Articles by Richard Bose on ArticleSnatch.com

Analysis of Engineering Drawings

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 23:53:10 -0500

Till the invent of sophisticated CAD platforms converting engineering drawings into useful presentation was a challenge for designers and engineers. After years of thorough data research and development now we have highly interactive CAD software such as AutoCAD, Tekla that can convert large quantities of scanned images into 3D intuitive models on a fly. This software offers a mean for embedding various graphics algorithms in your proposed design allowing immediate use of digital images. Rapid advancement in CAD techniques and migration from 2D engineering drawings to 3D models has created new opportunities for the designers to think beyond paper–to-cad conversion. It provides an interface where a user gives sketches of the design and the computer would interpret, analyze and represent data in an easy-to-understand 3D model. Basic algorithms for geometric translation of 2D engineering drawings to 3D model have several limitations and are not feasible for real-life applications. Complex geometric algorithms along with symbolic drawing information provide intuitive solution to analyze engineering drawings with high-level of accuracy. It is obvious that the documents scanning will have errors at every stage and these errors needs to be eliminated before translating them to 3D model for analysis. **End Summary** Topics: analysis of engineering drawings]]> cad engineering drawings]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is Structural engineer at OSD â a Rebar detailing firm offering full range of structural services including Structural design analysis, Shop drawings and review services at affordable rates. Contact us at http://www.outsourcestructuraldrafting.com/

Understanding of Construction Drawings and Details

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 06:33:38 -0500

Construction Drawings are extremely essential for proper design development and commissioning of building and civil structures. Construction Drawings must be drawn to scale by the drafters and shall present all the necessary details for compliance with local building codes. For residential home construction it may contain information of construction materials, location of retaining walls and sections, type of beam used, connections between floor and interior/exterior walls and others. All construction drawings shall contain following details: • Site Plan drawings: Shows location of construction site with dimensions • Floor Plan drawings: Shows location and sizes of all windows, doors, partitions, retaining walls, beam, columns, stairs and others. • Foundation Details: Shows Footing dimensions, RCC details, Drain layout sizes, Slab details, etc. • Structural Drawings: Includes construction details for building framing, footing, pile foundation, chimney, stairs and other design elements along with their shop drawings. • Roof Framing Details: Shows roof truss dimensions, type, sizes and locations. • Mechanical Drawings: Shows type and size of hvac or duct systems. • Electrical Drawings: Shows location and size of conduits, home appliances, lighting, burglar alarms and others electrical systems. • Plumbing Drawings: Shows details of piping, drainage units, water distribution diagrams, etc. **End Summary** Topics: construction drawings]]> construction details]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is Structural engineer at OSD â a Rebar detailing firm offering full range of structural services including Structural design analysis, Shop drawings and review services at affordable rates. Contact us at http://www.outsourcestructuraldrafting.com/

Importance of Structural Drafter in Construction & Structure Design

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 00:02:56 -0500

Structural engineering domain is explicitly linked with construction of buildings, complexes, industrial facilities and other civil structures. Structural drafting is the process of preparing construction documents that clearly describe the components involved, their details and structural drawings. A Structural Drafter is also called a computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting expert catering to structural drafting and drawing related needs. The drafter should have strong analytical, mathematical and drawing skills to deliver quality results in rapid turnaround time. Basic duties of structural drafter involve preparation of as-built plans, construction drawings and reference notes for coordination with project members. Technical details of structures or structural members with their exact dimensions, load calculations and cost-estimates can be found in these drawings. These drawings can be directly used for the fabrication of components and construction of structures like stairs, girders, handrails, partitions and others. Drafters use AutoCAD, Revit structures and other CAD program to visualize 3D models of structures, detail structural components and deliver final drawings in various formats as per requirements. It is important to note that sometime manual drafting is also performed as per the complexity of structure and availability of time. **End Summary** Topics: structural drafter]]> structural engineering]]> structural desig]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is Structural engineer at OSD â a Rebar detailing firm offering full range of structural services including Structural design analysis, Shop drawings and review services at affordable rates. Contact us at http://www.outsourcestructuraldrafting.com/

Why hire Rebar detailer for Rebar Design and Reinforcement Detailing?

