Before we get into a comparison between the two methods, we first need to establish what each one is and what these terms mean.

2D CAD Drafting

2D CAD Drafting and Drawing is the method of creating technical drawings and producing annotating designs for all your needs. CAD is an acronym for Computer-Aided Design, which designers use to develop floor plans for buildings, layouts for numerous purposes such as landscaping, control plans, and plans in general.

2D CAD Drafting is a method that has been used from the days of old, replacing complicated technical drawings via pen and paper. It’s a revolutionary way to design whatever you like without the need for stencils, and instruments, and with some room for error.

Another perk of 2D CAD Services is the flexibility of the program itself. It allows you to add annotations to anything you like and improve your design without the need to do it all over again. You can add as much or as little information and data to your 2D technical scheme with ease.

3D CAD Modeling

The next step in the evolution of 2D CAD Drafting is 3D CAD Modeling. This newer technology allows the user to do everything they could with 2D CAD Drafting but add a 3D rendering aspect to the project itself.

A 3D model is a part file you create in your program so that you can print it later! A 3D file is a model along with the co-responding environment you’ve placed it in. The focus is on the point. There are two different types of 3D models, and they are used to create two different things.

Solid Model

A solid model is a model you’ve created within your 3D modeling program, that is used to determine analytics data of the model you’re trying to create.

Think of it as the most realistic representation of your finished product stats. These models are used to acquire and analyze the data of your finished product, such as its capabilities and flaws you can improve on.

Surface Model

Surface models are another type of model you’ve created with your 3D modeling program and are mostly used to represent the shell of your object. They are used to fine-tune the appearance of the model itself and closely represent how the model will look when it’s created.

Which one is better?

Well, the answer to this question depends on your needs. What you are looking for will determine which method or program is better for you, and we’ll help you find out your needs right here!

While most PC’s can run 2D CAD Drafting without any issue, to use 3D CAD modeling, you have to invest in a higher performance machine.

Another question that comes to mind is, why do you need to use said programs? You don’t have to use 3D CAD modeling if you’re looking to create something simple, although you can.

3D CAD services are more advanced – there are no doubts about that. But with its perks, it also brings more requirements. You don’t have to employ 3D CAD Modeling if you’re working with layers, line types, and line weights.

A big perk of 3D CAD modeling is that it’s simple to present to someone. If someone is not a technician, the chances that they will understand a 2D CAD drawing are very scarce. But with a 3D Object, they can easily navigate and observe – you’re most likely to get a positive response.

Why is this useful, you might ask? The answer is simple! If you’re trying to get something approved, the process is much quicker if the person approving it can understand what they’re shown. It’s much easier to present an object than a technical drawing.

You’ve made an error, oh no! Don’t worry! Editing anything with 3D technology is an absolute breeze. You need to locate it, fix it with a few strokes of your mouse, and it’s over with. Using 2D drawing technology, the process is much more tedious. Just locating the problem is a problem in itself and redrawing the whole thing could be a nightmare.

2D drawings are for technical purposes only. The visualization of 2D drawings can’t be used for marketing purposes, as people who understand what they are viewing are either competition or very scarce. Showing functionality through this method is tough.

3D drawings are visually orientated, so visualization is an easy task to accomplish. They can be used for marketing purposes and show how an object will react and compete in a real-life and real-time situation. Showing functionality through this method is unavoidable.

So, to finally answer the question of which method is better, we’ll list some pros and cons of each one. Based on this information, we leave the realization to you.

Pros of 2D CAD Drafting

It’s far cheaper than 3D CAD modeling, so it’s a very cost-effective alternative to 3D CAD modeling. Learning the ins and outs of 2D CAD drafting is simple, and you can find your way around the program with no problem.

Formatting is simple, as you are working with. DWG extensions exclusively. Sharing your information and data with others is an absolute breeze, and you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues.

Cons of 2D CAD Drafting

It’s a bit too simple. Even if you can create 3D models through this method, the program itself does not allow you to visualize your creations.

Editing is a nightmare. Repetitive and tedious tasks such as redrawing and trimming paths and lines can take up a lot of time that could be used to create better models and drawings. Creating 3D models, even if you can’t visualize them at all is a straining task, and requires a lot more effort.

Pros of 3D CAD Modeling

3D CAD modeling is used to create 3D models easily. Every 3D model created has an automatic 2D rendering, so you’re killing two birds with one stone.

Editing is easy and takes a little time out of your workday, giving you more time to work on the model itself.

3D CAD modeling, although more advanced, can be simpler than 2D CAD drafting at times. It’s much more user and consumer-friendly. The user interaction with 3D CAD modeling is simple, as the person looking at the design can observe it in a real-life simulation. Making perks and additions is as simple as one two three.

