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Structural analysis and design software

• Design and analyze concrete, steel, timber or aluminum projects

• Reduce rework and eliminate errors

• Automatically convert your model into an analytical model

About this software subscription: This Virtuoso Subscription includes a 12-month practitioner license of this software, that comes with Keys (credits) to unlock training and services.

Perform comprehensive analysis and design for any structure

STAAD is a comprehensive structural finite element analysis and design application that provides you with powerful visualization capabilities and a wide range of international design codes. Using an easy-to-use intuitive interface, engineers can automatically convert physical models into an analytical model for a more streamlined workflow while conducting structural analysis. STAAD makes it easy to integrate structural analysis into a BIM workflow and share synchronized models for multi-discipline collaboration. STAAD’s powerful analysis capabilities allow you to perform analysis on any structure exposed to static, dynamic, wind, earthquake, thermal, and moving loads.

Because every firm has different needs, there are three flexible STAAD variations: 

• STAAD.Pro – The most basic STAAD option including FEM analysis and physical modeling

• STAAD.Pro Advanced – Adds more advanced and complex analysis

• Structural Work Suite – The most popular structural applications in a single, cost-effective license

Design using any material

Design steel, concrete, timber, aluminum, and cold-formed steel structures anywhere in the world using included international design codes, regardless of which STAAD option you choose. Plus you can produce automated steel drawings directly from STAAD mode.

Save time with automation

Automatically convert your physical model into an analytical model to streamline your workflow.

Improve collaboration

Streamline multi-discipline team collaboration through broad interoperability with Bentley desktop and cloud and mobile applications like Open Buildings Designer, AutoPIPE, Revit, and Tekla. Optimize concrete and steel BIM workflows with the full integration of physical members and surfaces. View and edit models from mobile devices.

Perform advanced analysis with confidence

STAAD undergoes the most demanding quality and testing program. Our procedures follow the requirements of 10CFR Part 50 Appendix B, 10CFR Part 21 and ASME NQA-1, which means STAAD has been approved for use on the design of nuclear power installations. STAAD offers many types of analysis ranging from finite element analysis to more complex seismic analysis.

AutoCAD is referred to as a commercial computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting software tool. It is widely utilized across an array of industries by architects, engineers, project managers and several other professionals.

AutoCAD is known term when it comes to 3D and 2D CAD design. AutoCAD software is a tool that facilitates the process of designing and communicating the end results with others. In this age most structures that are built are based on CAD drawings. The majority of them use AutoCAD.

Most people associate AutoCAD with architectural house design; however, there are many different industries that use AutoCAD. For example, many: geographical, mechanical, electronic, AEC, multimedia, electrical, surveying, engineering, town planning, and even garment companies’ use AutoCAD.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) features have also been recently added to the list of things that AutoCAD can do.

How AutoCAD came into existence?

AutoCAD was originally created by AutoDesk Inc. over thirty years ago. AutoCAD can be used on either Windows or Macintosh. They remain the leaders in the field even among all of the competition that has come and gone since 1982 when they first started.

We all know that the computer scene has continued to change drastically and at an increasingly rapid pace since the 1980’s. AutoCAD has kept up with the changes and has become much more complex and efficient than the original software was; however, the main principals are still very simple and work in a logical way.
In 1993, AutoCAD LT was introduced as the cheapest, simpler and best alternative. It doesn’t include various enhanced features such as 3D; however, it is still a very complete program.
In 2010, AutoCAD for Mac was released and it basically works the same as on Windows. Some complain that the interface layout has not changed on the Mac version since the pre 2009 era.

AutoCAD Features:

AutoCAD 2D has many features and capabilities. It obviously can draw and modify structures accurately. Text and precise dimensions can be added easily. The geometry can be viewed at different scales, and the project can be organized by layers, colors, and styles. Another nice feature is that a variety of layouts can be set up for printing purposes.
Another plus is that it is easy to collaborate with other AutoCAD users over the internet. There are a variety of AutoCAD versions available on internet you can go through but most recommended is always the latest one.

Getting started with AutoCAD is relatively simple. There are three basic steps that you will need to take:

• Drawing

• Adding text and dimensions

• Printing or “plotting”

AutoCAD is made simple by the fact that it is a procedural program, which means that the command window prompts you to enter commands in a logical step by step manner.
Most architectural software has proper capability for high quality visualization and even walk through movies can be made in these software’s but this is often outsourced and with a little efforts this work can be done in-house which will save the business profits and give you the chance to increase your quality.

A brief history of AutoCAD and Revit

Autocad was first released in December 1982 by the software developer Autodesk. By 1986, it became the most widely used design application in the world! Since its initial launch, 31 versions of AutoCAD have been released. With each new version, AutoCAD has included more current features and programs to attract users from more professions and industries. Today, AutoCAD supports APIs for customization and automation. This allows the software to integrate more programs and toolsets such as AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD Electrical, and AutoCAD Civil 3D. Over the last five years, Autodesk also has created mobile and cloud-based apps such as AutoCAD 360, Fusion 360, and A360 Viewer.

Revit was first released in 1997 by Charles River Software. There is a story that the name “Revit” comes from combining the two words “revise” and “instantly.” This describes the most revolutionary aspect of the software: revising an element anywhere changes it everywhere instantly, in any view. In 2002, Autodesk acquired Revit and added the software to its list of products.

AutoCAD vs. Revit

The main difference between the two programs is the target industry. AutoCAD is a general computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting program designed for precise line work. AutoCAD provides a set of general drawing tools such as lines, arcs, and circles to create 2D and 3D drawings. Users from many industries can apply these tools to fit their own needs.

On the other hand, Revit is designed specifically for the AEC industry and Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools. Revit tools focus on building components representing real features such as walls, doors, and windows. Revit users apply these tools to create intelligent 3D models of buildings and produce construction documentation.

SketchUp Make

SketchUp Make is a free-of-charge version of SketchUp, released by Trimble in 2013. It’s available for home, personal and educational use. Users start with a 30-day trial of SketchUp Pro. Once this time period is complete, users can agree to prompted Terms and Conditions in order to continue using SketchUp Make for free.

As of November 2017, however, Trimble stopped bringing out further releases of SketchUp Make—urging users to migrate to SketchUp Free. 

SketchUp Free

Replacing Make, was released in November 2017 as a web-based SaaS (Software as a Service) application. In order to use the application, users have to sign in with a Trimble ID or Google Account and have an internet connection. Citing itself as the “easiest way to draw in 3D”, SketchUp enables you to bring all of your designs to life. 

With SketchUp Free, users can create a variety of 3D models and save them, locally as a native SKP file or export them as STL files. The beauty and biggest pull factor of SketchUp is its incredibly easy interface. Unlike modelers like AutoCAD that come with a steeper learning curve, SketchUp doesn’t need hundreds of buttons and commands to draw. As you’d expect, this Free version doesn’t have as much functionality and wide capabilities at Pro. Considering you don’t have to pay for it, however, this isn’t too disappointing. 

With SketchUp being so accessible, you can use it on most modern web browsers and operating systems. As an SaaS application, SketchUp is essentially versionless—you don’t have to worry about downloading the latest version because everything is updated automatically. Features like Trimble Connect allow users to host models online. This means you have the benefit of being able to access your models anywhere, anytime and on any device. Your projects auto-save, so you don’t even need to worry about losing your work if your system crashes—projects are ready and waiting when you re-launch. As you’d expect, Trimble Connect is useful for collaboration. You can invite people to look at your projects, make edits and even leave comments.