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Ultimate iPad Guide: Mobile CAD Viewers and Collaboration for Architects

  • Anthony Frausto-Robledo, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP

    • CAD Viewers and Collaboration for Architects on iPad

    Unlike the CAD Authoring apps for iPad, this category is filled with CAD industry leaders. Most major CAD companies–in both AEC and MCAD–now have companion CAD viewers which in some cases are strictly for viewing proprietary CAD formats which we label “designated viewers” because they are designated to a particular CAD platform.

    But as you will see, many excellent CAD viewers work with a wide array of CAD file formats. We want to point out to readers that one of our articles in this guide series will focus exclusively on linking up specific apps with specific CAD file formats. Check our index page on this series for the date.

    These days viewers go far beyond just viewing CAD and BIM files but instead provide collaboration features such as “mark-up,” “editing and annotation,” “commenting,” “sharing” and “co-viewing” session functionality. Some also provide remote printing via the cloud.

    The first app we want to focus on is eDrawings by SolidWorks Corporation. The app has some impressive features (the screen shots are quite nice!) and does AR (augmented reality). (see image 01).

    01 – Solidworks’ eDrawings app supports Augmented Reality (AR), in addition to native AutoCAD files.

    02 – IMSI’s TurboViewer Pro has one of the fastest 3D interfaces on iOS and offers users nifty pre-formated rendering models, including x-ray which we think is quite useful. It also supports a vast array of CAD formats.

    03 – Bluebeam Revu is the best collaboration and markup tool in the market for reviewing PDF files and Revu brings that power to the iPad. We wish there was a native Mac version though.

    IMSI’s TurboViewer Pro is unmatched in native CAD file format viewing and all of IMSI’s mobile iOS apps are very quick and offer very nice pre-built button-based rendering modes including the useful X-ray mode. (see image 02). Finally, Bluebeam’s Revu is the ultimate PDF drawing viewer, markup and collaboration tool. Although the interface is at first quite deep and requires reading the manual or watching videos to master, once mastered you can do so much with it. (see image 03)

    The List (17 Apps)

    Here is the most complete listing of CAD Viewers and Collaboration apps for Architects on iPad at the time of this writing. Again, if we have somehow missed an app we would sure appreciate your email on the subject. Without further ado:

    While we feel that this list is solid we are deliberately not listing all the BIM specific apps for the iPad here. Some apps blur the line between being viewers, collaboration and project management. Some apps we will talk about later are Bentley ProjectWise and Autodesk BIM 360 Field.

    The Gem in the Group

    There are actually several gems in this crowded and competitive field. For example, we think BIMx by Graphisoft is a very polished and capable BIM or model viewer with some nice new updates in version 2. However, perhaps the most sophisticated app in the group is AutoCAD WS with its ability to view, edit, update and share AutoCAD drawings, in addition to DXF and DWF format.

    04 – Autodesk AutoCAD WS is an ambitious app with lots to like and perhaps a bit to wish were better. Regardless, you can markup, share, remote print, collaborate and more with this tool.

    What we like is the general user interface, the fact that you can draw objects quite well with this app (you cannot create a drawing from scratch however), it works with Autodesk 360, and supports HP’s innovative ePrint & Share. It also has a collaboration feed tool. In general it is a very ambitious app and with much to like.

    next page: Note Taking & Ideas Apps for Architects (23 March published)

    Please join us back on 23 March for a continuation of this extensive series of apps for Architects on iPad. Also, during this period look for some in-depth product reviews on several products mentioned in this series.

    series index page: Ultimate iPad Guide: Apps for Architects

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