Analysis and Classification of Civil Engineering Software

Analysis and Classification of Civil Engineering Software

Since familiarity with specialized software is crucial for all civil engineers, this article categorizes the essential software for civil engineering into four main groups and provides a brief explanation for each.

 

Category 1: Design and Simulation

• Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler: Design of urban projects, roads, and intercity routes.
• Nemetschek Allplan BCM: Building design – modeling a building with desired conditions.
• Autodesk AutoCAD Structural Detailing: Design and analysis of steel and concrete structures, specifically for structural engineers.
• PTC MathCAD: Simultaneously handles design and drafting while performing mathematical calculations using smart and powerful tools.
• PROKON: Structural analysis and design supporting over 40 different designs.
• Ashampoo Home Designer: Designing building plans and 3D house and home drawings.
• AutoDesk PowerShape: Modeling complex products and parts from design to production.
• Pitney Bowes MapInfo: Producing maps and analyzing geographical data.
• Autodesk Advance Steel: Advanced design of steel structures.
• Altair SimLab: Allows for parametric CAD analysis or advanced multi-physics simulations in just a few minutes. You can easily set up various physics including fluid dynamics, structural dynamics, and thermal dynamics using the automated modeling system.
• Meteonorm: Produces meteorological data for different climates and geographical locations around the world.
• PTC Mathcad Prime: Functions as a calculator for calculations and also allows plotting 2D and 3D functions.
• Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D: Designs roads and pathways and manages all stages of civil engineering projects, from coordination to execution and analysis.
• Autodesk Fabrication: A construction software using specific manufacturer content to create more precise models, estimates, and assist with building services (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing).
• Autodesk Structural Bridge Design: Designs bridges and analyzes their behavior under applied loads.
• MSC APEX IBERIAN LYNX: MSC Apex is an award-winning 3D modeling software that allows you to design various components.
• Midas Design: Enables engineers to create accurate designs of structural components such as beams, columns, stairs, metal connections, walls, and other parts.
• Tekla Portal Frame & Connection Designer: A specialized software for BIM engineers and structural designers that provides powerful tools for designing steel structures and connections.
• Autodesk Inventor: A powerful design and modeling program from Autodesk.
• Nemetschek SCIA Engineer: A new and advanced software in building information modeling (BIM) that covers all the needs of structural engineers, civil engineers, and urban planners in designing and analyzing structures.
• ProgeCAD: A versatile software for designing and building 2D and 3D models.
• DS SIMULIA: DS SIMULIA Abaqus CAE provides complete simulation tools, aiming to be effective for most engineering groups.
• Autodesk AutoCAD Map: A software used for engineering and industrial drawing, from Autodesk.
• Tekla Structures: A building information modeling software capable of creating models using various construction materials including steel, concrete, wood, and glass.
• Straus7: A fully integrated visual environment with powerful solvers that allows you to build models, perform analyses, and review results simultaneously using a unified interface.
• hec-hms: The Hydrological Modeling System (HEC-HMS) is designed for simulating precipitation-runoff processes in drainage basins.
• Grapher: A computer program capable of creating 2D and 3D graphs from simple and complex equations.
• GeoStudio: An integrated software suite for modeling slope stability, soil deformation, and heat and mass transfer in soil and rock.
• CSI Section Builder: With CSI Section Builder, you can easily create steel, concrete, and composite cross-sections and review their geometric properties and stress conditions.
• CSI PERFORM 3D: PERFORM-3D implements procedures from ASCE 41. However, PERFORM-3D is a general tool for performing displacement-based design.
• CSI SAFE 2016: CSI SAFE 2016 is used for the design of post-tensioned concrete slabs and foundations. In the new version, multi-dimensional elements are introduced according to modeling and visualization tools.
• ADAPT: A specialized civil engineering software with capabilities for analyzing and designing post-tensioned slab, ceiling, and beam systems, allowing for the definition of bonded and unbonded post-tensioning.
• FLAC: This program includes structures that can model materials with highly nonlinear behavior. Additionally, FLAC offers specific features for such modeling.
• Canvas X: A software for creating, enhancing, and sharing technical and industrial images for engineers and technical illustrators.
• CSI SAP2000: A versatile software used for structural design and analysis, with a 3D graphical modeling environment that allows easy visualization and analysis of designs.
• ETABS: A revolutionary and innovative solution, ETABS is a comprehensive package for the analysis and design of buildings.
• autodesk-autocad: In AutoCAD, users can work in both 2D and 3D environments.
• Autodesk Revit: A building information modeling software used by architects, civil engineers, and MEP engineers for 3D modeling and detailing of buildings.

 

Category 2: CAD Files

• CADfix: A tool for editing, converting, and simplifying CAD files. It eliminates the need for heavy, specialized programs to open and modify these files.
• PTC Creo Elements Pro: Enables combining different CAD designs and bringing them into Creo, allowing work to continue on them as if they were designed in various CAD tools.
• TurboCAD Pro: A fully professional CAD software suite that includes all features and technologies for fast 2D and 3D modeling, detailing, rendering, and file sharing.
• Fast Plan: A CAD program for room floor plan design, taking care of drawing and math and guiding you toward your design.

 

Category 3: Project Management

• Autodesk Navisworks: Allows engineers, architects, and manufacturers to manage their projects and easily create building or industrial activity designs.
• Autodesk InfraWorks: This software is designed for students in civil engineering, architecture, and urban planning, allowing full project monitoring and implementation of the best ideas using professional tools.

 

Category 4: Miscellaneous

• Autodesk Showcase: Users can quickly turn their 3D models into interactive models for editing.
• PolyWorks Metrology: A software in the field of metrology and measurement with the ability to measure all theoretical and practical aspects.
• Vray: Vray lighting, geometric objects, materials and textures, camera, shadowing, and most importantly, its render header allows for controlling all scene parameters.
• Adobe Photoshop CC: In the latest version, Photoshop includes amazing video editing features, making it not just a photo editing software. It has many new changes in filters and added lighting capabilities for 2D and 3D images, which was a necessary addition with the rise of 3D work.