Our Articles
Designing for Tomorrow: The Synergy of AI and CAD in Construction
Artificial intelligence is the science of making machines do things that would require intelligence if done . . .
Navigating the Waters of Hydraulic Design with the Special Capabilities of h2x
Tired of the cumbersome process of calculating, designing and estimating pipe sizing using spreadsheets . . .
Why an Indian Back Office Gives You the Competitive Edge for CAD Services
When someone mentions India, if the first thing that pops into your mind is Bollywood, butter chicken and snake charmers . . .
Is Outsourcing CAD Services to India the Smart Choice for Construction Design?
A new Robin Hood is offering hope in the forest of corporate strategies - outsourcing 3D CAD design services . . .
Achieving Net Zero Goals with Effective Façade Engineering Design
‘The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.’ Sadly, few can deny that we are still passing . . .
Design Precision: Engaging Indian Talent for CAD/BIM Solutions
Curries, cricket and cinema – is that what comes to mind when someone says ‘India’? Today, India is known for other things . . .
Applying AI for Intelligent Construction Design
In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has made gradual and continuous inroads into construction design . . .
Efficient Facilities Management: The Power of Digital Twins
In an era where traditional building maintenance methods may not be sufficient to ensure functionality . . .
The Efficiency Quotient: Outsourcing Construction Design CAD Services to India
How can reliable CAD services help you be efficient. As construction design . . .
Form Strategic Indian CAD/BIM Partnerships to Shape Construction Design
Construction design is a vast terrain that is constantly evolving and dynamic . . .
Streamlining BIM Automation with Dynamo
Who hasn’t heard of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and its impact on 3D modelling or its potential . . .
Savvy & Sustainable – Retail Design Essentials
In the ever-evolving world of retail design, much like fashion, staying current is not just . . .
4 Ways to Make Bathrooms More Energy-efficient
Singing with perfect acoustics, savouring a cool, refreshing shower or lounging in a luxurious hot bath, the bathroom can be . . .
Innovative Approaches to MEP System Integration in Large-scale Commercial Developments
English economist, physician and philosopher, William Petty . . .
How Does COBie Support BIM Technology?
‘Cobie’ Smulders regularly lit up the small screen as an integral part of ‘How I Met . . .
How Critical Is Facade Engineering Design Accuracy?
Façades sometimes have a negative connotation, but everything . . .
What Building Engineering Design Trends Can We Expect in the Near Future?
Dynamic shifts in technologies are driving building engineering trends from . . .
Sustainable MEP Design Strategies for Green Hospital Buildings
Design is inherent in all that is created, but then, it’s much more. It is an amalgamation of . . .
The Role of MEP Systems in Infection Control in Hospital Buildings
Did you know that MEP design can account for 30% to 40% of the total construction costs in a healthcare facility . . .
Integrating Renewable Energy Sources into MEP Systems for Commercial Buildings
Accounting for approximately 39 percent of global carbon dioxide emission . . .
Exploring LOD in Architecture & Engineering
Terminology in any industry is a sign of growth. In the construction industry, new terms crop up with regularity . . .
When Will Retail Design Move Fully into 3D?
Shoppers are influenced by so much more than the merchandise. They want to be engaged, surprised, intrigued . . .
Are Digitised Homebuilding Design Services Here to Stay?
To sustain longevity, one needs to evolve. Homebuilding design services, such as residential architectural . . .
Can Offshore Resources Make the Move from CAD to Revit-based Designing Easier in the US?
According to a survey by the American Institute of Architects, all large architectural . . .
How Can US Housing Improve the Speed & Quality of Plan Updates?
A man is king of his castle, and right now, castles are scarce to come by in the US . . .
Is DfMA Helping Progress the Construction of Educational Institutes?
It’s time design went back to school and maybe even colleges or other educational institutes . . .
Interactive Floor Planner – Another Digital Twin Tool for Homebuilders?
Alike in every way that counts, twins typically reflect a series of physical traits in each . . .
How Revizto Goes Beyond Communication
In a world of constant change, technological advancements occur with almost . . .
Why 3D MEP Design Is Important for Housing
Consistent action leads to consistent results, and it is only consistent design that guides . . .
Can Store Design Enhance Customer Experience?
In the ever-challenging retail industry, competition is fierce. Facets in addition . . .
Embedding Floor Planners in Websites Generates New Leads for Homebuilders
On a high for quite some time following the pandemic, the US homebuilding industry . . .
Can Homebuilders Save Expenses by Using Floor Planners?
Overspending is more often the case than not during a complex homebuilding project . . .
Retail Store Building Design for Hypermarkets
Vast, exhibiting an almost inexhaustible array of choices and potentially overwhelming . . .
Why Do Interactive Floor Planners Signal Progress for Homebuilders?
Progress means different things for different people and at different times . . .
Can Dynamo Scripts Change the Construction Design Narrative?
Dynamo, a visual programming tool in Revit, can make building design and engineering . . .
How Can Offshore Design Partners Fit into Current BIM Workflows?
Achieving greatness only needs the right partner. Design partners can offer invaluable benefits . . .
Do Digital Twins Contribute to Greater Efficiency in Facilities Management?
Complete efficiency in any sphere, much like the pursuit of happiness, is a mirage that conscientious . . .
How Can Point Cloud Models Help Existing Structures Transform into Residences?
American writer and publisher John Bartlett once wrote, ‘An antique is anything . . .
Can Homebuilders Boost Sales Using Dynamic Floor Plan Tools?
It’s been a tough year for many sectors, and homebuilding has been somewhat affected as well . . .
How Important Is Energy Modelling for Performance Estimates?
Let’s go green, not with envy but with energy efficiency, an important measurable factor of sustainability . . .
Can BTR Home Design Benefit from 3D Modelling?
A distinct asset class, build to rent houses aims to make housing affordable for everyone . . .
Are As-fitted Models from Point Cloud Surveys Useful for Facilities Management?
Longevity requires adaptation skills. The longevity of a building depends on adapting to new circumstances . . .
Unblocking Retail Block Plan Challenges
Understanding the effect of retail design layouts and retail space planning can result in maximising revenue. An effective block plan, or layout plan . . .
Design Drawing Considerations for Smart Homes
It used to be in the realm of science fiction, but no more. Smart living in smart homes is fast becoming . . .