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 07:01:09 -0400

Accurate Rebar design and detailing for reinforcement of steel or concrete structure plays important role in raising the standards of safety for any building construction projects. The Rebar detailer prepares bar bending schedules, shop drawings and rebar dimensions for effective reinforcement. Rebar design is a time-consuming and complex process. Improving the communication flow among different trades involved in the rebar design project helps expedite the design process and reduce the amount of reproduction. This in turn helps reduce errors and drawing time with savings in cost. Structural design consultants generally outsource rebar design drawings work to a subcontractor or team of rebar detailers. The detailers are responsible for providing complete sheets of calculations, shop drawings and general arrangement drawings for fabrication as per the specifications. The detailer is liable to make necessary changes in the drawings till he receives final approval from consultants. Typically for any project, reinforcement drawings may be revised many times as a result of human error or a change in design suggested by one of the trades involved in the project. This process of revising drawings play crucial role in turn around time and cost of construction. **End Summary** Topics: hire rebar detailer]]> rebar design]]> reinforcement detailing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is Rebar detailer at OSD - an established offshore firm offering wide range of Structural Design, Structural 3D Modeling and Structural engineering services at affordable rates. To get answers of your queries visit us at http://www.outsourcestructuraldrafting.com/rebar-detailing-steel.php

Recommendations for Submittals and Construction Shop Drawing Review

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:28:19 -0400

Shop drawings play crucial role in the success of any building construction or structural engineering work. Architects and consultants always refer to well established drafting and drawing standards to prepare construction shop drawings. Once these specifications are applied to the construction documents, each member of the project be it contractor, fabricator or material supplier is enforced to adhere the specifications. If shop drawings are not produced under stringent quality control, it may lead to imperfect or unsafe construction. Shop drawing submittal and review process holds the key to error-free construction and in avoiding costlier claims. Some suggestions for quality shop drawing submittal and review process are listed below: The contractor must prepare a comprehensive submittal schedule as per the contract documents to ensure the timely delivery and approval of shop drawings. This schedule needs to be accepted by the Architect and the owner as well. Each shop drawing shall incorporate a list of the items from the Plans and Specifications such as material and equipments to be used, reference drawings and construction progress schedule. Any deviation from submittal specifications must be clearly mentioned in the quality control document with adequate explanation. **End Summary** Topics: recommendations]]> shop drawing submittals]]> shop drawing revie]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is Shop drawings consultant at OSD â a Structural Engineering firm offering full range of structural services including Structural design analysis, Shop drawings and review services at affordable rates. Contact us http://www.outsourcestructuraldrafting.com

Quality of Structural Drafting process and Structural Drafting standards

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 02:25:57 -0400

The structural drafting and drawing domain has undergone dramatic changes over the past decade with the advent of Computer Aided Design (CAD) technologies. With the need of faster construction outputs and ever changing building codes and liabilities it is important to have a definite in-house quality check program for structural drafting. Such a program helps you deliver efficient designs, accurate contract documents, less RFIs and save time and money. Basic Structural drafting standards contain three elements - formal drafting procedures, drafting guides and checklists. Medium and large construction agencies adopt written formal drafting procedures and standards in order to deliver high-quality drawings on consistent basis and to reduce the risk of human errors. The purpose of common structural drafting procedures is to keep every project member on a single platform and ensure uniformity of design. Drafting guides are essential to present drafting procedures along with local building codes, theoretical concepts, best practices, practical applications and value engineering. Checklists prepared at the end of project job helps engineers to remember/recall the hundreds of things that go into drafting and documentation of drawings. Formerly, Structural drafting was treated as a niche skill. **End Summary** Topics: structural drafting process]]> structural drafters]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is Structural engineer at OSD â a Structural drafting consultant offering full range of structural services including Structural design analysis, Shop drawings and review services at affordable rates. Contact us at http://www.outsourcestructuraldrafting.com/

