Small Project Design

 View Only
Back to discussion forums
Expand all | Collapse all

i-Pad use in architectural practice

  • 1.  i-Pad use in architectural practice

    Posted 09-20-2011 07:43 AM
    This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Practice Management Member Conversations and Small Project Practitioners .
    -------------------------------------------
    Debating whether an i-pad would be of use in my architectural practice.  I know that AutoDesk has some program that will work, but don't know much about it.  Would appreciate whether anyone is using the i-pad and what are they using it for in their practice.

    -------------------------------------------
    David Wulff AIA
    AIA, LEED-AP
    David H. Wulff, Architect, Inc.
    Lakeland FL
    -------------------------------------------


  • 2.  RE:i-Pad use in architectural practice

    Posted 09-21-2011 10:24 AM
    David,

    I have an Ipad and there are apps that allow you to open and markup both Autocad and Revit. The app put out by Autodesk is free but the Revit one, Cadfaster, is by subscription, uses lots of memory and works best in a cloud environment. I cannot ever imagine designing or doing production work on an Ipad but I can envision the day when every key person on a construction site has a tablet with a full set of production drawings, specs and schedules. I do not think the technology is there yet but I'm sure that Autodesk and Google are working on it. I do use my Ipad as a presentation tool. There is a great app for preparing presentations and I can open my web page or show clients other web content at their home or office with out having to boot up a laptop. Also there is a great free color app that allows me to go over color options with clients. I can even make custom color collections corresponding to a manufacturer's standard colors. This app provides you with the DIC #, RBG values, Munsell and HTML identification, and CMYK values for each color so its very easy to reproduce for both monitor and print. Its like having a mega-color wand.
    -------------------------------------------
    Thad Broom AIA
    Architect
    Thad A. Broom AIA, P.C.
    Virginia Beach VA
    -------------------------------------------








  • 3.  RE:i-Pad use in architectural practice

    Posted 09-21-2011 10:30 AM
    Absolutely an iPad will be of use in your practice, if you look for creative ways to leverage the iPad's unique capabilities. (An iPad won't be helpful to you if you try to make it do things that you already have another computer to do). Here are a few ways I'm using mine.

    1. With the constant internet access (you must get the iPad with cellular service), I have begun taking meeting minutes in the form of an email. At the end of the meeting, I make sure I have an email address for each attendee, then I hit "send" before I leave. That way I have meeting notes captured with the date, all attendees, and it gives the attendees an easy point of accountability to offer revisions if anything was misunderstood or recorded inaccurately. And from an ergonomic standpoint, because the iPad sits low on the table, you don't have the awkward barrier that a laptop screen creates.
      
    2. I recently walked through an existing building that our client was considering buying. The seller's agent had a 24x36 print of the building's previous TI buildout. I placed the drawing on the ground, photographed it with the iPad's camera, and created a PDF; then using a stylus, I sketched a rough space plan on the PDF, with labels and colors to designate the different programmatic elements. Again leveraging the iPad's email capabilities, I sent that PDF to everyone who walked through the building with me that afternoon. I'll let you imagine how much time and money that saved. More importantly, it helped the client quickly understand how that particular property could meet their goals.

    3. The display on the iPad makes for spectacular viewing of computer animations. Vessel has its own YouTube channel with animations we have produced. I can walk into a meeting (without a laptop, projector, or screen or any other clumsy thing), pull up the client's project animation on Vessel's YouTube channel, hand them the iPad, and let them hold their project in their own hands while they watch it unfold. It engages the client in the design like almost nothing else we can do. It's also ridiculously cool, which is no small part of being an architect. A big part of our value to clients is helping them see and do things that they can't do on their own.

    4. I have Autodesk's Sketchbook Pro that I enjoy; but if you were referring to AutoCad WS, I have it but never use it. Drafting is just not what the iPad was designed for. And if you need to reference your drawings, you can use PDF viewers or the online connection to pull up your drawings. 

    ----------    ---------------------------------
    Peter Schwartz AIA NCARB LEED AP
    Principal
    Vessel Architecture & Design
    Saint Louis MO
    -------------------------------------------








  • 4.  RE:i-Pad use in architectural practice

    Posted 09-22-2011 10:45 AM
    We use our IPads for the same email connectivity and record keeping as Peter Schwartz plus we use GOODREADER to download all of our design schematics, construction documents and specs too one folder for each job then we keep field notes and changes made directly onto Goodreader and then email those out as well. Saves a ton of time and effort and has the added benefit of making our liability carrier very happen as well. We also take numerous field photos and videos of important details to document progress and keep the ever important records. If we had a really soft case with a heater we would sleep with ours. Great tool.

