BSA Committee on Design Software

 

         
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Forum on Design Software

We are currently setting up a dynamic interactive forum for this committee. In the meantime, your comments will be posted to this page if you send them as email to BSAdesignsoftware@architecturalcadd.com

As needed, and requested, we will create seperate discussion areas for different types of design software (architectural CADD, space planning, photo imaging, etc.) for different CADD programs (AutoCAD, DataCAD, SoftCAD, DesignWorkshop, etc.), for topic areas (such as discussions about what CADD different schools are teaching) and for discussions about this committe and things that it can or should be doing.

Links to Other Architectural CADD Forums online

Design Software Forum


From: Nancy Jenner <njenner@architects.org>
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999
Geoff, It was good to see you at the retreat. I think this is great. A general Design Software Committee will be a great resource to members (and others through the website). We should talk about current web capabilities (limited) and alternatives. Thank you for taking the initiative. Nancy Jenner, BSA


Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999
From: Evan Shu <eshu@world.std.com>
Good Luck with the new committee! I wish you a lot of luck with it and I would love to be kept posted via e-mail although as I mentioned above, I probably won't be able to attend on any regular basis. Evan

Date: Sat, 06 Nov 1999

From: "Jonathan S. Foster" <jsf@nyarchitect.com>

This is an excellent initiative, which will allow those who concentrate on architecture to more easily evaluate the potential value of software to their needs and Additionally will increase working relationships among the members, Thanks Geoffrey, Jonathan Foster

From: SDESIGNA@aol.com

Date: Fri, 5 Nov 1999

Please include us on your 'list". Thank You

David K. Sargert ASID/IIDA, Sargert Design Associates Inc., 971 Main Street - PO Box 30057, Springfield, MA 01103 USA www.sargertdesign.com, 800-206-3030-v, 413-737-3604-f

Date: Sat, 06 Nov 1999

From: Todd Hotchkiss <hotchkis@radiks.net>

Geoffrey- Please add the link information (HTML), instead of just listing the URL (on Collaboration page).That saves us from having to cut and paste the URLs. Todd Hotchkiss, AIA

From: WJMarston@aol.com

Date: Mon, 8 Nov 1999

Geoff et al!! Great idea! Great resources! (too bad our webcom is nearly dead from lack of partctipation, ideas, etc.

Interesting that the _chapter_ is now asking members to spend hundred$ to get a static.GIF of their choosing on our aiaphila.org site. Meanwhile my 3-yr old plea to build/incorporate a cgi or Java tool to enable browsers to pick from pop-up lists by Building Type, Cost range and Zip Code (for example) and therby find a list of "AIA Architects, qualified above all through membership-required Continuing Education training" who meet _their_ criteria. Alas... So keep me abreast of some of the real life-blood of archi-computing - via BSA! Bill Marston, AIA

From: "David Conant" <daconant@hotmail.com>

Date: Tue, 09 Nov 1999

Please keep me informed of committee activities. I and others from Charles River Software are very interested on participating. David Conant AIA, Charles River Software, (508) 875-7878 x303, davidc@crs0.com

Date: Sat, 30 Oct 1999

From: "Joseph Krawiec" <jakrawiec@altavista.net>

Subject: 3D Models of existing buildings

Hi All,

Mostly I read and learn - and I am extremely grateful for all the information that this forum has given me. Recently, I came across something that I don't recall having heard about on the forum, and I thought that it might be of interest.

One of the (very many) freebie magazines that I receive is called Computer Graphics World. (Apparently also at www.CGW.com). In the 10/99 issue, there is an article about how Architect Oliver Hess (Membach, East Belgium) turned digital photos into an accurate 3D model. To summarize the article:

A governmental agency took public bids to create a "highly detailed 3D model" of a former monastery in Bad Muenster Germany. The model was needed "in order to design renovations...to convert the building into a school." His bid was $4000, while the other bidders were $12000 to $24000 (the others apparently intended to use normal surveying techniques).

He took 80 digital photos of the 3300 SF building using an Olympus C-1400L camera. The images were scanned and saved as standard Kodak PhotoCD format files. He also had a surveyor accurately measure the distances between the four corners of the building which served as a reference for scaling the 3D model.

He then "read" the overlapping photos into PhotoModeler (by Eos Systems - Vancouver, BC www.eossystems.com), where he marked about 250 discrete features (corners of building, doors, etc). "The software then automatically calculated the position of the camera for each photo (based on a pre-calibrated setting for the specific camera used) and the intersection of light rays from each of the photo positions to create a 3D model of the front, side, and rear walls."

Once created, he checked its precision. To manipulate the contrast in the photos for better image quality, he used Jasc Software's Paint Shop Pro. He plans to upgrade his camera for better image resolution. By manipulating 3D points, he was able to improve the precision of the drawing. Using Paint Shop Pro, he pulled textures from the photos and placed them on the model. Once he had settled on the textures, the software tracked the bit map selected for each surface and displayed it in the proper position, regardless of the perspective from which the model was viewed.

After the model was complete, he used Point line's 2D CAD software to further develop the drawings. He then saved it as a DXF file and exported it into (yes, you guessed it) ACAD for a few notes before delivery to the client. He did all the work (including taking the photos) in 3 days. This stuff blows my mind. Joe Krawiec South Plainfield, NJ jakrawiec@altavista.net

Date: Wed, 03 Nov 1999

From: Allan Rayner <allan@netstra.com.au>

Subject: Software

Does anyone know where I can find a list of features available in diferent CAD products? I need a list to compare for an associate. I have asked our local dealers and they have not been able to come up with anything yet. Any help would be great. Allan J Rayner allan@netstra.com.au

To :Allan Rayner <allan@netstra.com.au>

From : Geoffrey Moore Langdon, AIA

Keeping track of the differences between the various CADD products and disceminating that information is my full time job.

I keep over 1800 pages worth of information on the subject free to the public on the www.architecturalcadd.com web site. For specific recommendations and really current version information, people need to call me on a consulting basis or buy the book.

Something new we just started is a new branch of the American Institute of Architects (The BSA) with a committee which will have the job of keeping all the comparisons in a non-commercial site that has nothing to sell. This is being developed currently with my cooperation at http://www.architecturalcadd.com/bsa/designsoft.htm

 

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