Are Both Domain & Software Knowledge Necessary for MEP Scan to BIM Modelling?
Well, the brief and succinct answer is a resounding ‘yes’! It is indeed necessary for MEP modellers and scan to BIM services for MEP to be . . .
Considerations for Designing Net Zero Houses
Climate change stories are incomplete without the big, bad villains – homo sapiens. Of all the nasty things . . .
Understanding Stages & Outputs of Retail Design
It all starts with a notion, an idea, a seed. Retail building design, much like any other type of design, begins with a concept of a retail . . .
Can Effective Building Engineering Design Support Sustainability?
Everyone in the construction industry is thinking about it, if not talking about it – sustainability, the not-so-new buzzword with a new urgency . . .
How Hi-tech Surveys Help Renovation & Facilities Management
Out with the old and in with the new! Both renovation techniques and technology seem to be advancing . . .
Can Consultants Use Scan to BIM Technology as Effectively as Contractors?
‘The past is never where you think you left it,’ writer and activist Katherine Porter once said. Sometimes this is true of MEP design drawings . . .
Why Design Support Can Make Remodelling Easy in Housing Projects
It can be daunting. Just the thought of remodelling a group of older residential buildings or large housing projects can induce a minor . . .
Can MEP Consultants Help Protect Retail Food Chains from Fire Risks?
Safety always comes first. In the fast-paced retail sector, design and construction is implemented at high speed. Solutions to MEPF design challenges, such as high-quality HVAC . . .
Can Robotics Help Fast Track As-built Drawings?
Right from the time of R2-D2 and C-3PO in the original ‘Star Wars’, humans have been awed and inspired by what droids or robots can do . . .
How Digital Twins in Construction Focus on the Human Aspect
You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it requires people to make the dream . . .
Why Homebuilders Find Digital Tools Attractive
In the business of making dreams come true by building dream homes, it is essential for large homebuilders to communicate design intent clearly . . .
What Do Experienced Offshore Partners Offer Australian Building Engineering Firms?
It’s no secret. Australian construction firms sourcing building engineering design solutions offshore have had to deal with their share of snafus . . .
Are Store Design Drawings Important for Brand Roll-outs?
A bit similar to a major-stakes chess game (Remember ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’?), brand roll-outs feature several pieces and potentially risky moves . . .
How Point Cloud Data Helps Create Accurate 3D Models for Commercial Buildings
If a picture paints a thousand words, accurate 3D models offer a vast range of information and design details. When point cloud data is used . . .
Digital Twin – An Unavoidable Relation in Construction?
Some relatives make themselves tenaciously familiar. They may not always be valued and may be pushy at times, but they usually have your best interests at heart . . .
How Efficient Are MEP Drafting Services from India?
Efficiency is doing things the best possible way from every aspect. During construction, the design, planning, installation and performance of building services . . .
How Popular Are Housing Associations in the UK?
Six million people across England receive shelter and support from housing associations, clearly making them popular. Housing associations work together . . .
How Can Using Dynamo for AEC Projects Usher in Greater Productivity?
Faster, better, stronger - paraphrasing the Olympic motto, every construction firm can identify with increasing productivity in a highly competitive arena - completing projects faster . . .
Value Engineering for US Mechanical & Utility Contractors
Remember when strangers used to be nice for no reason? The grocery guy threw in an extra apple for free and with a smile or the baker handed you a sweet bun as he wrapped . . .
How REIT Can It Be?
More and more people are doing it. Real estate investment trust (REIT) housing in the US market is seeing a boost in popularity. This will inevitably mean that they will need the experience and expertise . . .
How 3D Walk-throughs Best Represent Retail Concepts
Retail vision drives retail concepts, retail design and ultimately retail sales. A rendered 3D walk-through can showcase retail concepts . . .
How Detailed Should Retail Construction Drawings Be?
Competing in an environment where everything needs to be perfect is nothing new for retailers. That includes adhering to the rules and regulations of building authorities . . .
Does External 3D Rendering Improve Branding in Store Planning?
Individual identity has always been important, but the identity of a retail brand is crucial to its very survival. Branding defines what makes a retail outlet unique . . .
How Can Retail Drawings & CGIs Contribute to Brand Roll-outs?
Change is good, they say, but not always easy. Changing or updating a retail brand image across multiple locations can be challenging, and it needs attention to detail, accuracy and experience . . .
Should Large Homebuilders Seek CAD Drafting Support?
Everybody needs a little help sometimes, they say. That’s been true for large homebuilders with a significantly heavy load of drafting requirements . . .
‘Greening’ an Existing Building
It may be a new buzzword now and it may be worthwhile to incorporate sustainability into building design for new buildings, but what about existing buildings? How do we ‘green’ an existing structure . . .
Do Homebuilders Prefer a One-stop Shop for Interior Rendering?
Granted that customisation in homebuilding is increasingly the norm, enabling customisation involves a gamut of drawings, modifications and rendered images to see the effect . . .
How Advanced Is Hydraulic Design in Australia?
Learning about water, sewerage and hydraulic system design may not be every child’s dream and ideal in Australia, but in the past few decades, hydraulic engineering in buildings and hydraulic design . . .
Can CFD Help Solve Building Engineering Design Challenges?
Though building engineering design may necessarily navigate through a multitude of challenges, one of the prime aspects . . .
Can Dynamo Improve the Efficiency of AEC Project Deliveries?
Steady progress is constant in the design workflows and construction planning of AEC projects globally. However, it is still possible to spend precious man-hours on repetitive design and documentation . . .
Challenges & Solutions for Homebuilding Today
It’s a world of many challenges, but homebuilders face a number of specific challenges today. They include a shortage of experienced Revit designers, a scarcity of skilled labour . . .
Find the Right Design Support for Home Renovation
‘Good help is hard to find,’ they say. Not always. As families grow or there is an increasing need for home office space or people just get bored, the prospect of home renovation . . .
Managing Construction Documentation for the Australian Housing Sector
The housing sector in Australia has witnessed the effects of strong population growth and steadily increasing immigrant numbers, resulting in more . . .
Optimising Brand Consistency with Retail Construction Drawings
One of several ways to optimise brand consistency in each retail outlet of a brand is to work with accurate and detailed retail design drawings and retail construction drawings . . .