Industrial design with 3D Structural Modeling and AutoCAD software

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:07:09 -0400

Modern Industrial and Structural design projects are handled using advance CAD techniques such as AutoCAD and Tekla. For coordination between various engineering disciplines, designer can utilize AutoCAD software to integrate all of the process and structural details into a shared general arrangement (GA) model. This model can easily enclose various point loads or hanging loads such as piping, electrical conduit and cranes across the frame. AutoCAD Structural software helps generate cost estimates and bill of materials during the initial phase. Because of the dynamic nature of industrial project, the design solution at the beginning will be entirely different by the end of project. A 3D model allows engineer to quickly explore various design options and produce a visualization to help choose the best suitable solution. Since the model also render structure design results, the engineers can get a quick understanding of the structural needs for each design and its impact on equipment integration. When changes are required after the completion of analysis, the designer can update the AutoCAD 3D model with the revised structural components and view the effect on the entire structure. **End Summary** Topics: industrial design]]> 3d structural modeling]]> autocad software]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is Structural engineer at OSD - a Structural Engineering consultant offering full range of structural services including Structural design analysis, Shop drawings and review services at affordable rates. Contact us http://www.outsourcestructuraldrafting.com/

Standard Parking structure design Practice and Guidelines

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 06:32:21 -0400

Parking structure design plays important role in modern Residential design and construction. Proper planning and better understanding of parking amenities can lead to optimum parking structure design as desired. A parking design engineer must be hired to prepare the functional and structural design of the parking lot facility. Parking structure design more or less depends on the architectural design and landscaping of the project. One needs to consider various items such as traffic movement, security, maintenance, electrical systems and other functional requirements. To have better security designer should avoid creation of any hiding places and use glass as a design element. The whole perimeter of the base level must be fenced to curb pedestrian access to all entry points. All horizontal concrete surfaces in parking lot must be sharpened and painted with appropriate gloss paint. To prepare egress/ingress designs deep traffic analysis is required. A clear-span design is recommended for parking lot facilities. The designer should keep a minimum clearance on the ground level and on all other levels. All parking amenities such as security booths, gates and access systems should be placed on concrete islands. To protect booths guardrail are required. **End Summary** Topics: parking structure design]]> design guidelines for parking stru]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is Structural engineer at OSD â a Parking Structure designer firm offering full range of structural services including Structural design analysis, Shop drawings and Modeling services at affordable rates. Contact us at http://www.outsourcestructuraldrafting.com/

Tips for Home Remodeling plans - Remodel your Home in limited budget

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:04:25 -0400

Need to remodel your home or want some room additions or require some modifications in your kitchen and bathroom? You have absolute no idea on what will be the estimate of remodeling and have never done remodeling exercise before. You can very much explain what you like, but you don't know how to implement it. This article will provide you some quality tips which will simplify your decision-making process. Generally home remodeling will start with a set of existing floor and construction plans. The design team then produces fresh drawings depending on your suggestions and keeping local building codes in mind. You need to consider many factors before the final design is ready. For example, 2-storey additions mainly depend on the strength of ceiling joist and wind load. Remodeling deals with the functionality of the room and easy traffic movement across the room. To make efficient utilization of your existing living space make remodeling job more interesting. Taking the outdoor space and your lifestyle into consideration helps beautify your home, enrich the living space and enhance the value of the house. Home remodeling is quite a challenging task and plays an important role in making ones home the dream home. **End Summary** Topics: home remodeling plans]]> house renovation planning]]> house remo]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is Structural engineer at OSD â a Home Remodeling planner offering full range of structural services including Structural design analysis, Shop drawings and Modeling services at affordable rates. Contact us at http://www.outsourcestructuraldrafting.com/

How to relate Shop Drawings with Contract and Construction Documents?

