Adding CAD and BIM Resources for Home Design in the US Adding CAD and BIM Resources for Home Design in th | Page 4

designers through IFC, DWG and RVT formats to remodel existing buildings. Interior design
components include furniture design tools, curtains, lights, sockets and switches, cornices, skirting
boards, tiles, wall pictures, etc. Offices, reception rooms, lofts, kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms,
with furniture, appliances and finishes are represented with great detail. With open software tools
such as these, photos can be inserted into the rendering and objects can be designed personally.
Lot-fit or Site Drawings
Another area of expertise that BIM technology and CAD can significantly contribute to is creating ‘lot
fit’ design drawings. In the US, where homes in neighborhoods are developed with most structures
of a similar kind of size and style, the input of the information and process required to cater to these
norms are streamlined with the use of BIM.
Generally, the most attractive neighborhoods have common elements in design that positively
influence the visual and functional aspects of the area. Specific guidelines are followed in the
development of the project and controlled by the zoning code regarding heights, bulks, setbacks,
parking, landscaping, etc. Densities are allowed in multi-family zones based on lot size dimensions.
Lot size determines scale and limits width of structures. Bay windows, entries and chimneys divide a
home into sections, and distinct areas can contribute to the individuality of the home. Zoning codes
decree setback area details. All of these features can be comprehensively planned, viewed and
changed in 3D CAD/BIM platforms. Drawings developed with BIM clearly help design these aspects
and show potential problems and solutions.
Currently, when many large developers employ in-house designers for home design, the team needs
to specialise, collaborate and improve quality and efficiency of services. This involves understanding
client needs for construction on a large scale, both commercial and operational. Local site conditions
and regulations must be precisely integrated into design. Efficient output may require object
libraries/families, room data sheets, planning modules and other details, including a thorough and
in-depth knowledge of zoning codes.
With qualified talent in relatively short supply in the home design industry in the US and weighing
the expenses involved in employing design professionals in the industry, a growing number of US
firms look overseas to shore up their design capabilities. Experienced offshore teams, for example
from India, not only offer a vast repository of technically qualified personnel, but many of them have
5-10 years’ experience in homebuilding design and drafting, are well versed on the Revit platform for
BIM systems, have been recognized to be of good quality (in most cases, ISO 9001:2015 quality
certified) and several are Autodesk-affiliated centers, with Autodesk Developer Network status.
Outsourced CAD services and BIM outsourcing thus present cost-effective, technically efficient and
reliable home design solutions for the US market.