MEP Drafting Considerations for Hospitals
Hospitals have so much going on - consultation, treatment, operations, physiotherapy, catering, biological waste and healing environments. There’s so much to manage, so much to do and so much . . .
How Design Development Fills the Gap in Construction Design
If residential construction design could be likened to a full course meal, the design development stage would be the entrée or the first part of the main course . . .
Will Internal 3D Rendering Help Space Planning in Retail Stores?
High stakes and fierce competition in the retail industry make it the proverbial ‘dog eat Pedigreed dog’ world. Retail stores and the spaces they showcase have long been uential in . . .
How Smart Buildings Will Affect Architectural Design
A truly ‘smart’ building looks ‘smart’ and acts ‘smart’ too. Smart buildings feature a slew of impressive characteristics and are constantly . . .
Modern Architectural Design for Mixed-use Buildings
Architecture is so much more than just a good-looking building. Like a person, it has layers. It is an art requiring adaptation, mathematical precision and functionality. As the needs of society . . .
How BIM Addresses Design Challenges for Architects
Architects bring visions to life, and a significant portion of that process is the architectural design itself. Over the years, the architectural design process has transformed. What seems to have become an inevitable . . .
Top 3 Advantages of Walk-throughs for Homebuilders
A permanent open house is how some refer to virtual house tours or 3D walk-throughs of a home. What’s not to like about accessing the interiors and exteriors of a house for potential . . .
Can Walk-throughs Influence/Direct Retail Store Design Modifications?
Yes. Changing times require that everything and everyone must change accordingly. In today’s retail environment, changes are even more fast-paced than before . . .
Residential Architectural Renderings: How They Benefit Distinct Stakeholders
They are called dream homes for a reason. Whether they are cosy suburban homes with the perfect lawn and spotless white picket fences, featuring a happy family . . .
Fly Ash – Another Brick in the Wall for Greener Buildings
It’s a win-win equation for the construction industry and the environment, a distinct rarity. The construction industry has come under repeated fire for environmental damage in countless ways – construction waste, air, water . . .
Are Fire Design Guidelines Similar in Australia & the UK?
Both part of the British Commonwealth and also the spirited Ashes cricket series, does the commonality between Australia and the UK extend to fire design guidelines for buildings as well? Both countries have had their share of building . . .
Why Residential Architectural Rendering is Paramount for Homebuilders
Homebuilders can offer people the world, especially in an environment where the chances of people working from home are increasing exponentially. New residential design will have to consider that the home will . . .
Lighting Considerations for Optimum Productivity in Commercial Buildings
What makes commercial buildings productive? Well, in essence, they should have an environment, system or workflow that encourages inhabitants to perform their tasks to the best of their ability. Commercial buildings may consist of office . . .
Benefits of Revit Families for Residential Construction Drawings
Family benefits come in many forms, but Revit families provide particular benefits for the development of residential construction drawings. Most construction . . .
Can Homebuilders Rely on 3D Walk-throughs to Increase Sales?
Competition is fierce in the homebuilding industry. Standing out in the throng can come down to clever marketing. For a dynamic homebuilding industry, 3D house walk-throughs and animations developed from these walk-throughs . . .
Benefits of 3D Modelling in Retail Space Design
Store designers make it look simple and easy, but there have always been challenges in incorporating retail marketing needs into retail design drawings . . .
The Difference Between Building Engineering Consultants & Contractors
As author and psychiatrist Scott Peck once said, ‘Share our similiarities, celebrate our differences.’ Building engineering consultants and contractors share certain similarities, but the differences offer an almost holistic resolution . . .
Exploring ‘Macro’, ‘Median’ & ‘Micro’ Prefabrication
Modern concepts breed modern lingo. Hence, the growing phenomenon of prefabrication, or DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly), in the construction industry is gradually leading to the introduction of new terms . . .
Why Is Power Factor Correction So Important for Green Buildings
Going ‘green’ is an ideal concept that is fast becoming a necessity, rather than a preferred option. In the global construction industry, there is an increasing drive . . .
The Relevance of CFD for Shopping Mall Design
Shopping malls alternate between being mundane, functional or a venue for amusement, based on customer needs. Since many customers visit shopping malls at any given time for any given reason . . .
How Can Commercial Buildings Move Towards Net Zero Goals?
It’s inevitable. Amid the chaos of rising energy prices, climate change and depleting energy resources, solutions must be explored. In a world where building construction consumes the lion’s share of energy, the use of building energy...
Why Re-design Retail Spaces?
Pandemic-induced norms may have driven online sales to dizzying heights, but brick-and-mortar stores will always retain a certain appeal. They may have to be refurbished - out with the old and in with the new. They may have to...
How Important Is CDP in Building Construction?
Just a little bit like good parenting, CDP, or the contractor’s design portion, is all about taking responsibility. Contractual obligations define the specific project parts that the contractor agrees to design...
The Importance of Retail 3D Rendering
Retail stores do more than just display products. They provide lifestyle experiences for consumers, persuading them to linger in the store and influencing their mood. An engaging retail store design in sync with its brand . . .
The Increasing Popularity of 3D modelling in Homebuilding
‘Keeping up with the Joneses’ is as important for homebuilders as it is for home buyers. Increasingly, homebuilders are using technology to work faster, more efficiently and not just keep up with homebuilding advances but make themselves...
Why Homebuilders Prefer 3D Modelling
Nothing beats getting things right early on in an expansive project. In the world of large homebuilding projects, a minor miscalculation can lead to disastrous effects, which makes it essential to plan and design as accurately as possible. As the dependency solely on 2D drawings for...
Perfecting Interior Design & Visualisation for Fashion Stores
Fashion and being fashionable can accomplish a variety of things – satisfaction, self-confidence, mood enhancement and that certain . . .
How Can Point-cloud Technology Help Hotels with Constant Renovation Challenges
Although antique, colonial-style hotels may have a certain charm, many today prefer the comforts and conveniences of a modern hotel, one that is sufficiently and constantly upgraded. Hotel renovations must occur regularly...
Does Architectural 3D Rendering Help Sales in the Homebuilding Sector?
Selling a home in the homebuilding industry involves creating a narrative where potential inhabitants are promised a new and attractive lifestyle. Residential rendering services can help create this narrative to . .