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 04:16:19 -0400

Shop Drawings are the drawings, diagrams, schedules and related information which are distinctively produced by the contractor and submitted to the engineer to understand specific portion of the work. As per AIA definition, Shop drawings are the scaled representations of the construction work which the contractor requires to meet its desired assignments for the project, subject to the engineer or architect’s approval. The major risk involved in generation of shop drawings is not how they are defined, but rather who produces them in practice, who is responsible for the details and what is the exact scope and importance of review comments. Though production of shop drawing is the sole responsibility of the contractor, designers often windup preparing some or most portion of the shop drawings. A real-time and time-bound shop drawing management requires color coding. The contributions, modifications and comments are depicted in a unique pre-assigned color, which makes it easy to understand where and when shop drawing is modified. This helps the architect or engineer to precisely find out which team member has reviewed and contributed to the shop drawings. General Contract documents should clearly define scope of the shop drawings review process. **End Summary** Topics: shop drawings]]> construction drawings]]> contract documents]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is structural shop drawer at OSD â a Shop Drawing review firm offering full range of structural services including Structural design analysis, Shop drawings and Review services at affordable rates. Contact us at http://www.outsourcestructuraldrafting.com/

Benefits of using AutoCAD software for Structural Steel Detailing

Sat, 22 May 2010 05:14:36 -0400

AutoCAD software is an advance application for quicker and effective detailing and generation of fabrication shop drawings for steel and reinforced concrete structures. AutoCAD helps structural engineers, design drafters and detailers to collaborate and deliver accurate and complete fabrication shop drawings. AutoCAD Structural Detailing software helps enhance productivity with more accurate detailing and generation of shop drawings and increases efficiency through material-centric bills of quantities and schedules. Engineers and fabricators can automate reinforced concrete definition and structural drawing creation for different types of structural concrete elements. It comes with better Steel detailing capabilities to accurately model steel structures allowing faster and more efficient visualization of steel beam-column connections and shop drawings. Country-Specific Detailing Templates: Completeness and efficiency of shop drawings mainly depends on regional building codes and detailing standards (AISC, BS, CISC, etc) for each country. For this, AutoCAD offers templates that adhere to detailing practices, such as designations and dimensions, in a multitude of countries, ensuring automatic compliance with regional detailing methods and detailing standards. Regional Databases: AutoCAD has rich library of multiple databases from many countries across the globe to help provide access to locally required members such as steel sections, beam and column shapes. **End Summary** Topics: autocad software]]> structural steel detailing]]> cad for structural steel]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is structural shop drawer at OSD â a Shop Drawing consultant offering full range of structural services including Structural design analysis, Shop drawings and Review services at affordable rates. Contact us at http://www.outsourcestructuraldrafting.com/

Importance of Shop Drawing in Manufacturing & Fabrication Process

Sat, 08 May 2010 01:09:14 -0400

A shop drawing is a set of drawings produced by the contractor manufacturer or fabricator. Shop drawings are most commonly required for pre-fabricated components. Examples of these include: elevators, structural steel, trusses, pre-cast, windows, appliances, cabinets, air handling units and millwork. Also critical are the installation and coordination shop drawings of the MEP trades such as sheet metal ductwork, piping, plumbing, fire protection, and electrical. Shop drawings are not produced by architects and engineers under their contract with the owner. The shop drawing is the manufacturer or the contractor drawn version of information shown in the construction documents. The shop drawing normally shows more detail than the construction documents. It is drawn to explain the fabrication and/or installation of the items to the manufacturer production crew or contractor’s installation crews. The style of the shop drawing is usually very different from that of the architect drawing. The shop drawing primary emphasis is on the particular product or installation and excludes notation concerning other products and installations, unless integration with the subject product is necessary. The shop drawings should include information for the architect and engineer to compare to the specifications and drawings. **End Summary** Topics: shop drawings]]> shop drawings review]]> shop drawings services]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is structural shop drawer at OSD â a Shop Drawing consultant offering full range of structural services including Structural design analysis, Shop drawings and Review services at affordable rates. Contact us at http://www.outsourcestructuraldrafting.com/

