Architosh

Ultimate iPad Guide: Annotation Apps for Architects

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

    • Annotation Apps for Architects on iPad

    In this category we have tried to limit ourselves to just tools that primarily annotate PDF files–drawings importantly and of course smaller documents. Our Mobile CAD Viewers and Collaboration apps guide includes other excellent tools for annotation as well, as part of native CAD/BIM file formats. We did not list AutoCAD WS here or SolidWorks Corporation’s excellent eDrawings Pro apps.

    Some apps are listed twice. For example the excellent Bluebeam Revu is on both guide lists. As is TurboReview–because they can annotate PDF drawings. Also, in our list we go beyond just the need to annotate PDF drawings files but also consider the architect’s task of working with text documents like specifications and project manuals, among other things.

    And architects work with many other document format types that often need to be converted into PDFs. Some of the best of those apps are listed here as well. Let’s highlight some apps we like.

    Again, we are going to point out Bluebeam because in truth it stands alone within the AEC industry as a truly dedicated PDF-based AEC annotation and collaboration tool. It’s feature set for the architecture industry is extensive and it works collaboratively via Bluebeam Studio. (see image 01)

    01 - Bluebeam Revu offers AEC industry specific features to powerful PDF annotation and collaboration.

    02 - PDFReader Pro Edition for iPad is also a chief competitor to iAnnotate and GoodReader.

    03 - The highest rated app with the most reviews in the list, iAnnotate offers extensive annotation features and more, including voice recording attachment to docs.

    If an architect doesn’t need all the industry-specific features of a tool like Bluebeam Revu or needs an additional tool for standard document reviewing (Revu doesn’t let you annotate things like iWorks docs for example) than the competition is really between GoodReader, iAnnotate, (see image 03) PDF Expert or PDF Reader Pro Edition for iPad. (see image 02 above). Those are the heavy hitters and each offers unique combinations of features.

    The List (11 Apps)

    Here is a listing of some of the best PDF-centric annotation apps in existence for all markets, plus dedicated AEC industry PDF-based or PDF-capable drawing markup and annotation tools. Again, we have somehow missed an up that deserves to be on this list–especially if you developed it–please let us know so we can add it here. It may also be on another guide list in the series. Without further ado:

    The Gem in the Group

    The gem in this group might be one of the weakest annotators in the whole bunch. But boy is it so much more than just a PDF viewer and annotator. The real gem is actually the developer of this gem–Readdle, of Ukraine. As a developer they are exclusively focused on iOS app development and make not just the excellent PDF Export and very useful PDF Converter, they also make several well-regarded apps. The one we love is actually free. It’s Documents by Readdle.

    04 - Documents is a gem of an application and its free. In this view we are looking at its built-in web browser.

    Documents is in reality a file management, viewing, annotation and media player system for your iPad all in one. It has remarkable depth yet is fairly easy to figure out. If you are short on patience you should just read the very good manual. One reason we like Documents is because it contains its own web browser. The free Terra Browser engine is inside Documents. With this you can save website information, organize it and then sync it with the cloud. Documents is free.

    next page: Site Survey, Analysis & Visualization Apps (26 Mar publish)

    series index page: Ultimate iPad Guide: Apps for Architects

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