Architect and Structural Engineer in interactive design

Abstract

We are convinced that an interactive design process involving engineers and architects will create values to a project. Looking back there have been some obstacles, like a week’s time for exchange of drawings with traditional postal services; manual calculation methods, which could not be spoiled on loose grounds like architect’s sketches; different media – architect’s drawings and engineer’s numbers in tables; attitudes and traditional roles, implemented already in education. Today most of these obstacles can be overcome and we have made a test. We have used ArchiCad by Graphisoft and FEM-design by SKANSKA IT Solutions to test to make an interactive design. Our conclusions are that exchange of information, drawings and other documents is more or less routine in praxis, and it works almost instantly. Computers make calculation faster and easier for the engineer. Though we would wish to have software which manages to do more rapid estimations. Even simulations such as of loads on a structure are practically possible. By using model based CAD the data can be used for transferring quantities for calculations as well as visualization of the design as a platform for collaborate analysis. The technique is developed and usable but to gain acceptance and make use of it is also a matter of attitudes and of application activities in education.