Things you should know for Shop Drawing Review and Stamping process

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 05:33:23 -0400

Shop drawings are crucial bridge between the contract documents and the construction documents. Quality, accuracy and effectiveness of shop drawings plays crucial role in the overall success of the construction project. It’s a common practice to review and stamp shop drawings prepared by the contractor before sending them for fabrication. While the shop drawing review process is apparently not risk-free, the risk is still manageable. You must take care of following important factors while hiring a firm or contractor for preparing shop drawings: # Details of specific services to be provided for the review of shop drawings # Procedures to be carried out while doing the job # A stamp that precisely reflects the contractual work and compliance. The shop drawing firm must clearly express the design concept on the shop drawing stamp so that you get the opportunity to verify if the contractor understands the contract documents. The following categories are generally used in a shop drawing stamp. # Approved # Approved as Noted # Revise and Resubmit # Rejected The first category suggests that shop drawings are ready to be sent to the fabrication shop. **End Summary** Topics: shop drawings]]> shop drawings review]]> shop drawings submittal]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is structural shop drawer at OSD â a Shop Drawing consultant offering full range of structural services including Structural design analysis, Shop drawings and Review services at affordable rates. Contact us at http://www.outsourcestructuraldrafting.com/

Why you should review Shop Drawings & Submittals before Fabrication?

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 06:22:55 -0400

Shop Drawings are technical drawings, diagrams, schedules and other details particularly produced for certain portion of construction work by the contractor or manufacturer. For the Building construction industry, shop drawings are "an essential evil". For Contractors producing shop drawings is a costly affair and for architects they are quit difficult to review. The fact is that one cannot construct buildings without shop drawings; but production of shop drawings is becoming more complex day by day and notably a considerable source of liability claim against the architect. Shop Drawing Process as per AIA Manual: As per standard AIA construction Manual, The contractor is required to oblige to the contract documents and must submit shop drawings, design data and samples to the architect for approval. The architect is responsible to comply with the owner-architect agreement and review/approve/take necessary action on the submittals provided by the contractor. Are Shop Drawings Really Needed? The drawings and specifications prepared by the contractor should furnish complete details regarding the design concept, construction components and their relationship with each other. **End Summary** Topics: shop drawings]]> shop drawings review]]> shop drawings submittal]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is structural shop drawer at OSD â a Structural Engineering consultant offering full range of structural services including Structural design analysis, Shop drawings and Review services at affordable rates. Contact us at http://www.outsourcestructuraldrafting.com/

Benefits of Using CAD Software for Building Construction - A Review

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:11:23 -0400

Historically, every large engineering and construction company relied on a drafting table used by a professional drafter. It was necessary for producing needed blueprints, elevation drawings and high quality visual renderings for prospect customers. Drafting requires trained professionals with somewhat artistic skills. Drafting is time consuming process and requires apt engineering skills, infrastructure and dedication. Computer Aided Design or CAD has changed the way we do drafting. Years ago only the most elite engineering companies could use this technique. Licensed CAD software could cost you thousands of dollars and the computers required to perform could cost well over a hundred thousand dollars. Ever since computers become widely available and at cheap rates, CAD started gaining popularity and became more widespread. Latest CAD software available today makes it possible for just about any organization to afford critical construction documentation software. Use of latest CAD techniques significantly boosts productivity by allowing builders to perform drafting and modeling on the computer while reducing possible errors before construction phase starts. High end CAD software is characterized by its powerful analytic tools that facilitate advanced structural analysis. These features help structural engineer to calculate exact structural fatigue. **End Summary** Topics: benefits of cad software]]> building construction with cad]]> re]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is structural engineer at OSD - a Structural Engineering consultant offering full services such as structural design analysis, structural drafting and shop drawings services at affordable rates. Find more at http://www.outsourcestructuraldrafting.com

How a Structural engineer can help you in your construction project?

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:00:20 -0400

The basic function of a structural engineer is to provide effective design and assess structural members that supports or carries a load. A structural engineer deals with two preliminary areas - buildings and non-building structures. The structural engineer who looks after building construction are responsible for evaluating schematics and making sure that the building meets the local engineering codes for structural safety, is safe for habitation and is able to resist natural forces. The structural engineer performs careful inspection of the design and its elements and compares it to the approved building plans. He/she makes sure that the building comply with the drawings provided and that any necessary corrections are done. He can be helpful during various phases of construction such as design analysis, official permit and collaboration with other departments. The structural design review process requires detailed review of approved building plans and the possible clash among members. The designer or the builder must correct these issues before next phase begin. If a plan needs to be changed, it must be reviewed again to ensure compliance with codes. The approved plans are the basis for all site reviews, so it is very critical that they are accurate and complete. **End Summary** Topics: structural engineer]]> structure engineering consultants]]> stru]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is structural engineer at OSD - a Structural Engineering consultant offering full services such as structural design analysis, structural drafting and shop drawings services at affordable rates. Contact us http://www.outsourcestructuraldrafting.com/

