AutoCAD, still necessary but not as our main modeling software.
July 16, 2019

AutoCAD, still necessary but not as our main modeling software.

Anonymous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with AutoCAD

Our BIM department uses AutoCAD for Revit Backgrounds that we receive from other contractors as well as backgrounds for our robotic total station tablet. AutoCAD is NOT our main modeling software. We typically only use it because of other firms/contractors have not made the switch to Revit yet and because our tablet does not accept Revit as an acceptable file format for backgrounds.
  • AutoCAD was a great software program for construction in the past. There are some trades that are still using it because the add ons they use are still rooted in AutoCAD.
  • It works great for our RTS backgrounds. If we tried to use a Revit file it would be a HUGE file and bog down our tablet
  • AutoCAD has so many customization capabilities you can really set it up to so that is able to be used exactly how you need it to be.
  • AutoCAD is very likely to crash if you attempt to rotate a 3D view rapidly. Once the views are set you can zoom and pan but rotate is a sure thing to have the program crash.
  • It is a program that was great in it's day and still has some uses but Revit is MADE for construction and has a lot of advantages over AutoCAD
  • It still has uses so we are required to use it from time to time
AutoCAD was designed to model anything from the tiniest screw to an entire factory and everything in between. It worked great in its day but Revit is made for construction and has many advantages over AutoCAD because of this.
It is great for RTS backgrounds or for using as an overlay for a reflected ceiling plan but I would not recommend it as a main modeling program for anyone in construction. When I encounter a firm/contractor that is still using AutoCAD as their main form of modeling it is usually pretty apparent off the bat that they are trying to hang on to the past.