What Happens in Housing with Inferior Quality MEP Design?
We, as building occupants no longer accustomed to living in the wild, take for granted the level of comfort we enjoy indoors. Well ventilated rooms that are temperature controlled, running water and lights and gadgets that make...
Large-scale High-rise Projects Need Large BIM-experienced Teams
High-rise construction began in the late 1800s in the United States, and it scaled great heights on its journey into the 2000s. The scale of high-rise construction expanded horizontally as well...
What Makes Buildings More Energy-efficient?
As building construction accounts for over one-third of global energy consumption and nearly 40% of total direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions . . .
Retail Store Branding Made Easy with Internal 3D Rendering
Identifying and promoting what makes a brand unique has a considerable effect on how the brand is perceived by others. This concept of branding helps retail store . . .
How BIM Fits into Different Sectors of Building Design
Building Information Modelling (BIM), a 3D model-based process to efficiently design, construct and manage buildings, fits into different sectors of building design . . .
The Difference between Drafting & Design Development
Interlinked, interconnected and interesting, the line between drafting and design development can be fuzzy at times. Drafting, or draughting, in building design is the process of graphically representing a building and its...
Why Create 3D Walk-throughs for Retail Spaces
Among the many places evolving at pace with pandemic-induced lockdowns, retail spaces are adapting in style and with a dash of innovation to boot . . .
What Are the Advantages of MMC in the UK?
Changes galore – that’s what the UK construction and housing market has seen in the past critical few years. The effects of Brexit, the pandemic and economic policies have resulted in increased demands on the UK housing...
How CAD Goes Beyond Drafting
Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the past few decades, most design professionals are familiar with CAD, or computer-aided design. For years, CAD has been used to create 2D and 3D designs, such as layout...
New Ways to Incorporate Sustainability in MEP Design
Doing the right thing is becoming increasingly popular in construction. Thus, sustainability is not just a hot topic or concept, it is now a concept that can be and must be implemented as much as possible...
BIM – It’s a Win – Win for Homebuilders & Home Buyers!
Building Information Modelling (BIM), a 3D model-based process that provides architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals data and tools to efficiently design . . .
The Evolution of Residential Architectural Rendering
Homes, like many dreams, leave a visual impression in the minds of a home buyer, and as such, designers need to accurately represent that visualisation. In the current scenario, this need has given rise to the creation...
What Does XS CAD Provide for Retailers?
XS CAD, a UK-based global design, BIM and CAD services provider, assists in the design and development of global retail projects according to local codes and standards . . .
Managing Workflow for High-rise BIM Projects
It can be chaotic. Scores of people on site, endless meetings, a steady stream of RFIs and submittals being created, materials being loaded and unloaded – managing a building construction project . . .
Manual As-fitted vs Laser-scanned As-fitted Drawings
Star Wars fans will always remember the thrill of their first introduction to light sabres, the oh-so-cool laser swords. Though maybe not as exciting, laser scanning procedures in construction have a certain
Approaching Concept Design/Working Drawings
Why are we here? What is our purpose? Esoteric questions such as these are likely to be understood only by an elite group of philosophers with specialised knowledge or interest in certain concepts...
How Layout Design Differs for Different Retail Sectors
Yes, we are manipulated by the retail industry – and we like it. Retailers think very seriously about how we think, what we like, who we are and who we want to be. Since we typically meet retail products for the first time in retail spaces . . .
Benefits of Using CFD for Fire Protection Design
Fires are unpredictable. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is an analytical tool that predicts or calculates fluid flows and can be used by fire design service providers to help design an effective fire protection . . .
CAD to Revit BIM Conversion Makes Large-scale/High-rise Building Workflows Easier
It may not exactly be dog eat dog, but competition is fierce in the construction industry, especially for large-scale or high-rise building projects. Efficient construction design has proven to be the very foundation . . .
How Can Wall Graphics Enhance Residential Architectural Rendering?
Residential architectural rendering of attractive 3D interiors has the power to influence decisions, and one of the key features of interior scenes is the wall – its colour, its texture . . .
What’s in a Homebuilding CD Set?
One of the key pre-construction design deliverables powering the AEC (architecture, engineering and construction) industry, construction documentation sets, or CD sets, are kaleidoscopes of design . . .
Why Users Prefer AutoCAD for Roof Design Drafting
When large homebuilders use local architects for their projects, they are having the cake and eating it too, with cherries on top. Architects from or near the project site provide several perks . . .
MEP Design for Office Spaces
Parameters for office design include advanced technology, safety, comfort and security, all while being environmentally friendly. Flawless mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems design is crucial . . .
What Do As-fitted Models Include?
‘The best laid plans of mice and men’ is a famous line from a poem about a mouse whose nest was destroyed by the poet Robert Burns. Men also create designs for their own nests that somehow don’t always work out...
Considering External Services for Building Design
A long time ago, somewhere in the Third World, a large, luxury-fitted, modern apartment complex was built in record time and apartment units were sold, only for residents to discover that their beautiful chrome-plated bathroom fixtures...
Hierarchy of Revit Family Creation
Just as every great building begins with a single brick or plank, designing with Revit begins with a Revit family. Revit family creation is a specialised multi-layered field of expertise in design modelling . . .
What Is Modular Construction for Bathrooms?
Function and aesthetics must merge flawlessly in bathrooms. To enable this, bathroom design needs thought, expertise and seamless execution. Prefabricated bathroom modules or bathroom pods are a convenient . . .
3D Building Information Modeling Facilitates Accurate Cost Estimation to Avoid Budget Overruns
Building Information Modelling (BIM) has transformed the process of construction, bringing with it a wave of benefits. The use of BIM technology and BIM services in the segment of quantification . . .
Key Considerations for Engineering Design in US Hospitals
Hospital patients are one of society’s most vulnerable groups, which makes it imperative that healthcare facilities make them comfortable and safe for the duration of their stay. As the cost of healthcare and hospital stay in the . . .
Outsourcing Retail 3D Rendering – Common Mistakes
A picture paints a thousand words, and a 3D rendered image represents a multitude of visual elements - interior details, exterior details, moods, lighting, fixtures, furniture, textures, etc. For retailers, seeing a view of . . .