Why use CAD or AutoCAD for Structural engineering design & Analysis

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:51:16 -0500

Structural Engineering Services. BIM. Integrated practice. Globalization. Design to fabrication. Today’s structural engineering professionals face sweeping changes, but what does it all mean for your firm? Structural engineers, designers, and drafters are creating ever-more productive ways of working, and they need tools to quickly coordinate design and documentation with multiple analyses. AutoCAD offers a broad suite of engineering, analysis, design, documentation, detailing, and collaboration software solutions to help you stay in front of your industry. Get all the benefits of building information modeling (BIM) for structural engineering, while protecting your investment in software, trained personnel, and design data. Structural engineering teams today are spending too much time on repetitive tasks, such as entering the same information for various analysis models and again for construction documents. With continuous pressure to reduce costs and accommodate last-minute changes from clients and owners, engineering firms must reevaluate how they approach their work and what tools will get the job done most efficiently. AutoCAD Structural Engineering solutions range from advanced design tools to widely adopted general drafting and documentation software. Structural engineers can explore design alternatives and make necessary changes, while AutoCAD software helps you coordinate changes throughout the design and documentation processes. **End Summary** Topics: structural engineering services]]> autocad structural analysis]]> structural steel design]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is structural engineer at OSD - a Structural Engineering consultant offering full services such as structural design analysis, structural drafting and shop drawings services at affordable rates. Email us info@outsourcestructuraldrafting.com

Basics of Bridge design, Bridge truss types and its design

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:50:26 -0500

There are four major factors used in describing a bridge. By combining these terms one can give a general description of most bridge design types. # span (simple, continuous, cantilever), # material (stone, concrete, metal, etc.), # placement of the travel surface in relation to the structure (deck, through), # form (beam, arch, truss, etc.) The three basic types of spans are – simple spans, continuous spans and cantilever spans. Any of these spans may be constructed using beams, girders or trusses. Arch bridges are either simple or continuous (hinged). A cantilever bridge may also include a suspended span. Examples of the three common surface configurations are - Deck, Pony and Through. In a Deck configuration, traffic travels on top of the main structure; in a Pony configuration, traffic travels between parallel superstructures which are not cross-braced at the top; in a Through configuration, traffic travels through the superstructure (usually a truss) which is cross-braced above and below the traffic. Simple deck beam bridges are usually metal or reinforced concrete. Other beam and girder types are constructed of metal. The end section of the two deck configuration shows the cross-bracing commonly used between beams. **End Summary** Topics: bridge design]]> bridge truss design]]> bridge truss types]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is structural engineer at OSD - an established Structural design drafting offering full services such as structural design analysis, structural drafting and shop drawings services at affordable rates. Email us info@outsourcestructuraldrafting.com

Standard Structural drafting practices, symbols and conventions

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:37:56 -0500

Structural drafting practices are very similar to that used in engineering drawing. Because of the complexity of structural drawings are generally produced by experienced engineer or expert structural drafter. Sheet Layout: The drawing paper need to be framed with a border line. The border line can be a single line or a double line and should conform to the overall style of the drawing. Title blocks are added and placed along the bottom and/or the right side of the drawing paper. The main drawing should be the dominate picture on the sheet with detail drawings and general notes related to the main drawing placed around it. All drawings, details, and notes should be titled. Bill of Materials: The bill of materials is a listing of all of the component parts of the steel framework, including all structural members, connections angles, and fasteners. The bill of materials is included on all shop drawings and generally lists all information for the items shown on that sheet. General Notes: Notes are classified as general notes and as local notes. Notes are lettered horizontally on a sheet and arranged in a systematic manner. Abbreviations in general notes should be avoided as much as possible. **End Summary** Topics: structural drafting conventions]]> structural drafting service]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is structural engineer at OSD - an established Structural Engineering consultants offering full services such as structural design analysis, structural drafting and shop drawings services at affordable rates. Email us info@outsourcestructuraldrafting.com

