How CAD Affects the Real Estate Industry
To the casual observer, there’s no relationship at all between a residential home and computer-aided design. One is a residence – it’s a physical building that offers shelter and comfort for a family. The other is a software-based process. They hardly seem related, but there is a relationship there, and it’s deeper than you might think. In fact, CAD affects the real estate industry in myriad ways, and there are more on the horizon. What should you know?
Architectural Design
Let’s start with the most obvious way that CAD impacts the real estate industry – computer-aided architectural design. In the past, architects did their designing the hard way, by hand. Using a drafting desk and task-specific tools, these professionals laboriously created designs for buildings ranging from skyscrapers to businesses to residential homes. Today, the process is remarkably different, thanks to computer-aided design. Architects can create innovative new features, test functionality and much more thanks to the power of the computer.
Architectural 3D Modeling
Sometimes, two-dimensional images just aren’t enough. This is when 3D modeling with CAD is required. 3D models can be created for virtually any type of real estate, from strip malls to homes to institutional buildings, recreational installations and more. By creating a 3D model, architects are able to dig deeper into how the construction will interact with the environment, make needed changes and much more.
Interior 3D Modeling
3D modeling isn’t limited to exterior applications alone. Architects and designers can use CAD to create 3D models of interior environments for a very wide range of needs. Whether needed to build trust and interest in potential investors, as part of the interior design process or for some other reason, CAD has a huge impact on interior design.
3D Walkthroughs
Let’s say you’ve decided to have your dream home designed and built. You do your research and choose a reputable architect, and explain your dream. The architect gets to work creating plans – how would you like those plans presented, as a blueprint, or as a three-dimensional environment that can be walked through virtually? Most people would opt for the latter.
With a 3D walkthrough, you’re able to see exactly how the interior of the building will look with a variety of finishes, materials, furnishings, layouts and more. Changes are generally simple to make, and you see exactly what the finished home will look like with nothing lost in translation. It’s an incredible tool for accuracy and ensures far better satisfaction with the finished design. This applies to any interior (or exterior for that matter) – it’s not limited to residential homes, and can be (and has been) applied to everything from office buildings to observatories and schools.
As you can see, CAD has an enormous impact on the real estate industry, and it’s only going to get stronger as new technology allows CAD designers to do new things in new ways. Whether you’re an architect or a real estate agent, learning more about CAD and how it will affect your career is important.
– The CAD Chief
