Site Plan App for Drawing to Scale

Architects lose too much time. They get stuck in traffic, write out tedious field reports in Word, impress out drawings before every site visit, utilise paper notes to runway time and expenses, transfer photos from smartphone to PC, and so on.

Relate much? If then, then continue reading. We've compiled a listing of useful apps that will help you brand the about of your time.

Merely commencement, simply retrieve about it for a moment. Our time in this world is finite. Information technology's our most valuable resources. Unlike material things, you can't lose time and get information technology back again. You can't spend fourth dimension and earn more than of it.

If we meet someone throwing away money, we call that person crazy. Wasting money is nuts. And yet we throw away something far more valuable every day: time.

"A human being who dares to waste matter an 60 minutes of time has not discovered the value of his life." — Charles Darwin

Back to architects, and how they can relieve time on twenty-four hours-to-24-hour interval operations.

That phone in your pocket? Information technology'due south a whole freakin' architecture toolkit! Architects are on the road very often for client meetings and site visits. That's where mobile engineering and apps tin can help: they can have the pain out of field visits, permit united states to view 3D models on-site, share work with clients, avoid traffic jams, make professional sketches, track time and expenses, and more … all while on the route.

Harness the power of today's technology by embracing the apps most useful to architects.

Fortunately, we've done the heavy lifting for you lot. We tested lots of apps for architects, analyzed the reviews, and asked our builder community which apps they similar best.

Here's our updated list, with the 17 Best Architecture Apps in 2021:

1. All-time Apps for CAD Drawings & 3D Models: AutoCAD Mobile app | BIMx  |  Shapr3D | ARki
2. Best Apps for Site inspections: ArchiSnapper |CamToPlan | RoomScan LiDAR l Polycam
3. Best Apps for Sketching: Morpholio Trace Pro | Procreate | Concepts | Autodesk FormIt
4. Best Toolbox Apps: Dominicus Locator | Construction Master Pro App | Classic Toolbox apps
5. All-time Apps for When You lot're On the Go: Expensify | Waze

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Bound to Site inspections | Sketching | Toolbox | On the Get

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All-time Apps for CAD Drawings and 3D Models

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AutoCAD Mobile App

BEST FOR | Viewing, creating, and editing CAD drawings on mobile devices
WORKS ON | iOS, Android
Cost | $55/year

The AutoCAD mobile app is a drawing and drafting app that lets you edit, create and view AutoCAD drawings on your smartphone or tablet. It'southward a fitting extension to your AutoCAD desktop that helps you collaborate on designs across multiple platforms in real-time. When you utilize AutoCAD Mobile, you can forget about printing and bringing drawings to the site. Instead, employ the app to accept measurements and annotate in the field or on the get. A poll in our architect community reveals that this is the #i app for many architects. Wouldn't recommend this i for heavy lifting CAD work, though, as that's improve done via your workstation.

Paradigm copyright by Autodesk

Watch the VIDEO.

Features:

• View and edit DWG files from device storage, email, or external cloud storage similar Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.
• Create new CAD drawings on the fly.
• CAD editor: modify and mark upwards AutoCAD drawings.
• Import values from Leica DISTO.
• Depict and edit shapes using object snap and keypad input.
• Advanced technical drawing and editing tools such as arc, commencement, and more.
• Select, motion, rotate, and scale objects. View coordinates and properties.
• Work offline and sync your changes once dorsum online.
• Manage layers: create new layers, lock, rename or delete layers.
• Blocks: movement and duplicate existing blocks.

Client review:

"For a house project, I'll go virtually measuring up all the relevant rooms using the laser measurer," structural engineer Chris Caple says . "Then on my iPad, I tin draw the building quite chop-chop, simply, and, most importantly, accurately with the AutoCAD mobile app. I can build upward a 2d plan of the house, edit it, and change the placement of the walls or show which ones volition be removed or where steel beams volition go for support. That'south especially helpful for the client so they can asking changes immediately and visualize what the cease upshot will be." – Structural Surveys Ltd.

