Before the advance of personal computers, architects and engineers would hand-draw construction plans. Skilled drafters used a variety of drawing tools to reproduce these documents. However, computer-aided design programs revolutionized the construction industry, making the drawing process faster and more accurate. Construction drawings are still used on some job sites, especially in older buildings.
When used on construction sites, digital documentation has many advantages. The benefits lie in the fact that the document can be accessed from any location, and because they are not physically present, they cannot be torn or damaged.
The following are a few reasons using digital plans optimizes efficiency and stability in the construction industry.
Easy Storage
Companies that specialize in urban digitalization like CityZenith believe that digital plans are more efficient and allow for better planning, building, and archiving. Where printed projects can be damaged or soiled by different hands, digital plans are available on various electronic devices and do not require direct printing or storage in physical locations. This old process of storing projects could allow for easy loss or misplaced plans over the years. Even now, we have problems with older buildings that no longer have plans. This is why builders now use digital techniques for building structures as they can be found faster.
The digital plans are stored on servers or are cloud-based and can be protected from physical damage. More than one person can access them at a time, and contractors and engineers can make quick annotations or changes quickly.
Inspecting Structural Soundness
When you have digital plans of a building, it is easier to analyze the structural soundness of the building. Some projects may have underlying flaws that would require costly revisions. By creating digital plans, you can identify problems early on to minimize errors in the future. It is also easier for builders to make additions or repair other sections of the commercial building.
Saving Documents for Future Use
Digital documents also have the advantage that sections can be easily copied and reused in other projects. This is useful for multiple projects that use the same components or style of construction and installation details.
Using Digitalized Plans in Existing Buildings
Building additions and renovating existing buildings can also benefit from digital documents. There may be additional steps to take, however. Depending on the age of the construction, it may only be available in print forms, damaged, or nonexistent. In these cases, technology is also helpful for creating updated and new plans for the existing building.
A professional engineering firm can scan and update construction documents in their physical format if they are only available in physical form. Scanned documents are converted to the respective formats required by design software via high-resolution images.
As technology continues to advance, optimizing construction projects with digital plans becomes more optimal. When there are no digital or printed documents, a plan can be created by mapping out the building with 3D laser scanners. Keeping plans in a digital format can help prevent costly mistakes when construction projects officially begin. Consider the tips above when making construction preparations in the future.