Cons of 3D CAD Modeling

The only cons of 3D CAD modeling boil down to the hardware that is required to run the software itself. There aren’t any advantages of using 2D if 3D technology is available. 3D is an assertive and impressive thing to present to your clients, and it’s a simple way to create whatever you’re striving to create, present, or sell.

Therefore it’s always advisable to get professional help from companies like Back office Pro Company for proper 2D and 3D CAD services for your requirements.

In one of its reports, Allied Market Research (AMR) estimated a worldwide BIM market of $11.7 billion by 2022—a compounded annual growth rate of 21.6 percent between the years 2016–2022. The same report also revealed that Asia-Pacific is the fastest adopter of and is going to lead in BIM usage, with Europe as the second and North America as the third fastest-growing market.

Numbers like these confirm that BIM adoption is becoming more mainstream in the construction industry. By facilitating the optimum use of resources and collaboration, BIM paves the way for maximum ROI.

The catch here is that even with these immense benefits, on-site BIM adoption sometimes lags in some construction companies. Let’s explore why. And what can be done to drive up on-site BIM usage?

Key BIM usage challenges

There’s no denying that for construction firms in some geographies, one of the reasons to implement BIM is that it is mandated. In the UK, for example, BIM is mandatory for all public infrastructure projects. Other construction hotspots like Abu Dhabi have followed suit. It’s fair to say that at least some of the uptick in BIM is to comply with such mandates.

In such situations, it’s not uncommon for the construction firm to be unclear about their exact BIM requirements. Vague requirements, expectations, and guidelines to be followed by the downstream contractors inevitably follow. When the contractors are not clear or convinced about the utility, it becomes difficult for them to explain the same to the team in the field.

Another problem arises when the construction firm doesn’t have sufficient knowledge and capabilities to implement BIM appropriately. This results in slow, fragmented, and inconsistent adoption that impacts on-site utility as well.

Other potential challenges include the workers not having sufficient know-how of BIM, not knowing where to look for further information or help, how to consume the information BIM provides, what actions to drive based on that, who to go for guidance, and so on. This is, in many ways, the biggest challenge. In essence, it’s a question of the workers on-site not “believing” enough in the value of implementing BIM. There is an inertia prevalent driven by confidence in how they have always done things -why change?

Potential Solutions for Seamless On-Site BIM Adoption

Assuming that the construction firm builds BIM expertise or finds a reliable partner who can provide them that expertise, the key problem to solve seems to be to convince the people on-site that BIM can help them do their jobs better and to equip them to use the BIM models effectively.

Challenges like these are generally linked to skills and competency, which can prove to be barriers to on-site adoption. Skills gaps can be reduced by making some training tweaks at the organizational level.

Consider that one of the key benefits of BIM is to enhance the overall knowledge of the construction plan through exceptional visualization. While this can become a powerful tool, adopting it on-site requires the folks on-site to assume an entirely different perspective. The on-site teams need to go beyond traditional practices and realize how they can leverage these models effectively in the projects. They will need hand-holding and guidance in the initial stages but the adoption will rise as the value becomes apparent.

From that perspective, the solution to drive seamless on-site BIM adoption could start with the construction company taking charge and providing a clear roadmap to the workers. For instance, they could guide them on how to start using the information provided by the BIM models, where to start, how to gain information on the parts of the project they are working on, and the ways to drive gradual but sustained change.

Some of the best practices in this direction could be –assigning someone in each key team the responsibility of overseeing the adoption drive from the word go. This could be followed by appointing a dedicated resource who could coordinate between the various on-site teams, the contractors, and the suppliers at the operational level.

But even assuming the on-site team knows how to make the most of BIM, how to get them to commit to using the powerful tool? Here’s a story that could show just how.

An IT firm in India we worked for, had such onsite BIM adoption issues. The site team was not using the BIM construction model. Our on-site BIM-coordinator stepped in and played a crucial role in involving the entire construction team. Each day, he made sure that 2-3 people from the site could take a look at the model, see the area where they were working on and prepare for the next step. They were able to get a clear picture of their work as well as how it fitted into the overall plans. They were able to make their own work plans. This pre-knowledge became a sure-shot way to make them appreciate BIM. As a result, given sufficient time BIM model utilization increased on the site significantly. This inevitably drove better planning and tighter execution.

The Wrap

BIM Implementation is rising in construction sites across the world. For firms that are just joining the wave, implementing BIM could be a paradigm shift for companies. By addressing BIM on-site adoption issues, it will be easier for these firms to set things in motion for better outcomes.

