Why AutoCAD architecture in Bulding Design Suite Premium

[PRSS]

Why AutoCAD architecture in Bulding Design Suite Premium

Hello everybody

I have just cross graded from AutoCAD 2013 to Autodesk Building Design Premiuim suite 2013 under a ve5ry special promotional offer at a very low price. In this suite apart from AutoCAD, Revit, Autodesk Showcase, 3dsmax Design, etc., AutoCAD Architecture is also included.

When REVIT 2013 is included, why again AutoCAD Architecture? IMHO, from several forum posts and several Google searches I have found that AutoCAD Architecture is considered to be a much inferior BIM solution than REVIT. It also seems that in BIM, REVIT rules the world. I do not understand why then is AutoCAD Architecture is included in the suite. Are still major Architectural Firms out there who use this as BIM solution instead of REVIT ? Is AutoCAD Architecture still considered as a BIM solution? I have not yet installed this suite. Should I skip AutoCAD Architecture while installing the suite? I do not want to overload my computer. I would be skipping Navisworks too).

Thanks in advance
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[ntellery]

There are many companies transitioning across to Revit from ACA and they are able to crossgrade and still continue their projects using ACA and start new projects or train staff in Revit if that is the way they are heading.  Doesn't cost Adesk anything to include it and you can't split them to two different seats.  

In the real world outside software sales meetings, BIM means less and productivity to get the job done  is actually what pays the bills and ACA does that just as well as Revit.  Depends on what you want out of the package, where you are and who your clients are.  If you have no need for ACA and are intending to use Revit then probably skip it as it's not pretty for a casual user and might mess with your autocad setup.  You can actually use ACA as just autocad if desired and it has some excellant tools to power up autocad however it then has the problem of not always playing with others.

If you are intending to transition from Acad to Revit then prob skip ACA.

[PRSS]

Thank you for the enlightening info. May I please ask you another question. After seeing your post, if ACA is going to do the job fine, then it means that I would be better off using ACA - which has an AutoCAD like interface and also command line option. The familiarity of working for several years in AutoCAD would then still be there in ACA interfrace and I think learning ACA would be much easier than REVIT.

Now would you suggest that I drop REVIT and stick to ACA instead? My post was based on the general impressions from the CAD industry that REVIT is superior to ACA. I am confused now. But would you recommend droping REVIT to embracing ACA - because the learning curve is really high with REVIT? My question self explains that I really don't have the time to explore both and settle for one. Gudiance from Experienced users like you will be very valuable to me.

Thanks in advance.

PRSS

[ntellery]

You are (& should) do your own research on that one.  Adesk haven't shown too much committment to ACA in recent years though it does continue to take baby steps in development. You just have to wait numerous releases to see it. ACA is a very capable mature program and still used in some big offices but it really comes down to what you.  Both programs are going to take lots of learning.  It's been said that the strength of ACA is it's ACAD base, and the weakness of ACA is it's ACAD base meaning it's too easy to fall back and not learn how to use all the strengths of ACA properly but it does mean if you are trying to get a job out the door you can easily fall back on ACAD in the same file/s to do so without too much disruption.  

I've never used Revit and don't intend to so I can't offer thoughts on it but I don't believe the hype that it's so much better (coming from salesman who earn a higher margin, get a higher sub each year and have big $$ training programs to sell you).  BUT either way you should do some serious training. I've learnt myself thru books and online info where I could find it because there was no one competent in my area but that's up to you.  I had to do a lot of work.

Revit is Adesk's baby but go over to the Revit forum and they still have lots of complaints.  Ask some Q's there (just pay no attention to Vector2!! - sure glad he went with Revit!).

Also what work do you do?  Residential?  ACA is fine.  Small commercial?  You sound like a small operator, like me.  Who do you work with?  engineers / other consultants?  what do they use.  What do you need to deliver to customers? approval authorities?

If I were in a large company working on very large projects making a decision now I would say Revit.  A smaller shop less so.  But as you are going to do lots of learning would you rather learn the latest and greatest in thing?  And you have paid for Revit.  Personally I think the suite is overkill. I render in ACA which is enough for what I do.  But you've paid for Revit and will again every year for Subscription!

It's no easy decision.  If I move from ACA it will be to ArchiCAD because it has a very strong local support and user base.  But that won't be this year or next.

As I said, the main reason you have ACA is for legacy projects for those moving to Revit.  It makes the decision to move to Revit a lot easier for those using ACA.  ie they can learn at their leasure but for you both have a STEEP learning curve.

[Oilymo]

I have to agree with Ntellery, there is nothing wrong with ACA apart from the lack of development.  The BIM argument is a complete waste of time as none of the resellers here in the UK can tell me what it really means and why ACA cannot provide it (which it can).

You are in a difficult situation as Revit is Adesk's baby and the push is in that direction however (as previously mentioned) ACA has the ACAD as part of it therefore has easy fall back should you need to get something out of the door ASAP.  Also if (like us) you are producing lots of working details then ACA is perfect and IMHO better.

Personally I can see us all migrating over to Revit it's just a case of when....

Regards

Ben 

[PRSS]

Thank you both for the guidance.

None of my co-ordinating consultants (Electrical, HVAC, Structural , Plumbing & Landscape) use ACA or Revit. They all use plain vanilla AutoCAD just like me. And none of them has the inclination to move over to Revit or any BIM in the near future (the main reason being  it is extremely difficult here in India to find someone who could give specialised training in any BIM software. Even the tutors in Autodesk authorised teaching centres have only elementary knowledge in BIM - though they have good knowledge in plain AutoCAD & 3ds Max). Another reason is economics. Most of the licensed users of Autodesk products (including myself) here in India use AutoCAD LT. I have 5 copies of LT & one copy of full AutoCAD. This is the realistic affordability in India. ACA or REVIT - one has to pay hell of a lot more than AutoCAD LT - which is without doubt not affordable here even for big offices to go for these for multiple seats.

To be frank, I bought this cross-grade from AutoCAD 2013 (full) to Autodesk Building Suite Premium 2013 due to momentary impulse !! The short term aggressive promotional price was so low that it was irresistible. So I made the mistake of buying this thoughtlessly (there was no time for researching as it was a very short term offer) jumping to this offer.

Having given good thoughts on it now, I have decided not to upgrade every year through subscription - I would go bankrupt ! I have had some basic trainning  in ADT-2 long back (not as a BIM but for producing 2D drawings from the 3d model and also for 3d visualisation) from an Autodesk authorised training center. So I think I could self learn this ACA for doing the same thing whcih I wanted to get done at that time but could not afford the price of ADT.

As for REVIT I shall take it that I bought it only for learning purpose. When India takes up full fledged BIM & all co-ordinating consultants also take up BIM, at that time I shoud have knowledge in REVIT.

As for my small practice, I do high-end residences and small sized commercial buildings like buildings for rental purposes, offices car showrooms,etc.,, small hospitals, small (but high-end) hotels, and residential interior design.

So I hope my above decision is correct. (ACA also is not popular in India - but for atleast for occasional projects I would like some intelligent software like ACA should be used in my office). Please correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks in advance

PRSS