasni, F. The Impact of technology on creativity in design: An enhancement? Creativity and Innovation Management, 19.2(2010): 180-189. Print. Burleson, Selker T. Creativity and interface. Communications of the ACM , 45.10(2002):112–115. Kalay, Yan. Architecture's New Media: Principles, Theories and Methods of Computer-Aided Design. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 2005. Print. Kirk, Patrick B. AutoCAD 2009 For Interior design and Space Planning. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson education, Inc., 2009. Print. Jefferis, A., Jones, M. and  Jefferis, T. AutoCAD 2004 for architecture. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar, 2004. Print. Haymaker, Fischer, M. Challenges and Benefits of 4D Modeling on the Walt Disney Concert Hall Project. New York: Routlege publishers, 2011. Print. Hew, Fisher, N. “Towards an integrated set of design tools based on a common data format for building and services design.” Automation in Construction, 10.4(2011): 459-476. Leondes, Cornelius. “Computer-Aided Design, Engineering, and Manufacturing.”The Design of Manufacturing Systems. New York: CRC Press, 2001. Print. Lewis, R. Sequin, C. “Generation of 3 D building models from 2D architectural plans.” Computer-Aided Design 30.10(2008): 765-779. Print. Tai, Lan. Assessing the impact of computer use on landscape architecture professional practice. Landscape Journal 22.2(2003): 113-125. Print. Robertson, Boyle F. Impact of CAD tools on creative problem solving in engineering design. Computer Aided Design. 41. 3(2009): 136-146. Print. Szalapaj, Paul. CAD Principles for Architectural Design. London, UK: Oxford Architectural Press, 2001. Print. Read More