title cad design comm Contents sources links Site
Contents

Communication
Objectives
Drawing Programs
2D CAD
3D CAD
Rendering
Animations
Scenarios for the Future?
Cad and Communication
Internet as an Information Modifier
Internet as an Information Link
Internet as an Information Optimizer
Internet as an Information Retriever
Interaction through the Internet
Benefits of the Internet
Information Management on the Internet
 CAD& Communication

The pursue of the design process has been a main concern for many architectural theoreticians and scholars; and it has proven to be a difficult topic to explore mostly because it's partially technical and artistical nature.

Within this process, the introduction of Computer Aided Design during the mid 60's opened new ways by which we look and follow it. More than 30 years after it's introduction, CAD still poses several challenges to the architectural design education and practice, partially this is because many of its inherent possibilities are still reaching the majority of the architect's community and schools., and also because the constant evolution of hardware platform and software applications. Can be said that CAD has been one revolutionary element within the practice of architectural design, and that the changes caused by it are still to be absorbed and understood as normal components of the design process; its main potential it's still to be exploited fully.

But it's clear also that the implications of computing on architecture are not related only to the actual designing task, but also to any of the other stages related to the communication of the architectural product.

This refers directly to the communication capabilities that any average computer can have today, fact that opens the field of interpersonal collaboration and practice, through the use of this tools. The most clear example of this comes from the diffusion of network communications, both internal to organizations (Corporate Intranets) and external (Internet).
This two cases exemplify perfectly how the architectural design practice can change in order to sustain the needs of today's fast evolving contexts. The following table summarises how the usage of internet can be related directly to day to day situations within an architectural design practice.

StageDefinitionExternal Network UseTheoretical Consequence
AssimilationAccumulation and ordering of general information specifically related to the related topicInformation queries on specification databases. Updating of legal information and planning regulations.Shorter information retrieval time, wider information sources to consult.
General StudyInvestigation of the nature of the problem and its possible solutionsSharing of context information with consultant s and clients. Collaboration with other architects and design related professionals.Stronger interprofessional collaboration, not limited by normal time and space barriers.
DevelopmentRefinement of one or two of the tentative isolated solutions identified in phase 2. Sharing of development schemes with consultants and clients.Increased integration of the client on the design process.Earlier detection of design problems and mistakes.Easier coordination of design consultants.
CommunicationCommunication of the selected solutions to the people inside and outside the design team.Establishment of permanent information repository of project's information; for clients, builders and general public. Feedback information collection.Establishment of a permanent source of updated information, for promotion and archiving purposes. Establishment of a permanent information link with interested parties.

This preliminary set of consequences has to be examined against the latest developments in computing technologies, each new generation of hardware opens new paradigms that were dreams just few years ago.

From mainframe systems, used mainly in research labs. and government agencies, to the existing desktop pc's, CAD have been evolving closer to the actual realm of architectural practice, making a stronger impact in the traditional way to pursue design.
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