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BIMx

BEST FOR | BIM presentations and on-site blueprint review on mobile devices
WORKS ON | iOS and Android, Windows, Mac Bone, Chrome OS
Toll | Free with in-app purchase (BIMx and BIMx Lab)

If y'all employ Archicad, and so consider BIMx from Graphisoft. This app allows architects to access, nowadays, or share detailed 2D and 3D models with clients and contractors, too every bit make measurement adjustments on-site. BIMx is ane of the best on-site presentation tools on the market. It helps bridge the gap between the design studio and the construction site, meaning no more paper on the edifice site or at customer meetings. All the relevant model data is at your fingertips for easy access and sharing.

Copyright by Graphisoft

Sentinel the VIDEO.

Features:

• Uncomplicated, game-like navigation makes BIMx a dandy on-site collaboration and presentation tool.
• Total access to any BIM content, similar 3D models, construction drawings, schedules, elements, or space information.
• All-round 3D cutaways with animated transactions.
• Hyper-model technology for integrated 2D and 3D building project navigation.
• All the relevant model data is at your fingertips for easy access and sharing.
• Brand on-site design decisions and update your edifice model on the go. Your scribbles are safe and secure and attached to the BIM model.
• Seamless compatibility with Google Cardboard VR, assuasive for a rich, immersive experience of building design on iOS and Android smartphones.

Customer reviews:

"Makes communicating a new design concept to a client easier; in the end, this means less likelihood of delivering an terminate production that differs from their perception."

"It is very easy to utilise. Allows a client to navigate themselves around their edifice on their ain computer in their own time. Can exist customized to set up the style of view that the client sees. Can include hyperlinked drawings into the model so the client can click between 3D and 2D views."

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Using Rhino? iRhino 3D (bachelor on iOS only) is a similar app that lets you view Rhino 3DM models on an iPhone or iPad.

Besides, SketchUp has its SketchUp Mobile Viewer (bachelor on iOS and Android). Information technology works in much the same manner as iRhino 3D and ViewER (here beneath). You tin can admission and view your SKP files no matter where you are. This app, also, doesn't permit editing at this fourth dimension. The biggest drawback is the lack of a commenting feature.

Not using Archicad, Autodesk, Rhinoceros, or SketchUp? There'due south also ViewER (bachelor on Android) that lets y'all view models on your mobile device no matter where you are. ViewER can display many file types, including openNURBS (3DM), Wavefront (OBJ), 3D Systems (STL), Stanford Triangle Format (PLY), and Autodesk (3DS, DXF, DWF) formats. Once more, you can't edit the models in the app. Useful though, for viewing and showing your models to clients when you're on-site.

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Shapr3D

All-time FOR | 3D sketching and modeling with Apple Pencil
WORKS ON | iOS (iPad Pro)
PRICE | Free (for a limited version), $29/mo (Standard), or $59/mo (Business)

Shapr3D is a 3D CAD app for iPads, combining finger-based interactions with the more precise input offered by the Apple Pencil. This app lets architects sketch 2D concepts with the Apple Pencil with mathematical precision. Once concepts are consummate, the app's intuitive toolset makes it easy to transform those concepts into 3D shapes. Considering information technology allows users to switch easily between second and 3D pattern, Shapr3D is useful during early conceptual phases. Although probably the just truly mobile CAD app on the marketplace, y'all should consider this as a conceptualization and 3D thinking tool, rather than a total-featured 3D design arrangement. The software is uniform with all major desktop CAD software though, for further processing. Here you tin find a video tutorial on architectural sketches with Shapr3D.

Image copyright by Shapr3D

Lookout man the VIDEO.