Why Is It Becoming Imperative for HVAC Component Manufacturers to Create Revit Families?
Manufacturers in the AEC industry deal with special requirements, special equipment and special clients. There is an equally special process – the BIM (Building Information Modelling) process – which manufacturers, specifically . . .
MEP Design for Modern Educational Institutes
Most modern schools and universities offer Internet and free Wi-Fi facilities to their students and accept class work sourced from the Internet. Today’s educational institutes have integrated the use of computers, tablets . . .
Archicad Modelling vs Archicad Drafting
It’s kind of a Tom-and-Jerry predicament. For the cartoon to be funny, you need both Tom and Jerry, both participants. Similarly, for architectural design services to be truly effective, there is a need for both 3D modelling . . .
Understanding the Challenges of MEP (M&E) Prefabrication Drawings
Current hero in the construction industry, prefabrication is something everyone wants a piece of – literally. As prefabrication extends to modular construction services, the creation of different types of MEP . . .
Designing Effective Plant Rooms
Plant rooms may call to mind the concept of greenhouses, but they are far less pretty in the MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) landscape. Dedicated to housing mechanical equipment and related electrical . . .
Why Models from Point Cloud Data are Useful for Architectural and MEP Design
Construction, much like other industries across the globe, must face a new world order – one that takes climate change, green building and the mantra of reduce, reuse, recycle into consideration . . .
Photorealistic 3D Rendering: A Perfect Fit for Homebuilders’ Marketing Mix
Since homebuilding is essentially a service provided to potential owners, homebuilders are expected to get the seven ‘P’s of service marketing right. These include product, price, place, promotion, physical environment, . . .
How Hevacomp Improves Building Design
Anything and everything can be improved, and when it comes to improving building design, software tools that offer accuracy, versatility, ease and speed are sure to find popularity. Hevacomp is one such entity that has . . .
MEP Design for Modern Schools and Universities Compared to 25 Years Ago
Right up until the mid-1990s, most schools and universities did not offer Internet and free Wi-Fi facilities to its students or accept class work sourced from the Internet. In fact, it was around . . .
How BIM Content Helps Manufacturers
Today’s MEP engineer or architect wants to choose the most appropriate components or fixture from many different brands in the shortest possible time. Clear and detailed communication of product information . . .
Using BIM Models and Drawings for Homebuilding Design
Get it done on time and within budget!’ seems to be the mantra for general contractors in the AEC industry. Also known as main contractors in the UK, general contractors make it their number one priority to complete projects . . .
Key Traits of an Effective Architectural BIM Support Partnership
The movement has begun, and it looks unstoppable. Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology is here to stay, and there is a growing need for reliable residential BIM services as well as other BIM deliverables globally. . . .
Why Choose MEP Design Partners from India
The main advantage of MEP designers in India for Western construction? A single source for MEP design services being effectively delivered in the shortest time, at a cost-effective rate. There are MEP consultants in India . . .
Re-defining Home Office Space
Working from home is fast becoming a global trend that is no longer a choice or a luxury. It has already become a necessity for many the world . . .
5 Great Reasons to Use Revit for Homebuilding
Home designers and clients are finding it easy to use Revit Architecture services for their home design requirements. As Building Information Modelling (BIM) is becoming a major innovation for homebuilding drafting . . .
Advantages of CAD Drafting over Manual Drafting
Change is not easy. Sometimes, though, change can result in making life easier. In construction, drawings are still paramount. They are critical for sound planning, smooth workflows and material and cost estimates. There used . . .
Using Outsourcing Firms for Homebuilding Design
Outsourcing is no longer a bad word. Scorn and distrust previously associated with outsourcing has given way to appreciation for technical accuracy, professionalism and overall cost benefits. Increased levels of trust have . . .
How Residential BIM Modelling Supports Informed Decision-making
Making a dream concept of a home into a real, actual building requires key players in the construction process making a series of right decisions. Effective decision-making has always needed a cool head borne from . . .
The Importance of Automated Lighting Control Systems in Retail
Dynamic retail lighting is an important factor in successful retail sales. Creating a relaxing atmosphere for customers encourages them to stay in the store longer and examine the merchandise. The longer people stay, the greater...
How Can Detailed 3D Walk-throughs Benefit Homebuilders?
Wysiwyg! ‘What you see is what you get’ has been a catchphrase for decades, and initially, it used to refer to a computer screen display which appears on screen the way it will be seen when printed . . .
What Kind of Workflow Results When MEP BIM Services Are Outsourced?
It’s almost like diving into the unknown – except, it doesn’t have to be. When a Building Information Modelling (BIM) manager has to make the decision to outsource the BIM MEP services of his/her project . . .
Retail Design Challenges for Architects
It can be a tricky business. Balancing the needs and constraints of retailers with the science of architecture involves building trust based on communication, creativity and a clear understanding of brand identities. Typically, brand...
BIM Drives Cost Efficiencies for Plumbing Design
Nobody wants to think about plumbing until it stops working or becomes faulty, but plumbing design services are of paramount importance for both the comfort of building inhabitants and the health and life of the building. Part of the wider ambit of MEP . . .
MEP Design & MEP Installation Challenges
Ideal and effective MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) design at its early stages can quickly and devastatingly spiral into a nightmare for installation purposes without the right mechanical design . . .
How Open BIM Facilitates Collaborative Design
Due to its multifaceted benefits, building information modelling (BIM) is rapidly gaining traction in the AEC industry as the key pre-construction planning, construction management and post-construction . . .
Why Is Lighting Customised for Retail Outlets?
Increase sales! More than anything, retail outlets want to increase revenue in as many ways as possible. One of those ways is by customising retail lighting to provide more than just the right ambience...
5 Compelling Reasons to Use Revit for Homebuilding
Intelligent design transforms a house into a desirable home, and designers need high-quality tools to help visually represent their design. Home designers, until recently, were of almost unanimously convinced that Revit . . .
Approaching MEP BIM Projects Using Coordination Specialists
Changing winds bring changing times, and for the AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) industry, one of the most sweeping changes that blew in was the arrival of Building Information . . .
Business Continuity for CAD/BIM Companies during the Time of Covid-19
Whatever happens, the show must go on. And some businesses around the world are putting on quite the show. Determined to ensure business continuity during the time of Covid-19 . . .