Basics of Structural drafting standards, Symbols and Shop drawings

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:24:13 -0500

Structural drafting standards are based on the best practices and on engineering codes set up by The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and The American Standards Institute (ANSI). Structural drawing practices refer to a style or quality of a drawing provided by the individual drafter to the job. It is characterized by crisp black line work, lettering, consistency, and uniformity. The production of precise detail drawings is an art and real engineering accomplishment. The actual concept of a structural framework should be provided on the architect/engineer's design drawings. These drawings are converted into detail drawings to provide necessary instructions for the shop fabrication and assembly installation of the different structural members. Through the shop drawings the CAD draftsman pass on all technical information required for the shop to fabricate the structural components. To prepare required drawings with accuracy, the draftsman must have a comprehensive knowledge of the standard engineering specifications, better understanding of the shop fabrication and field erection process, and should have necessary skills for structural drafting. Hence, it is obvious that the structural drafter develop optimum drawing skills. Drawing Numbers: All structural drawings must be marked using the standard designation. **End Summary** Topics: structural drafting standards]]> drafting conventions]]> cad dra]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is structural engineer at OSD - an established Structural Engineering consultants offering full services such as structural design analysis, structural drafting and shop drawings services at affordable rates. Email us info@outsourcestructuraldrafting.com

Why use AutoCAD Detailing software for Structural Shop drawings?

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:09:17 -0500

AutoCAD has changed the way a steel detailer performs steel detailing work and produce shop drawings for steel structural components. Find below top 5 reasons why you should use AutoCAD structural detailing software for better productivity and accurate detailing of steel and concrete structures. 1. Intelligent Structural Objects In AutoCAD Structural Detailing, engineers and drafters can create structural steel models or rebar drawings using intelligent objects (such as beams, plates, columns, walls or reinforcement bars) rather than lines and curves. You can virtually cut, lengthen, bend, split, and merge objects. These objects dynamically react to changes and automatically update material takeoffs. 2. Country Specific Detailing Templates Creating shop drawing documentation depends on regional codes and detailing methods characteristic for each country (especially for reinforced concrete drawings). AutoCAD Structural Detailing software offers templates are based on regional detailing practices such as designations and hatching patterns, in a multitude of countries, helping to ensure adherence to local detailing methods and appropriate elements or material schedules. 3. **End Summary** Topics: autocad structural detailing]]> autocad detailing of steel]]> co]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is structural engineer at OSD - an established Structural Detailing consultants offering full services such as structural design analysis, structural drafting and shop drawings services at affordable rates. Email us info@outsourcestructuraldrafting.com

Why use CAD or AutoCAD for Civil engineering design and drafting

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 03:24:37 -0500

Civil Engineers design and develop modern home and commercial buildings. They design building models and implement those using resources and technologies. Presently, designs are created digitally using computer-aided design (CAD) softwares. CAD drafting has made a civil Engineers job easier and simpler which was much more complex earlier when done manually. CAD softwares such as AutoCAD, Revit, Tekla, etc have become an integral part of the industry. In the future advanced and creative features should make CAD softwares more functional and a complete product to fulfill raising expectations and the needs of this industry. All through the years CAD softwares have always been evolving which resulted in lesser designing time and easier drafting process for the Engineers. Automated CAD drafting creates high-quality designs accurately and faster. The Engineer can analyze the project model, and the changes can be incorporated in design easily, saving a lot of time and money. The functionality of the softwares can be enhanced by integrating it with other useful applications. These advantages of the CAD softwares increase the efficiency of drafting to a great amount. But, CAD softwares also have demerits as it is expensive and training is very essential for AutoCAD drafting. **End Summary** Topics: civil engineering services]]> civil cad drafting]]> structural steel design]]> civil in cad]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is structural engineer at OSD - an India based Structural Engineering consultant offering full services such as structural design analysis, structural drafting and shop drawings services at affordable rates. Email us info@outsourcestructuraldrafting.com

How Drafters & CAD technology can assist in Structure Drafting?