Features:

• Describe sketches with Apple Pencil and ascertain their parameters efficiently using smart constraints.
• Create 3D models from sketches with an intuitive set up of modeling tools.
• Import and edit existing XT, STEP, IGES, or SHAPR models, or work with DXF and DWG reference images.
• CAD-compatibility with hi-res X_T, STEP, STL, OBJ, 2d DXF, 2D DWG, USDZ export support.
• View and animate your models in real-life environments via AR.
• Offline functionality and local storage.
• Shapr3D runs on Siemens™ Parasolid™, the same geometric modeling kernel as Solidworks, guaranteeing industry-leading power.

Review:

2020 Apple tree Pattern Laurels winner."This pro-level iPad app offers unparalleled operation, compatibility with all major CAD file formats, and instant export for 3D printing. It also makes the design experience incredibly tactile, peculiarly with Apple tree Pencil." – Apple Design Team

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ARki

BEST FOR | Visualization of 3D projects in Augmented Reality
WORKS ON | iOS
PRICE | Free (1 plan), $23/mo – $255/yr (PRO)

Arki enables you lot to visualize and experience your 3D projects in Augmented Reality. You can utilize this award-winning app for interactive presentations. Import multiple models and create dynamic layers and toggles to dive into the different aspects of your design. Or, employ the "full scale" option to wander around in your 3D models on-site in real-time.

Paradigm copyright by Arki

Scout the VIDEO.

Features:

• Import 3D Models in .FBX file format from software, including 3ds max, Maya, Blender, SketchUp, MicroStation, ArchiCAD, picture palace 4d, Revit, Rhino, and more.
• AR/3D Mode: mixed reality allows on-site visualization and so that models can be located in any environment or viewed in 3D.
• Visualize models at any scale using AR.
• Create real-time lighting.

Customer review:

"I work in a loftier-end residential architecture firm and I am very excited to see where this app goes. Non anybody can understand second drawings, and 3D prints can take forever. I come across this equally a staple for early SD/DD customer presentations. This app allows you lot to upload your 3D model direct. Other apps require you lot to submit your model to them, and they charge a fee and need a week or so to 'prepare the model.' I tin can make design changes, salve as an .fbx and take my AR model ready to go in minutes. It may have a uncomplicated feel, but meliorate to start pocket-size and grow more complicated as AR begins to have off in the coming years. Looking forward to the updates the team has in shop…"

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Leap to CAD & 3D | Sketching | Toolbox | On the Go

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All-time Apps for Site Inspections

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ArchiSnapper

Best FOR | Field reports, inspection reports, and punch lists
WORKS ON | Web, iOS, and Android
PRICE | Free trial, and $25/month afterward

Drafting field reports from site visits can be a drag. ArchiSnapper is a simple tool that allows you to use your smartphone or tablet on-site to document items with text, photos, assignees, and annotations on flooring plans. Apply phonation dictation to save fifty-fifty more time. When you're back at the role, the field report or punch list is bachelor in your online account (on your desktop) for further editing and distribution. Just remember nigh it: no more struggling with Word or Excel to draft field reports! 😉

Watch the VIDEO.

Features:

• Snap a photograph and write text to record whatever observations or issues. Comment your photos or drawings.
• View all your drawings from whatever device: web, iOS, Android. Hands pinpoint observations on your plans, and give clarity to everyone involved.
• Generate professional, make clean, and branded PDF reports in seconds and ship them out to the project team.
• Start from the previous written report to create a new one.
• Apply voice-to-text to save fifty-fifty more time.
• Make and manage your Gantt plan with tasks, dependencies, and progress.

Client reviews:

"Great Program – HUGE timesaver. Working with ArchiSnapper has been a bang-up success for our structure assistants side of the business. We are able to share site conditions and project condition easily with everyone that is involved. It was extremely like shooting fish in a barrel to gear up upwardly and very user-friendly. I would definitely recommend this to other companies where site visit reports are being made."

"The software saves me a lot of fourth dimension in the function compiling my field reports. The reports look dandy with a minimal amount of endeavour. Information technology as well really helps me organize and track issues that need attention until they have been completed. Getting upward and running with the software is quick and pretty intuitive."