3D MEP Coordination: An Effective Way to Reduce Rework and Increase Efficiency
Maintaining deadlines in the AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) industry will be of paramount importance as global firms adjust to changing environments. Reducing rework and increasing process . . .
How Architects Fit into the Retail Design Process
Walking into a famous burger retail chain outlet or a well-known tech giant’s retail space anywhere in the world, there are always going to be familiar features and a few not-so-familiar attributes. Balancing brand characteristics...
How Can Wall Decor Enhance Residential Architectural Rendering
Residential architectural rendering of attractive 3D interiors has the power to influence decisions, and one of the key features of interior scenes is the wall – its colour, its texture, its effect . . .
How Will Covid-19 Impact Prefabrication?
In so many ways, 2020 is poised to become a watershed year for global change. The Coronavirus pandemic has affected and will affect a range of industries, generations of people and the environment, but not always negatively...
Why Large Homebuilders Prefer Using Local Architects
When large homebuilders use local architects for their projects, they are having the cake and eating it too, with cherries on top. Architects from or near the project site provide several perks. They can access the site easily and may be able to...
Adapting Architectural Design for Retail Chains with Multiple Concepts
Keeping pace with technological advancements, the retail industry has decided not to be left behind on the constantly evolving juggernaut of change. Retail chains with a global presence have had to adapt . . .
Re-defining Home Office Spaces for Old & New Residences
Working from home is fast becoming a global trend that is no longer a choice or a luxury. It has already become a necessity for many the world over and may likely remain so indefinitely. The new normal will see homebuilders...
Key Drivers Leading the Movement to BIM for the MEP Industry
Developments in the building services, or MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing), industry have created milestones. Most of these developments have found contribution from within the industry . . .
Sustainable Homebuilding Materials & Residential BIM Modelling-Perfect Partners
When the global spotlight in construction is highlighting sustainability, can BIM (Building Information Modelling) be far behind? Using the functionality of Revit families, residential BIM modelling and other BIM modelling services...
Onus on Users, but Component Manufacturers Can Help Update BIM Libraries
Libraries have transformed from a quiet haven filled with seemingly endless shelves of books to a virtual environment necessary for modern construction . . .
Residential Architectural Rendering Made Easy
Architectural 3D rendering can help identify potential challenges early in the design process and showcase design ideas effectively with both partners and clients. A rendered image can provide . . .
MEP Coordination – An Introduction
3D MEP coordination, also known as 3D M&E coordination, is a key element of MEP design concerned with spatial configuration and the layout of building services trades (HVAC, pipe work, public health . . .
How Is 3D Building Services Design Helping Coordination?
Progress has made a steady march in the building services design industry recently. The majority of developments can be attributed to have come from within the industry. A few have come from other . . .
3 Ways to Avoid MEP BIM Design & Coordination Scope Overlaps
Construction and the MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) industry, also known as the M&E industry, owes a debt to the technological advance we know as Building Information Modelling (BIM) . . .
Why Offshore Resources Are Ideal for High-rise Architectural & Interior Design
Towers have fascinated man since buildings were first created. They symbolised status, wealth and power. Today’s high-rise structures are more functional. Sometimes combining residential, hospitality...
Plumbing Design Challenges in the UK
In the United Kingdom, as in many parts of the world, plumbing or public health design has seen changes, advances and new requirements. Creating plumbing and piping plans can be difficult, as a building’s plumbing system typically consists . . .
Supporting Retail Concept Design with Drafting, Modelling & Rendering
Ideas, or concepts, rule the roost in retail design. In a design industry that can heavily influence sales, it is crucial to communicate concepts accurately and efficiently. High-quality 3D architectural visualisation services and retail...
The 2 Methods of MEP Coordination
With the increasing complexity and functionality of each system, MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) activities are not confined to the traditional mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, but also include fire . . .
Typical Stages Involved in MEP Coordination
One of the most integral practices undertaken in the pre-construction phase, MEP (M&E) coordination demands special attention from all the AEC professionals involved in a project. This process . . .
How Is the Homebuilding Industry Beating Covid-19 ?
According to industry sources, the Covid-19 lockdown in many countries, especially in the West, are seeing more visitors online, on homebuilding sites, than ever before. How could . . .
How Structural Engineering Affects Building Services Coordination
‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ a wise African once said. Well, it takes several teams of professionals to raise a building, and like the squabbles of family members, intense but well meaning, structural engineers . . .
How Do MEP Consultants & MEP Contractors Differ?
The short answer is that an MEP consultant provides a spatially organised design that meets the intended needs of the customer’s site. An MEP contractor makes sure that construction adheres to the intended . . .
Top 5 MEP Strategies for Sustainable Building Design
‘Getting in tune with nature’ is a ringing chorus around the world during the growing clamour for practical measures against climate change, virulently contagious diseases and out-of-control carbon emissions . . .
Why MEP Component Manufacturers Should Adopt Revit Family Creation
Behind every building constructed for optimum human comfort is an efficient building services system. Ideally, this system, also known as an MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) system . . .
Why Outsourcing Revit Drawings Makes Perfect Sense
In a constantly changing world, the methodologies and technologies of creating buildings are keeping pace with other lifestyle changes as efficiently as possible. As architects progress to creating virtual building . . .
How Building Services Design Consultants Must Factor in Sustainability
Who’s the big bad wolf when it comes to using natural resources? The construction industry. Construction is responsible for approximately 36% of global energy use and 40% of global carbon dioxide emissions . . .
The Rise of MEP Risers as a DfMA Deliverable
Design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) has been weaving a spell in the AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) industry for some time, and it has been especially potent . . .
Effect of CFD Analysis on Car Park Ventilation
It’s generally a stuffy area to begin with. There’s something vaguely claustrophobic and mildly unpleasant about underground or basement car parks. Imagine how scary a fire would be in such car parks . . .
Why ‘Packaged’ Rooms & Bathroom Pods Are Popular DfMA Deliverables
Making life a little easier is a win-win for everyone, especially in the complex arena of construction, which has several players. Prefabrication has been a beacon of light . . .
How Relevant Are Retail Design Drawings for Vehicle Showrooms
Those pristine, gleaming vehicles showcased in spacious, luxurious surroundings almost always draw a gasp of awe or at the very least a lengthy pause of longing. That didn’t just happen . . .