Sat, 26 Dec 2009 04:35:10 -0500

Commercial Drafters provide technical drawings and plans used by construction or production team to build structure or manufacture products. These may include industrial machinery, house plans, church or garage building plans, office or hospital building, complex structures and many more. Structural Drawings supply visual guidelines and provide technical data and information of the products and structures. These drawings clearly specify structural dimensions, shapes, materials to be used, processes and procedures to be followed. Drafters fill in technical information using hand-drawn sketches, scribbles, codes, specifications and calculations earlier given by architects, surveyors or engineers. Many drafters use their knowledge of fabrication theory, engineering and industry standards to draw the parts of a structure in order to determine fit, form and functionality. Civil drafting deals with mapping, plot plans, earthwork, highways, roads and profiles of earth. Civil drafters work with civil engineering companies, surveyors, and in city, county, state road and engineering departments. Conventionally, drafters use pencils, triangles, compasses, protractors, drawing boards and other drafting tools to generate a drawing manually. Most professionals now use computer-aided drafting (CAD) systems such s such as AutoCAD, Revit, Tekla and SolidWorks to prepare drawings. As a result, some drafters are referred to as CAD technicians. **End Summary** Topics: structural drafting]]> structure drafters]]> cad design drafting]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is structural engineer at OSD - an India based Structural Engineering consultant offering full services such as structural design analysis, structural drafting and shop drawings services at affordable rates. Email us info@outsourcestructuraldrafting.com

Building Information Modeling (BIM) Technique for Sustainable Design

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:23:26 -0500

Building Information Modeling (BIM) process improves the structural engineer’s workflow and can help structural engineer actively contribute to the sustainable design of a building. BIM is an integrated process that helps engineers to visualize project’s critical physical and functional characteristics digitally - before it is constructed! Available BIM solutions in the market are based on coordinated and more reliable information generated with Revit and AutoCAD Civil 3D software. By using BIM, structural engineers can: # Visualize real-life appearance and performance of a structure or building # Simulate and Analyze structural members # Design projects from the earliest phases # Manage Project documents more effectively and accurately # Deliver project faster and with less impact on environment BIM for structural engineers utilizes above approach for the whole structural engineering process. The structure’s virtual model can be used for collaboration with architects, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, civil engineers and other stake holders. This same 3D digital model can be integrated with design, analysis and construction documentation, and is utilized as the basis for digital design-to-fabrication planning and construction. Using Building Information Modeling (BIM), structural engineers can track material quantities and investigate various design options that eventually result in a more sustainable design. **End Summary** Topics: bim services]]> bim sustainable design]]> bim modeling]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is BIM modeler at OSD - an India based Structural Engineering firm offering full services such as structural steel analysis, structural drafting, BIM modeling and structural design services at affordable rates. Email us info@outsourcestructuraldrafting.com

Factors involved in a Sustainable Design for Structural Engineers

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:42:37 -0500

Modern buildings are the largest source of energy consumption across the globe. As such, early design decisions can result in a more sustainable design and considerable reduction in energy usage. It is obvious that the sustainable design practices are playing a major role in the design and planning of modern construction industry than ever before. There are different ways in which a structural engineer can shape a building’s sustainability such as exploring and using the most efficient materials or designing buildings for scalability and reuse. Let’s explore various factors involved for a sustainable design. Material Selection The structural engineers can adopt a design strategy of minimizing embodied energy and maximizing design efficiency. Embodied energy is the energy consumed in manufacturing, processing and constructing building materials. Appropriate material selection can help a lot in reducing waste both for construction as well as renovation. During the design process, structural engineers can rightly influence the overall energy use and carbon footprint of the building. As such they can reduce the impact that the buildings may impose on the environment. The design of any structure becomes a crucial phase to evaluate how to maximize the use of sustainable materials. **End Summary** Topics: structural steel design]]> sustainable design]]> structural stee]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Richard Bose is structural engineer at OSD - an India based Structural Engineering consultant offering full services such as structural design analysis, structural drafting and shop drawings services at affordable rates. Email us info@outsourcestructuraldrafting.com