AutoCAD

By audience

Architecture

• Drafts and documents floor plans, elevations, sections, and reflected ceiling plans as coordinated 2D DWG sheets.
• Produces construction documentation sets with layered linework, hatching, dimensions, and annotation scales.
• Details wall types, door/window schedules, and enlarged plans where full BIM modeling is unnecessary.
• Exchanges DWG/DXF backgrounds and base files with consultants and clients as the industry-standard 2D format.
• Marks up and redlines drawings via xrefs and sheet layouts for design coordination and reviews.

Structural Engineering

• Drafts structural framing plans, foundation plans, and bracing layouts in 2D.
• Details connections, rebar arrangements, and typical sections for fabrication and construction.
• Generates schedules for beams, columns, and footings alongside annotated drawings.
• Receives architectural DWG backgrounds as xrefs to align structural grids and member layouts.
• Issues stamped 2D DWG drawing sets for permit and construction use.

Civil Engineering

• Produces site plans, grading plans, and utility layouts, often as the base for Civil 3D workflows.
• Drafts road alignments, drainage, and paving details in 2D DWG.
• Imports survey base files and aligns design linework to existing site conditions.
• Exchanges DWG deliverables with agencies, surveyors, and contractors for permitting and bidding.
• Annotates plan and profile sheets with dimensions, callouts, and legends.

MEP Engineering

• Drafts mechanical, electrical, and plumbing plans over architectural DWG backgrounds via xrefs.
• Lays out ductwork, piping, conduit, and single-line diagrams in 2D.
• Produces riser diagrams, panel schedules, and equipment schedules with annotation.
• Details connections, penetrations, and typical installation sections.
• Coordinates routing against structural and architectural linework before issuing DWG sets.

Surveying/Geomatics

• Draws topographic surveys, boundary plats, and existing-conditions plans from field data.
• Plots points, contours, and linework imported from total stations and GPS via DXF/DWG.
• Delivers DWG base files that downstream design disciplines reference as xrefs.
• Annotates bearings, distances, easements, and monument callouts on survey sheets.
• Maintains coordinate-accurate drawings as the geometric foundation for site design.

By phase

Concept & Planning

• Sketches preliminary site layouts and massing footprints in quick 2D linework.
• Drafts feasibility plans and zoning/setback diagrams over survey base files.
• Produces early space-planning and block diagrams for stakeholder review.
• Generates dimensioned concept drawings to test program and site constraints.

Design

• Develops design-development plans, elevations, and sections as coordinated 2D drawings.
• Refines details and schedules as the design resolves.
• Shares DWG backgrounds across disciplines as xrefs to coordinate the evolving design.
• Iterates linework, hatching, and annotation through design reviews and revisions.

Pre-Construction

• Finalizes construction documentation sets and issues stamped DWG drawings for permit.
• Provides DWG/DXF files to contractors and subs for takeoff, bidding, and estimating.
• Resolves redlines and addenda by updating drawing sheets and details.
• Packages coordinated 2D deliverables as the contract documents for tender.

Construction

• Serves as the source for issued-for-construction drawing sets used in the field.
• Captures markups, RFIs, and field changes as updated 2D DWG revisions.
• Produces shop drawing backgrounds and fabrication details for trades.
• Records as-built conditions by revising the original DWG drawings.