How CFD Analysis Can Make Buildings Greener
The ‘green’ mantra in construction is no longer just a chant by new-age bohemian-type architects and engineers. Green buildings are becoming a necessity in many countries and an increasing number of building regulation . . .
20 Technological AEC Influencers of 2020
Where are we now in terms of technological influencers in the construction world? In 2020, the AEC industry is sure to exploit the following influencers, both in terms of software and technologies . . .
Critical Considerations When New to BIM Outsourcing
It can be a case of ‘too much of a good thing’ for firms in the construction industry. Businesses may find themselves with one or several interesting projects in hand, but completing . . .
DfMA – Why MEP Contractors Should Consider It
When something makes your life easier, why not use it? Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) is a building construction practice that involves integrating factory-built building components or modules . . .
The Importance of Hangers & Brackets in MEP Installation
It’s beyond debate. The importance of MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) systems and their components in the construction industry are critical. How these components and systems are placed or fastened . . .
DfMA – A Solution for On-site Skills Shortages
There’s a great deal going on in the global AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) industry, much of which is influenced by current events, including the uncertainty regarding . . .
The Secret to Functional Families – Revit MEP
People often console one another by saying every family is dysfunctional, but in the world of MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) engineering, a family is certainly a functional entity. As BIM (Building Information Modelling) . . .
The Importance of Interior Modelling and Detailing for Hotels
Relaxation, entertainment, wining and dining, the hotel experience includes all of these and more. Customer experience, though, is driven by the ambience, the personality and the brand characteristics . . .
How Contractor’s Design Portion (CDP) Fits into the Construction Process
Every link in the chain of the construction process is vital. One such link is the contractor’s design portion (CDP). The CDP comes into play when consultants on a construction project do not or cannot provide BIM . . .
Advantages of Underfloor Air Distribution in MEP Design
It happens all the time. In any commercial environment with an open-plan office space, some people just need more cool air and others in the same space bundle up with winter wear, or battle . . .
How Can Shade Analysis Work for Buildings in Australia?
In Australia, temperatures have climbed to over 50°C (122°F) on occasion and dipped to well below 0°C (32°F). Building design needs to consider the effect of shade on any building in Australia . . .
Key Considerations for Retail Design of Restaurants
The customer is always right, and that’s why customer experience drives profits in any retail outlet. This is especially true in restaurants, frequented by those who want to relax, socialise, strategise and dine . . .
Key Considerations of Building Bracing Plans
Bracing plans determine where to place the components of a bracing system to withstand wind loads and seismic pressure. Qualified, experienced and accurate partners are needed to provide architectural design . . .
Designing HVAC for Modern Offices
We spend a considerable part of our day within modern offices. It’s important that we are comfortable during this time so that we can be both productive and at peace. The quality, temperature and humidity levels of inside air must be optimised to suit the majority of the occupants . . .
Architectural Design Process for UK Retail
Retail spaces strive to entice customers and make a sale. Clever design techniques and well researched planning help achieve these goals. To enable accurate design, the different architectural . . .
How Revit 3D Modelling Improved Virtual Building Design
Imagine seeing your new home designs, a large shopping complex or even a cluster of apartment buildings in precise detail. Difficult to visualise it? Not anymore. It’s no longer difficult to imagine . . .
How Future HVAC Systems Must Adapt to Climate Change
The winter of 2017 saw Ras Al Khaimah, an emirate in the desert country of the United Arab Emirates, experience unprecedented snowfall and Dubai . . .
Different Features of UK & US Home Design
Specific climates experienced year-round, space limitations and the cost of materials influence home design options in the US and UK. Fundamental differences of UK and US home design occur within homes and include . . .
Benefits of VDC Services from India
Many innovations have been adopted in the new world of modern construction in Western countries, but it is in the field of virtual building design that novel concepts have become virtually the norm. Virtual design . . .
Common UK and US Architectural Home Design Styles
Speaking English isn’t the only thing the United Kingdom and the United States of America have in common. Both countries also feature aesthetically appealing houses constructed according to regulated and modernised . . .
Planning & Documentation for Hospital Fire Design
There are some parts of hospitals that have a higher risk of fire. These areas need special treatment. They should be well segregated from the other parts of the hospital and have dedicated fire suppression systems, such as wet . . .
What to Consider in Hospital Fire System Design
Hydraulic systems of waste facilities and transformers are places where fires could start easily due to fuels and lubricants being subjected to high temperatures. Water spray systems can be triggered hydraulically, pneumatically or . . .
Why 3D Benefits Retail Design
Retail drives our world today – our homes, what we have at home, where we work, how we get to work, what we wear and where and how we spend our leisure. The scope of retail design, therefore, is of paramount importance . . .
UK, US Houses – Similarities and Differences
Besides a common language, the United Kingdom and the United States have another common trait. They include urbanised population centres that require efficient, precise home design . . .
Widening Opportunities with Revit Family Models
Construction design practices have come a long way. Tasks enabled by updated software have contributed significantly to the progress of design practices. Increasingly seen as best suited for construction . . .
Key Features of Sustainable Architecture
Green design is also known as sustainable development, eco-design, eco-friendly architecture, and some even throw the term ‘arcology’ around. Whatever it’s called, sustainable architecture promotes nature . . .
MEP Prefabrication – Process and Benefits Manufacturing Plant
One of the most impactful advances in construction is the ease, popularity and successful implementation of prefabrication in many disciplines of construction, but none more impressive than in building services or the MEP . . .
How BIM Adds Value to Retail Design
Intense competition in the retail industry drives increased levels of performance across the board, and a key impetus to success in this industry is the visual appeal and functionality of retail outlets . . .
Prefabrication in MEP Systems
Prefabrication in MEP systems is the practice of manufacturing/assembling components of building services in a factory or other manufacturing site and transporting complete assemblies of MEP components . . .
Outsourcing Now a Better Fit for UK Homebuilders
Whether it’s the home of your dreams or shelter from the elements, the housing industry in the United Kingdom has weathered its share of storms. Amid the inclement climate of Brexit, poor construction, scarcity . . .
