Top 10 software useful for Civil Engineers

There are many software available which are used in Civil Engineering. Due to the Technological Revolution, the number of software serving Civil Engineering needs are increasing manifold. So, to list out all this software will be an obtuse thing to do. Here is a list of SOFTWARE which is exorbitantly used by many Civil Engineers all around the world. Irrespective of the ranking, these 10 software are very much useful in Construction projects. Although, there are various sub disciplines like Transportation Engineering, Structural Design, Surveying, Geo-tech Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Construction planning, we have provided a list of comprehensive list software which are used in general.

1) AUTOCAD for Drafting

AUTOCAD is one of the basic software for drafting and documentation of the construction projects which is developed by Autodesk. One can notice this software usage in almost all structural design consultancies and firms especially in India. AUTOCAD 3D version is also available for 3D Modelling.

2) STAAD PRO for Design and Analysis

When it comes to designing and analysis of a structure, Bentley System's STAAD PRO is one such software which is opted by many professionals in construction field.

STAAD.Pro is the structural engineering professional’s choice for steel, concrete, timber, aluminum, and cold-formed steel design of virtually any structure including culverts, petrochemical plants, tunnels, bridges, piles, and much more through its flexible modeling environment, advanced features, and fluent data collaboration.

3) PRIMAVERA for Construction Management

Primavera is a construction Planning and Scheduling software. It is opted by almost greater than 70 percent of all Planning and scheduling professionals. MS Office also offering similar software by name MS PROJECT.

4) REVIT Structure for Building Information Modelling

Building Information Modelling can be termed as one of the 21st century’s greatest innovation helping big infrastructure projects. BIM (Building Information Modeling) is an intelligent 3D model-based process that gives architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals the insight and tools to more efficiently plan, design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure.

5) ETABS for Design and Analysis

ETABS is the ultimate integrated software package for the structural analysis and design of buildings. Incorporating 40 years of continuous research and development, this latest ETABS offers unmatched 3D object based modeling and visualization tools, blazingly fast linear and nonlinear analytical power, sophisticated and comprehensive design capabilities for a wide-range of materials, and insightful graphic displays, reports, and schematic drawings that allow users to quickly and easily decipher and understand analysis and design results.

6) SAP 2000

SAP2000 is another software available for design and analysis of structures. It is also used in many structural firms. SAP2000 has a wide selection of templates for quickly starting a new model. SAP2000 includes parametric templates for the following types of structures: Simple Beams, 3D Trusses, 3D Frames, Storage Vessels, Staircases, Dam Structures, and Pipes.

7) MS EXCEL

Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet developed by Microsoft. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications. It has been a very widely applied spreadsheet for these platforms, especially since version 5 in 1993.It is widely used in Civil Engineering for Data collection, Surveys, Analysis and Design.

8) ARCGIS for Surveying

ArcGIS is a software used in Geographical Information System. It is helpful in creating Thematic Maps. ArcGIS for Desktop is the key to realizing the advantage of location awareness. Collect and manage data, create professional maps, perform traditional and advanced spatial analysis, and solve real problems. Make a difference and add tangible value for your organization, your community, and the world.

9) 3DS Max - Modelling

3DS Max is an animation software which is used to generate visuals. It is modelling and rendering software which is mainly used for interior design and visual graphics. This software is developed by Autodesk.

10) MX Road - Road design and Analysis

MX Road is a software developed by Bentley Systems which is used in Road design. MXROAD combines 3D modelling technology with traditional workflows to improve design quality.

These are the points listed on Bentley Site:

• Survey and data acquisition for all field data types

• Dynamic, interactive 3D modeling of roadways and corridors

• Terrain modeling and analysis

• Interactive coordinate geometry

• Profiles and cross sections

• Geometric design

• Regression analysis.