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CAD software is neat for detailed floor plans. But what if y'all but want to be able to draft a rough plan in a jiffy?

Estimate what, there are apps for that :)

CamToPlan

BEST FOR | AR app for measuring and creating floor plans with your mobile device's photographic camera
WORKS ON | iOS and Android
Cost | Complimentary, with in-app purchases upwards to $26.99

Measuring with CamToPlan is easier than with a laser meter or any other measuring tool. You lot draw your measurement lines in 3D directly on the video of your phone or tablet. With its augmented reality applied science, CamToPlan lets y'all create measurements of areas and floor plans within seconds. Export your plans in PNG or DXF. This app works nicely for quick estimations of the surface and visualization of the room floor, furniture, baseboards, or walls.

Image copyright by Tasmanic

Watch the VIDEO.

Features:

• Create flooring plans with your mobile device'due south camera.
• The app measures distance horizontally (on the ground) and vertically.
• No need to remove the piece of furniture from the room for measurements. The awarding determines the intersection betwixt the floor and the target, fifty-fifty if it is hidden.
• Measure out wall dimensions, floors, doors, and windows, an entire house within a few seconds.
• Export your data in PNG or DXF.
• CamToPlan relies on ARCore by Google (Android) and ARKit by Apple (iOS).

Client review:

"This is the nearly incredible app even so designed for estimating and doing every bit-congenital drawings. I use the app to measure an extremely odd-shaped room that would have taken an hour to measure and draw. It took less than 3 minutes – what a tremendous fourth dimension saver. This app should be on everybody's iPhone who does estimates from millwork flooring real manor etc. Architects are going to love this app."

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LiDAR, the next thing.

Today, with this new LiDAR technology, the latest generation iPhones and iPads have the power to speedily browse a reasonably accurate 3D model of a place.

LiDAR (Low-cal Detection and Ranging technology) is used to determine distance past measuring how long it takes low-cal to accomplish an object and reflect back. It's like radar, except instead of radio waves, it uses infrared light. This data can then exist used to construct 3D models.

The main purpose of LiDAR in the iPhone is to improve augmented reality (AR) implementation. It will give apps more useful and authentic information near their surroundings, for smoother, more reliable AR.

The iPhone 12 Pro, Pro Max, and 2020 iPad Pro come equipped with a LiDAR scanner, and Apple'southward programme probable involves putting LiDAR sensors in more devices over time.

Expert news for architects, because this technology has the potential to spare you the misery of having to do multiple site visits to get all the measurements yous need for a site plan.

Below are ii apps that use LiDAR technology to generate 3D models in no time: RoomScan LiDAR, and Polycam.

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RoomScan LiDAR

Best FOR | Creating professional person flooring plans with your mobile device'due south camera
WORKS ON | iOS (iPhone 12 Pro and new iPad Pro)
PRICE | Free with in-app purchase of $3.99/month

Locometric'southward ten years of experience of using iPhone & iPad sensors to automatically create floor plans with RoomScan Pro was all distilled into version i.0 of RoomScan LiDAR. The RoomScan LiDAR app is as easy to use as tapping each wall and swiping for doors and openings. LiDAR does the rest, enabling you lot to create an accurate 3D model in minutes.

Copyright past Locometric

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Features:

• Quick, authentic floor plans in whatever building, furnished or unfurnished. RoomScan LiDAR even scans curved walls.
• Annotate your plans with Apple tree Pencil and you have plans, annotations, measurements, dictated notes, and photos all in ane place.
• Export options include PNG, PDF, DXF (for CAD), DAE (for SketchUp), PLY, XYZ, Metropix, and many more than.