Along with the solutions that include organizational changes, they also need to keep on measuring the benefits gained from the technology and communicate those widely. With such focused efforts, BIM usage can become much more widespread and even the on-site teams will be more comfortable using it.

The USA is a global economic powerhouse with the world’s largest and most influential economy. The USA is also home to the world’s largest construction industry with a workforce of over 10 million people. It won’t be wrong to say that the construction industry is one of the pillars providing strength to the American economy. Every year, projects worth $1.3 trillion are undertaken.

The stats are impressive, but perhaps, the reality is not all as rosy. Even though the US has the world’s largest construction industry, construction has become a challenging business to win in.

1.    Slow growth rate and low-profit margins

One of the biggest challenges faced by the construction industry in 2019 is the decline in the profit margins. This is said to be a result of the burgeoning interest rates and equipment rental costs. The construction industry has long depended on debt. In fact, the meagre borrowing costs after the Great Recession encouraged companies to fuel expansion with new debt. The trend carried through and became a norm. High corporate debt stands at $9 trillion today. The construction industry, more than most, faces the challenge of serving massive debt numbers. Add to that a decline in demand. There’s a case to be made that after the boom in multi-family housing, followed by commercial building, the current focus on public infrastructure projects portends a coming construction slowdown. In fact, a survey by the Wall Street Journal predicts that the US economy could experience another bout of recession in 2020.

2.    Adoption and integration of technology

Businesses across sectors are fast turning into technology businesses, but the construction industry, across the globe, still seems to largely rely upon traditional methods, and the US is no different.

According to a survey by JB Knowledge, 39% of the surveyed correspondents cited the lack of IT staff as the biggest limiting factor in adopting more technology. This inability to adopt the latest technology means is impairing the ability of construction companies to dramatically drive up efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability, and impact. This reflects in the results too. While the construction sector has managed to improve productivity by only 1% in the last 20 years, other sectors of the economy have seen productivity gains of three-times as much!

3.    Lack of skilled labour

The JB Knowledge survey also  found that a meagre 24% of the construction employees were comfortable with the idea of adopting new technology, and only 11% of general contractors are using wearable technology. The future will be driven by technology. The construction industry won’t be immune to these changes. The inability to find trained and skilled labour will result in a failure of adopting new technological methods, thereby denting the profit prospects of a company and industry at large.

Of course, the labour shortage is not in the futuristic areas alone. Even in the traditional construction roles, positions are proving hard to fill. The Associated General Contractors of America estimate that as many as 79% of companies in the space need to hire more people.

4.    Increase in cost of materials

The global cost of construction materials has grown around 9% since the last year. This has also pushed up overall construction costs by as much as 6.2%. The demand-supply parity has made construction companies run from pillar to post to make ends meet. The increased costs result in low profitability. Several uncontrolled external factors dent the profits margin along with some controllable internal factors that companies often overlook. Poor estimation of raw material quantities, over and under-ordering, and losses under storage cause lower profit margins. Inaccurate estimates also add to increased logistics cost and delays in construction.

How can BIM help in overcoming the challenges?

A lot has been said and written about the pros and cons of adopting BIM technology in the construction industry. The UK construction industry is considered the hotbed of BIM technology. As per an NBS report, BIM adoption saw a staggering rise from 14% in 2012 to 74% in the year 2018. The estimated savings on the initial prototype projects was calculated to be around 2.5% of the total lifetime cost. The BIM Level 2 mandate has helped the UK government in curtailing the cost for public assets by 20%. The UK government is said to have saved $2.1 billion since the BIM mandate. There’s no doubt that BIM works.

That said, BIM is often reduced to a 3D model drawing of a building. But it is far more than just that. BIM is a centralized source of information for all the involved parties. It helps in avoiding the duplication of information along with providing real-time access to accurate information. This reduces the scope of errors due to unavailability of information, eliminates waste, and removes the possibility of time and energy lost due to clashes. This can drive higher productivity and faster project completion. This can help companies get more done with the resources at hand.

Better estimation of costs and raw materials is another critical feature of BIM technology that helps in curtailing construction costs. The 3D model lets the builders derive a certain quantity of the required raw materials. A change in design automatically reflects in the amounts estimated. This feature helps in avoiding over or under-procurement of the raw materials. This helps drive improved financial performance and more efficient working.

Wrapping Up

The construction industry, just like any other industry, keeps evolving. Every day brings in a new challenge. But the future of the world is technology, and any industry that refuses to adapt to technological advancement will find it hard to break free of the shackles that have always held it down. Dramatic changes demand the adoption of disruptive technologies. It’s come to that time for the construction industry in the USA.