Architectural Rendering Preferences
Increasingly, architects, artists and designers can now flesh out a design with a range of 3D architectural rendering services. Preferences in residential architectural renderings . . .
Impact of Virtual Design & Construction in Renovation / Redevelopment
Across the world today, more than half the population resides in urban enclaves. The world’s population is estimated to reach 6 billion by 2045. Planning for growth, infrastructure . . .
Adding the Right Design Resource for Australian Housing Design
Think of Australia and you think of the outdoors, the ‘bush’, the ‘outback’, open land and open skies. Love of the outdoors and entertaining is entrenched in the Australian identity and reflected in the basic . . .
Advantages of Partnering with Top BIM Companies in India
Firms in Western nations are increasingly working with Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology in the AEC industry, and have found effective methods of managing this technology to suit time . . .
How Important is Revit Family Modelling for the AEC Industry?
Popular author Dan Brown once said, ‘Knowledge is a tool, and like all tools, its impact is in the hands of the user’. Similarly, Revit-based parametric BIM (Building Information Modelling) tools have had a significant impact . . .
VDC Helps Analyse Project Life Cycle Before Construction
When considering the practice of general construction, its two-tiered process quickly becomes evident, simply put – design followed by implementation. The efficient implementation of a construction project . . .
Streamlining Architectural Design with BIM Modelling
Efficient architectural design is instrumental in setting the tone and DNA of a building, defining what makes it unique. The entire design process involves detailed data and designs, changes and modifications . . .
How Value Engineering Plays an Important Role in MEP Coordination
Industry lingo is representative of some of the major advances in the processes and gains associated with construction. One such term that finds increasing popularity is value engineering. So, what is value engineering and how does it benefit the . . .
How the Hospitality Industry Benefits from Prefabrication
From functionality to attractiveness to technological modernity, the hospitality industry has witnessed steady progression in all areas. For some guests, the hotel bathroom is of paramount interest . . .
ArchiCAD or Revit for Homebuilding Models & Drawings?
Two stalwarts seem to tower over the rest of the available software platforms in the homebuilding industry, ArchiCAD by Graphisoft and Revit by Autodesk . . .
What Is BIM Modelling?
Building Information Modelling, or BIM Modelling, has been the buzz word in the AEC industry for some time. It’s been known to facilitate unmatched opportunities for increased productivity and significant . . .
Selecting MEP Design Partners in India
MEP (M&E) design, or mechanical, electrical and plumbing design, arguably the most essential component of construction design for comfortable living, involves a slew of vitally important services . . .
10 Reasons to Deploy DfMA
One of the most fundamental aspects of construction is design. So, what is the design process in the construction industry ultimately geared toward? The short answer is: creating a building . . .
A Look at Software Used for Architectural Rendering
They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but in the architectural environment, the ‘cover’ or final photo-realistic image needs to be both accurate in reflecting design concepts and dimensions . . .
Can Home Designers Benefit from Global Design Outsourcing?
Designing a home is a deeply personal and conceptually technical exercise – personal for the homeowner and technical for the home designer and homebuilders. As in any design process . . .
XS CAD – An Introduction and Overview
The construction sector is under constant pressure to deliver projects on time and within budget to achieve increased levels of profitability. The last few years has seen significant investment . . .
Should You use BIM 360 or Collaboration For Revit Projects?
BIM 360 Team, which is now part of BIM 360 family and was formerly known as A360, and Collaboration for Revit, more commonly abbreviated to C4R, are essentially collaboration tools that are used by various stakeholders . . .
MEP Fabrication Modelling Challenges
It’s important to maintain the momentum while moving two steps forward with advances in the construction industry. Pushback may occur at times, and the challenges faced by MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) fabrication . . .
XS CAD Limited – Corporate Profile
XS CAD is a UK and India based BIM services provider. We provide BIM, CAD and design services to building services engineers and installers, retailers, home builders and architects. We are an ISO 9001 quality . . .
Why MEP Contractors Change MEP Design Models
In the MEP environment, a building’s MEP designs are initially developed at high level and then detailed to make them clash free and installation ready. MEP designers/consultants play a significant . . .
Why the Lowest-cost Outsourcing Supplier May Not Be the Most Cost-effective
Retail brands know all about quality and consumer products that endure, precisely why consumers are willing to dole out the extra bucks. This is true for outsourced services as well. More economical . . .
Why Architectural Design Development Phase becomes More Challenging than Schematic and Contract Phase?
The schematic and contract phases are the stepping stones of just about any project, be it retail or otherwise. These are valuable phases as they set the architectural intent, the visual style and suggest one structural . . .
3D MEP Coordination-Top 5 outsourcing challenges and best practices
In the AEC (architectural, engineering and construction) industry, there is an expectation to deliver projects faster and at lower cost to clients. This pressure translates into challenges . . .
Finding the Right Outsourcing Partner for Revit and BIM Services
Making the right choice has never been easy, but with a little bit of research and dedication, it doesn’t have to be too difficult. As Revit 3D BIM modelling/ Revit BIM services are becoming increasingly prevalent . . .
How BIM for Retail Positively Impacts Time to Market
In the retail facility construction sector, time to market plays a decisive role in project success. Whilst employing building information modelling (BIM) tools has clear advantages over traditional CAD-based . . .
Outsourcing vs. Completing Retail Designs In-House
When planning store refurbishment exercises or when opening new stores major retailers across the world face tough decisions about their design process and whether to handle all (or a part of) the retail . . .
BIM-Enabled IPD: A Win-Win for Owners and Project Stakeholders
The building and construction industry is faced with a multitude of challenges in areas, ranging from design planning, construction administration and budgeting, to scheduling and facilities management . . .
4D BIM: A Boon for General Contractors
In the AEC industry, the timely and cost-effective completion of projects is the sole aim of general contractors, also referred to as main contractors in the UK. In most cases, general contractors . . .
BIM: More Than Just an Extension of 3D CAD
In the AEC industry, the advent of building information modelling (BIM) concept was viewed by many as an evolution to better 2D and 3D computer-aided design (CAD) techniques. Very few saw it as an interdisciplinary . . .
BIM-led Prefabrication: An Effective Way Forward for Healthcare MEP Projects
Designing and planning for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems for healthcare facilities brings with it a set of daunting challenges for the entire MEP (M&E) . . .