Civil & Architectural Drafting using Autocad (Part - 1)

Unlike developed countries, India faces a lot of gaps between academics and the industry. According to a report by the Times of India, the construction industry is said to become India's largest employer, with 72 million employees by 2022. However, the lack of skill imposes a critical situation. 

The current academic syllabus isn't sufficient for core engineering students in the civil and architecture disciplines. With a high concentration on theoretical learning, the practical implementation of concepts has become impaired. 

Identifying the Talent Gaps

The nature of the dilemma is such that there's indeed little scope for practical learning for the Civil engineering students. Hands-on experience in things like drafting is considered secondary in the curriculum. 

Even when students are assigned practical exercises wherein they fulfill the roles of a project engineer or a site manager, they are working among their friend circle. As a result, professional etiquette is not adeptly inculcated. 

Into the bargain, India endorses no CAD standards, unlike the US, UK, and other European nations. 

Discussions with HODs have revealed the inadequacy of faculties to train students in the prolific understanding of construction documentation. Thus, there's only minimal drawing and documentation in the curriculum. Students are made to learn the software for the sake of learning. 

Here's where students find hardship in reading the drawing correctly and understanding the software for what it is. Since the Indian mindset has instilled in its students that AutoCAD is a primitive form of an application whose core functions lie in sketching and drawings, such a talent gap is on the rise. 

Surprisingly, AutoCAD drafting trainers have found that even industrial professionals with tangible experience display trials in reading drawings. 

Understanding the Industry Requirements

Industry knowledge calls for students to understand the nitty-gritty of architecture drawing, structure drawing, and services drawing. They are expected to be well versed in the different stages of construction activities and how drawings are laid to serve the purpose. 

Civil and architectural engineering graduates should also be thorough in developing sheets for the construction documentation termed as the GFC (Group for Construction). Amidst the varied types of drawings, service drawings are of prime importance. They detail out the functioning and the assemblage of all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing related works. 

Engineering graduates must be capable of reading these drawings to understand, for example, the types of pipes used in the project. And these skill-sets are vital not only to get hired but also to make informed decisions while on the project site.

The key takeaway is that interpretation and construction documentation reviewing are vital for site engineers. Besides, they must be able to gauge the changes made by the various stakeholders.

A Glimmer of Hope

The course on Civil and Architectural Drafting using AutoCAD offers firsthand training on the usage of the software in various aspects of civil engineering - building construction, highway engineering, cost estimation, etc.

The students enrolling in the course will be trained to understand the process of drafting and the software in their entirety. They can expect to learn how to create plans, elevations, and sections of buildings, which are all indispensable for architecture structure and services. 

By encouraging students to take part in existing live projects, the course will enable them to navigate and understand how to read the given drawing to start with the CAD implementation.

When civil and architecture engineering students get this industry knowledge, the opportunities are endless. 

Emerging Trends in the Industry

You will find innovative openings in the domain of architecture, engineering, and construction. But to get a breakthrough, intuitive knowledge about drafting using AutoCAD is indispensable. 

There are six different forms of emerging trends in Architectural Engineering and Construction. They are as follows:

• Geo-Technical Engineering
• Highway Engineering and Land Surveying
• Structural Engineering
• Project and Construction Management
• Building Information Modeling
• Geographical Information System

Geo-Technical Engineering

Geo-technics is a discipline of engineering that deals with the behavioral characteristics of soil and rock from the engineering perspective. It includes slope stability assessment and identification of landslide and avalanche risks. 

It finds its application in solving engineering problems such as the design of foundations, dams, tunnels, excavations, slopes, and other mining, civil, and environmental engineering projects that coalesce with the mechanical response of the ground.

Tools 

• PLAXIS (2D and 3D)
• FLAC
• GEO 5
• AutoCAD

Highway Engineering and Land Surveying

A branch of civil engineering, highway engineering constitutes the planning, design, operation, construction, and maintenance of structures like roads, tunnels, and bridges to ensure safe and efficient movement and transportation of peoples and goods. 

Land surveying, on the other hand, is a specialized field of civil engineering that determines the three-dimensional positions of points and the distances and angles between them. Land surveying finds its application in establishing maps and boundaries for ownership, locational identifications.

Tools

• AutoCAD Civil 3D
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Autodesk Infraworks

Structural Engineering

Structural engineering is a field that involves the analysis and design of structures that resist or support loads. It takes into account the physical laws and empirical knowledge to outline the structural performance of different materials and geometries. 

It's crucial since it directly impacts the durability and the safety of the buildings and other structures. A case in point would be the determination of optimal material grade that ensures function and safety sans the increase of unnecessary costs.

Tools

• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Autodesk Advance Steel
• Autodesk Robo Structural Analysis
• Autodesk Revit
• Bentley STAAD.Pro
• CSI E Tabs
• Trimble Tekla
• SAFE

Conclusion

While there are lucrative offers on the horizon, civil engineering students should seek to upskill to secure a position. 

You can start your career in civil engineering today, up enrolling in our specially designed AutoCAD course, these courses are developed after taking inputs from industry experts and leading academicians. Continue to read the second part of the blog to garner more important insights. You can find the second part of this series