Client review:

"Faced with the need to measure a four-story dwelling in a curt period of time, I figured there must exist an app for that and establish RoomScan did the trick. Pleased that my pre-purchase questions were answered via a very prompt electronic mail, I made the buy. After a 5-minute learning curve and 30 minutes of scanning, I had the measurements I needed to create authentic enough floor plans for my planning purposes. Accuracy in tight quarters (e.g. closet, stairwell) seemed a fleck off, simply in a CAD plan, I layered the floors on top of one another and honed the dimensions. Had trouble reading (without reading glasses on at the time) the buttons for doors, and found that by the fourth dimension I figured out which one to press, they had gone away. I decided non to use that bell and whistle, as I can easily get the doors in later using CAD software. Similar I said, the app did the trick and saved me a lot of fourth dimension little with a tape measure."

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Polycam – LiDAR 3D Scanner

All-time FOR | 3D scanning
WORKS ON | iOS (iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, or 2020 iPad Pro)
Toll | Free with in-app purchase at $7.99/month or $39.99/yr.

Another LiDAR-based app that you lot should definitely give a effort is Polycam, a 3D scanning app released in 2020. Just like RoomScan, Polycam uses the LiDAR sensor to enable you to quickly create color 3D scans of spaces. All you lot demand to practice is browse the space with your iPad or iPhone. The app generates an accurate 3D scan in seconds of time. You lot can export your 3D scan in many different formats, and import it into your CAD programme.

This app is a potential game-changer for architects. As-built modeling serves a multifariousness of purposes such as planning and renovation. The ability to model direct from scan information helps ensure accuracy, precision, and conserve particular of existing existent-world conditions or structures. The generated 3D models can be used to generate a variety of outputs such every bit 2D Drawings, flooring plans, pinnacle drawings and so much more.

Watch the VIDEO on how to scan a space with your iPhone or iPad.

Features:

• Use the LiDAR sensor on new Apple devices to enable you to speedily create color 3D scans of objects and spaces.
• Single room captures take only seconds to process, and all computation happens securely on your device, no net connection is required.
• At that place is no limit to the number of scans you can brand or process, which is useful if you lot want a 3D model of a business firm or building with multiple spaces.
• Polycam 3D captures are as well dimensionally accurate, enabling you lot to easily mensurate the distance between any two points.
• Export mesh data every bit .obj, .glb, .usdz, .dae and .stl or direct upload to Sketchfab. Export color betoken cloud data as .dxf, .ply, .las, .xyz and .pts. Consign floorplan data every bit .dae

Customer reviews:

"Made my life equally an architect/ceremonious engineer/interior designer a manner better than expected. Auto-generate pdf with loftier-quality graphics."

"If you have dreaded measuring equally builts, this is your solution. Reliable fast and all the exports you need."

Hither is a video that shows how an builder first scans a building using Polycam, and then exports the generated 3D scan to Morpholio trace to start sketching on the 3D browse.

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Jump to CAD & 3D | Site inspections | Toolbox | On the Go

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Best Apps for Sketching

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Morpholio Trace Pro

Best FOR | Unique drawing tool that allows you to hands develop ideas in layers, communicate via cartoon markup, and piece of work fluidly through all phases of the design process.
WORKS ON | iOS
PRICE | Free, with in-app purchases upward to $7,99/calendar month or $19,99/year.

Created past architects, for architects, Morpholio Trace is the perfect sketching app. Used with an iPad or iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, it allows you lot to instantly depict to scale on meridian of PDF drawing sets, maps, 3D models, images, or background grids. Compared with other sketching apps, a big advantage of Trace is that information technology has scale tools, so you can use any ii points to gear up a scale in royal or metric units. According to its makers, Trace combines the dazzler and speed of sketching with the intelligence and precision of CAD. This app pushes the boundaries of AR technology, providing y'all a truly cutting-border sketching experience.

This app gets great press and recognition in the architecture world and has been awarded by Apple tree as a superlative sketch and drawing app. Based on the reviews, it's clear that users really dear this app.