    -------------------------------------------
    Gerald Martin AIA
    Martin & Martin Architecture, Inc.
    Chesapeake VA
    -------------------------------------------






    Original Message


  • 5.  RE:i-Pad use in architectural practice

    Posted 09-21-2011 11:02 AM
    One more use: It's a great communication tool. Brand new is a BIM explorer that allow clients to explore the entire project, walk around and look around and into every corner. Good for marketing too-showing prospective clients one method of how we communicate, and what they can expect as a deliverable.

    -------------------------------------------
    Thomas Nychay AIA, LEED GA
    Sortun-Vos Architects PS
    Seattle WA
    -------------------------------------------








  • 6.  RE:i-Pad use in architectural practice

    Posted 09-21-2011 12:07 PM
    David,

    I have been using an iPad for over a year.  Autodesk's app is nice for opening a drawing on site, however, with AT&T's poor service in my area, there have been numerous times I could not use it.

    It is good for taking notes in a meeting, and recording the meeting at the same time.  I can email both files to my secretary who can type minutes and send them out for me.  This saves me lots of time when out of the office.

    I also load photos of previous projects on it to show potential clients.

    There are probably more uses, but that is all I have used it for to date.



    -------------------------------------------
    John Chase AIA
    Chase Design Group
    Lafayette LA
    -------------------------------------------








  • 7.  RE:i-Pad use in architectural practice

    Posted 09-21-2011 03:00 PM
    I bought an iPad about 6 months ago and love it. I have uploaded all of my portfolio photos to the iPad so I can show them to potential clients, and to existing clients when I want to illustrate an idea. I am planning to design portfolio pages using PowerPoint that will include before and after shots, which could be viewed on an app such as QuickOffice, Keynote, or Documents to Go.

    Thad, which app do you use for presentations?

    It's also handy because (unlike my Android phone) it is very easy to sync my Microsoft Outlook calendar and contacts with my iPad.

    I have installed Autodesk's WS software but haven't used it yet. I probably won't, either, because, as Thad said, the iPad isn't really conducive to working on drawings.

    I have a very small residential practice and one of the most valuable things I have done with my iPad (and my laptop) is installed Dropbox, which allows me to store files on the "cloud" that I can access from any device, anywhere. I have set up my current project files in such a way that they are automatically synced with my Dropbox account every day, which means that I can take a look at my before photos, PDFs of my drawings, correspondence, invoices, etc., for any job, from anywhere. Dropbox is not the MOST secure online storage solution, so I don't store anything sensitive there, but it's free and easy to use.

    Someone told me about an app called Measures, which allows you to upload photos and then mark them up using dimensions or text. That could be very valuable when documenting existing conditions, but, although I have installed it, I haven't actually tried it yet. You can sync photos from your hard drive using iTunes, email them to yourself, or buy an adapter that allows you to plug in you camera to the iPad if you don't want to take photos with your iPad -- I have an iPad 1 so don't know how well the camera works on the iPad 2.

    I also take notes on my iPad, and have a couple of apps (Penultimate & Adobe Ideas) that allow me to sketch drawings or hand-write notes using a stylus or even my finger. I haven't actually used those yet, either, but when the economy gets better, I am sure I will. My niece did a charming drawing for me using Penultimate, though.

    I'd be interested in specific apps that other architects are finding useful.

    My husband (not an architect) also uses my iPad for lots of things. I recently overheard him telling someone that the iPad is a device that you don't know you need until you have it. I think that about sums it up.

    -------------------------------------------
    Dawn Zuber AIA
    Owner
    Studio Z Architecture
    Canton MI
    -------------------------------------------









  • 8.  RE:i-Pad use in architectural practice

    Posted 09-23-2011 08:51 AM
    For those using an iPad now: any recommendation on size of unit to get?  16gb?  32gb?  64gb?  

    I don't imagine storing projects or music or all my photos on this, so super-large seems not necessary.  Hard to know how to size something I'm not sure how I'm going to use.

    Thanks,

    Chris  

    -------------------------------------------
    Christopher Snowber AIA
    Hamilton Snowber Architects
    Washington DC
    -------------------------------------------






    Original Message


  • 9.  RE:i-Pad use in architectural practice

    Posted 09-26-2011 01:02 AM
    Chris,
         My recommendation is don't get anything less than 32 GB.  Most apps of any value have storage capacity within them, however the truly quintessential apps will both store information online and offline as well.  This is option of offline storage becomes critical when network connectivity is not available (whether the network is down and/or no WiFi is available). I personally like to store critical data for a project, site visit, meeting, or presentation both on and offline and have them sync'ed via DropBox and Evernote.  This way should the information need to be distributed at a moments notice, it is readily available for download/email online, while not impacting its offline mirror image being displayed or marked up on the iPad. 

