And the Walls Came Tumbling Down |
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October 26, 2005
By Austin Brentley
austin.brentley@techinician-programs.com
Technical Programs Columnist
For the greater part of human history, building engineers and architects were severely handicapped when it came to testing out new ideas. Their technology was not so different from the methods most of us used as little kids. Even the most complicated of structures would usually start out as miniature building blocks that could only approximate the math and physics required for life-size structures.
Even after the blueprints were drawn and the calculations were double checked, they could never be sure 100% sure that the final creation would be structural and physically sound. That all changed when building engineer technology embraced computer aided design software (CAD).
The Safety of CAD
Words cannot stress the impact that this new building engineer technology has had on the construction industry. Using a computer, architects can test out numerous ideas very quickly and efficiently. The different prototypes appear on the screen, and building engineers can simulate different scenarios with a few clicks of a mouse. The software can account for slope, wind, soil density, earthquakes, fire, and other potentially damaging variables. And each scenario only takes a few minutes to play out.
The Beauty of CAD
Not only can a building engineer use this new technology to verify the structural integrity of new ideas, but he or she can quickly and easily arrange major features of the building as well. I want this room over here. What if I added a stairwell there? Can I make this building two or three stories taller? Can this new home or office sustain some additional windows on this outer wall?
From a strictly aesthetic standpoint, CAD software allows architects and building engineers to try out different designs without drafting up a whole new set of hand-drawn blue prints; a time consuming practice to say the least. It also drastically reduces the money needed to try out new ideas. This, in turn, reduces the total cost of construction projects; savings that could, in theory, be passed onto consumers.
About the Author
A freelance writer and researcher, Austin Brentley is an English teacher currently living and working in Yamaguchi, Japan. His previous experience includes working for a lobbying firm in his native Washington, DC and working for various record and television studios in New York. Austin holds a B.A. in history
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