Image copyright by Joshua Gregg/@cg_arquitec andMorpholio

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Features:

• Create designs with pens, brushes, calibration tools, stencils, and moveable layers.
• Elevate in a 3D model and auto-set perspective grids.
• Marking up drawing sets, 3D models, photos, or contact sheets.
• Use the Augmented Reality Camera to depict live site sketches in perspective.
• Summate areas while you sketch using SmartFill.
• Reality Sketch Walk: jump into and walk around your drawings with others.
• Instant scale: use any two points to set a scale in imperial or metric units.
• Optimized to get the most from your Apple tree Pencil.

During the final yr, Trace released three new tools that have farther improved the digital sketching feel for architects:

• Smart hatch: this tool calculates the areas for users and lets users hatch intelligent details, plans, and sections effortlessly. Check this video.
• Roller brush: y'all tin can color entire regions, add shading, and more with a single castor. Cheque this video.
• Super ruler: draw effortless straight lines anywhere in your project. Check this video.

Client reviews:

"It really takes the power of iPad and Pencil and makes a tool that really is powerful and intuitive to use for marking up drawings and sketching out ideas. The large game-changer is using PDFs with multiple sheets. At present, every time I take a call or meeting, I open the set in Trace and we make real-time sketches, take notes, and can send out a PDF of the set in seconds."

"I've gone through several sketching apps for architecture and this is by far the best for three reasons. 1) Very easy to utilise. ii) Custom stencils are amazing. 3) Best export past a mile. 4) MultiPagePDF markup is heaven. Layers and other tools are groovy besides."

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Procreate

Best FOR | Generating high-caliber artwork at a blistering pace using a robust layering system, stunning filters, and thousands of importable brushes.
WORKS ON | iOS – iPad Pro with Apple Pencil
PRICE | $ix.99 (ane-fourth dimension fee)

With Procreate, y'all go everything you need to create impressive sketches, illustrations, and animations. The hundreds of handmade brushes allow you to draw in an impressively realistic and accurate fashion. One characteristic many architects like near Procreate is working with layers: once you lot take the beginning of an idea you desire to grow, only create a new layer of white, pass up the opacity, add together a new cartoon layer on top of that, and begin sketching again…

Procreate's powerful and intuitive interface always puts your art in focus. It actually feels like yous're drawing with a real pencil. The 20k+ ratings speak for themselves. No question that this app is loved by thousands if not millions of creatives.

Concept drawing for Harvard proposal, created on Procreate; image via Foster + Partners

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Features:

• Intuitive interface made for iPad and Apple Pencil.
• Quick shape characteristic for perfect shapes.
• Select-and-fill technique to add color to an surface area defined by the choice tool.
• Layer your art for precise command over details and composition.
• Hundreds of beautifully crafted brushes, with over 100 customizable settings for every brush.
• Responsive smudge tool to perfectly alloy color with any brush in your library.
• The fastest 64-bit, Valkyrie-powered painting engine for iPads.
• Groundbreaking canvas resolution, upward to 16k by 4k on iPad Pros.
• Continuous auto-salve; never lose work once again.

Client reviews:

"All-time app for architects and designers. I tried every design and drawing app that shows upwards on the App Store. This one is the most complete and the easiest to use. In that location is no getting lost in the interface and drawing in this app has become an extension of my hand. It is the most intuitive drawing software I accept ever used. Certain, there are features in other apps that I'd like to see such as drawing to calibration, computing area, moisture watercolor brushes that bleed, importing 3D model views, and saving views that would become this a 6-star rating, but the beautiful brushes, the ability to create castor blocks for repeated objects, the drawing guides that don't require you to actually motility the guide effectually speed up the procedure enough that the missing features don't make drawing clumsy."

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Concepts

BEST FOR | Infinite, flexible sketching and pattern
WORKS ON | iOS, Android, and Windows 10
PRICE | Gratuitous, one-time purchase + subscription options

Concepts is a vector-based sketching app used by architects worldwide to design homes, communities, and urban landscapes. Information technology is a flexible, accurate, and extremely responsive app, enabling faster, more than natural design for creative people. Concepts has been around for many years and has won All-time of, Creative and Blueprint awards with Apple, Google, and Samsung for its infinite cartoon feel and customizable UI. In this commodity, Builder Craig Burns shares his paperless design workflow on iPad, using Morpholio and Concepts for drawing and sketching.