    I use my iPad everyday, all day long and have used up 27 GB with multiple projects and apps.  Since it is only a vehicle to extend my company's operations, it does not need the 64GB that a gamer or movie aficionado would require.  16 GB will get filled up really quick, with about 8 to 10 GB's in professional apps alone. That leaves you with very little storage capability.  It is also a recommended practice to leave at least 1 GB of free space on any i-device for the system's memory management. 

    From personal experience, these devices become dog slow if you max out their storage capability.  Nothing is more painfully embarrassing than having to delete apps during a field visit because the iPad's camera has no room to save the last 40 minutes of video you took during the site walk with the owner and contractor!  Save yourself the anguish and get the 32 GB device.

    -------------------------------------------
    Ricardo Ramos Assoc. AIA, LEED® AP, CSI
    Alpha Analysis, Inc.
    Arcadia CA
    -------------------------------------------






    Original Message


  • 10.  RE:i-Pad use in architectural practice

    Posted 09-27-2011 06:01 AM

    Everyone is talking i-Pad.  Personally, I use an Android based Toshiba Thrive Tablet.  The key point that made me go in that direction was that it has ports for USB (full size and mini) as well as HDMI so I not only have the ability to plug in any thumb drive for large files but can also plug in to my office or clients TV's.  I am very pleased with the unit.
    -------------------------------------------
    John Lehman AIA
    Lehman Associates, PC
    Highland MD
    -------------------------------------------






    Original Message


  • 11.  RE:i-Pad use in architectural practice

    Posted 09-26-2011 09:44 AM
    Dawn,
    I use Keynote for presentations. I put them together right in my ipad without using power point. Just bought an hdmi converter and hope to be able to show presentations on my clients' big screen tvs. I use Revit and your mention of drop box interests me. I  have been trying google docs but not to happy with it. I would love a good free Revit viewer that can open up files in the cloud on my ipad. My laptop just went belly up and i'm thinking why replace it if I can use my ipad for the same purposes. True, I could do production work on my laptop but not very well.

    -------------------------------------------
    Thad Broom AIA
    Architect
    Thad A. Broom AIA, P.C.
    Virginia Beach VA
    -------------------------------------------






    Original Message


  • 12.  RE:i-Pad use in architectural practice

    Posted 09-26-2011 03:24 PM
    Christopher,

    I have a 64 GB iPad 1 and my photos don't take up that much room. I've uploaded all of my personal photos (8 years' worth of digital junk - 6500+ photos), all my before photos for my current projects, and many GBs of professional photos of my work. When the photos migrate to the iPad, they are resized to work better with the iPad, so all those photos only take up 4.9 GB of storage.

    I also have over 31 GB of music on my iPad, but that's my entire digital collection. I could take many of the songs off if I needed more space - the iPad itself doesn't have great speakers and when I plug it into my car using a decent-quality cable, the sound quality isn't wonderful.

    The apps I have take up about 5 GB. Ricardo makes a good point - unless you need more storage for gaming or music, I'd recommend going with the 32 GB size.

    Also, I recommend getting an iPad capable of 3G service. If you don't think you'll use it, there's no obligation to pay for it. You can get a month-to-month data plan for as little as $14.99 (that's through AT&T - I don't know what Verizon charges).


    Thad,

    Thanks for the info re. Keynote. I use that, too, but wanted to make sure you hadn't found something better!

    -------------------------------------------
    Dawn Zuber AIA
    Owner
    Studio Z Architecture
    Canton MI
    -------------------------------------------


  • 13.  RE:i-Pad use in architectural practice

    Posted 09-27-2011 08:05 AM

    Chris, et. al.

    The logic about what size to get is good, so I'd extend it.  For $100 you can go from 32 gb to 64gb.  You'll likely not use it today, but then again I never thought I'd use 100 gb of hard drive on my laptop, and I just had to switch out my hard drive for a larger one because it was full.  In the iPad there is no switching out though, so I'd advise as much storage as possible.  If you plan to keep it a while, I'd say go for 64gb (I did).

    By the way, the other benefit of getting a 3G version is that it is the 3G chip that has the GPS hardware on it.  So without the 3G chip, you don't really have GPS, and I find the GPS a critical part of the system.  It locates photos for you, aides in mapping and a myriad of other uses.  Just my 2 cents.

    Glenn


    -------------------------------------------
    Glenn MacCullough AIA
    MacCullough Architects, P.C.
    Arlington VA
    -------------------------------------------






    Original Message