What software to use

There are a wide variety of CAD applications available today ranging from commercially used standards to free applications. One of the most recognised applications is AutoCAD (by AUTODESK), which was first released in 1982. Other well-known applications are Vectorworks and ArchiCAD.

In this course, we will use the software AUTODESK Revit. A free trial copy of Revit can be downloaded from the companies website and student versions are available.

However, if you are unable to access Revit, a good alternative is SketchUp by Trimble. SketchUp is available in a variety of forms – from free access to professional versions – and all versions allow the user to draw three dimensional models. These can be made at both the building and the urban scale for micro-climatic analysis.

The SketchUp Free version allows you to:

• Draw, extrude, and move geometry.

• Use predefined materials.

• Organize your model with Groups, Components, and Layers.

• Export your work as an STL file (for use in other applications).