River House concept by Lasse Pekkala; epitome courtesy of TopHatch

Watch the VIDEO.

Features:

• An space canvas lets you explore ideas without boundaries.
• Draw with realistic pens, markers, brushes, and CAD-like tools in designer Copic colors.
• Sketch and edit plans chop-chop with vectors: move, copy, calibration, and edit color, weight, and more than.
• Use unlimited imports and layers for tracing.
• Design with real-world scale, measurement, and grids.
• Import, marking upwards, and consign crystal clear, scalable PDFs.
• Export flexibly to apps like AutoCAD, Adobe, and other blueprint software.

Client reviews:

"The Concepts app has not changed what I do, just transformed how I do information technology. It offers me the power, flexibility, and adaptability of engineering science with all the sensitivity and immediacy of traditional hand drawing. In brusk, information technology is an app that I now cannot imagine being without, and the but time I've experienced something that betters pen and paper."

"Having the ability to depict with real accurateness on the iPad using a tool like Concepts has fundamentally changed my workflow. At present, both the initial sketches and the more polished products live side-by-side in the same documents, and I can become back and forth from freehand to highly technical drawings without even switching to a new document."

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Autodesk FormIt

All-time FOR | AEC 3D sketching and environment analysis for conceptual and computational design workflows
WORKS ON | Web, iOS, Windows
PRICE | Gratuitous or Paid (FormIt PRO). Note: FormIt Pro is available merely equally part of the Autodesk AEC Collection, which as well includes Revit, Autocad, and more.

FormIt aims to bridge the gap betwixt pencils and pixels, giving architects the ability to sketch out their ideas in 3 dimensions correct at the offset of the process. Yous can use the app to create models on your phone or tablet, and apply real-world site information (e.g. satellite images of your site), solar assay, and free energy analysis during the early on blueprint phase of a project. By doing and so, you can make informed decisions earlier in the pattern process.

While SketchUp has been dominating this space, Autodesk FormIt is a worthy contender, offering intuitive 3D sketching. Conceptual design should drive BIM, and FormIt helps you practise but that. First, you model the conceptual design (by defining location, levels, layers, massing, scenes, and materials).Once that'due south done, you lot go on the detailed design and documentation process inside Revit. A crucial element here is the two-way connection betwixt FormIt and Revit, via the FormIt Converter add-in for Revit.

Image copyright by Autodesk

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Features:

• Create models on your tablet with 3D sketching tools.
• FormIt Pro has a Dynamo integration that enables customized parametric content to be placed and manipulated in FormIt, allowing you to review numerous design options quickly before making informed decisions.
• Explore the effects of the sun using the location-enlightened shadow study tool.
• Use existent-globe site data to help create forms in context and support early on blueprint decisions with real building data.
• Use energy analysis to optimize building and glazing performance.
• Real-time collaboration: design with your team in the same model, in real-time.

Client reviews:

"This Autodesk app is simply wonderful. The user that takes the time to learn it volition exist highly rewarded. Keep in mind that the app will non supersede the high-end 3D creation/visualization tools from Autodesk or others simply will allow y'all to give basic shape to nigh architectural and even industrial pattern concepts. Highly recommended."

"Beautifully executed in layout, 3D pattern, and iPad user interface. Simple, clean, very well thought out. Ane of the highest level and enjoyable apps that I've seen for the iPad."

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Other sketching apps worth giving a try include Newspaper past WeTransfer, Adobe Sketch, and Sketchbook past Autodesk.

In this video by arditarts, you lot can see five sketching apps at work: Sketchbook, Adobe Sketch, Adobe Draw, Morpholio Trace, and Procreate.

And here Marc Sawyer from Whitewash Studio demonstrates his favorite iPad Pro sketching apps, including Procreate, Adobe Sketch, Concepts App, and Morpholio Trace:

Jump to CAD & 3D | Site inspections | Sketching | On the Go

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Best Toolbox Apps

Dominicus Locator

BEST FOR | Tracking and analyzing solar path and shade
WORKS ON | Android
PRICE | Free (Lite version) – $nine.50 (Pro version)

This app isn't intended solely for architects, just information technology makes for a superb companion nonetheless. Think virtually analyzing whether a neighboring building obstructs the sun and causes shade, how much sunshine volition a house get, and if the sun will shine through a window. Dominicus Locator tin aid with this, by providing useful data similar the solar path, the winter and summertime solstice paths, and sunrise and dusk times. Using a highly interactive augmented 3D view, you can instantly determine the amount of sunlight your building will receive.

The principal improvement released in 2020 is the Terrain Simulation, which simulates the shadow from mountains, hills, and valleys, making Sun Locator especially useful for architects in mountainous and hilly terrain.

Image copyright by Sun Locator

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Features:

• 3D sundial, to visualize the sun position and the shadow direction and length over the course of the day and year on an interactive map.
• Augmented reality sun and moonlight simulation, to fast-forwards from sunset to sunrise for any fourth dimension and twenty-four hours of the yr through your camera.
• Day and night world map, an interactive visualization of the earth showing daylight and twilight regions.
• The Lite version is gratuitous and limited to data for the current twenty-four hours; the Pro version enables you to get information for any twenty-four hour period of the year (and to adjust the peak of the sundial in the map view)

Sun Locator Pro has a rating of four.8, which is the highest-rated sun position app on the Play Store.

Client reviews:

"Groovy app! I used the paid version to locate the all-time place for my solar panels. Like shooting fish in a barrel to use with lots of useful information. Easy to locate the sun'southward exact position every twenty-four hours of the twelvemonth and any time of the solar day. Using the camera view, you tin can see any obstructing copse or buildings."

"Best app I've constitute so far to give the sun's location at whatsoever address for any time of day. I use it daily for work to find the all-time fourth dimension to photograph a house. I love that information technology incorporates Google Map'due south satellite overlay."

All-time iOS alternative: Sun Seeker ($9.99)

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Structure Master Pro App

All-time FOR | Solving construction-math bug on-site, including completing layouts, plans, bids, and estimates
WORKS ON | iOS, Android, Windows
Toll | $22.99

Installing a calculator app on your phone saves y'all from having to lug around a physical calculator. The Construction Master Pro App helps you solve tough construction-math issues, like calculating areas or volumes, laying out stairs, figuring out how much drywall to use, and calculating right-angle solutions.

Paradigm copyright by Calculated Industries Inc.

Watch the VIDEO.

Features:

• Dimensional math and conversions.
• A host of right-angle tools, including irregular hip/valley and jack rafters.
• Expanded and arched rake-wall.
• Biconvex rake-walls with on-center spacing.
• Expanse, volume, and perimeter solutions with length, width, and height keys.
• Advanced stair layouts for risers, treads, stringer length, and incline angle.
• Roof/rafter calculations for estimating and building.

Customer reviews:

"I've had this calculator at my architecture office for many years. I use information technology every single day. It's the just one I could find that can do trig functions with feet/inch measurements. It'southward an essential tool for anyone in the architecture/design/construction industry."

"I've held out on buying a structure calculator for the longest time. Finally idea I better purchase ane for some more complicated calculations for a sloped site projection having to go between civil elevations in anxiety and my own architectural drawings in feet and inches. It'southward been so much easier using this piffling guy equally opposed to my iPhone calculator or even trying some of the apps."

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Other toolbox apps

Compass: the compass app comes pre-installed on every new iPhone, and it's helpful for orientation. If you're an Android user, go Compass.

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Level: various apps assistance yous measure the level of an object or surface. If you're an iOS user, use this feature in the Measure app (run across below); if you're an Android user, endeavour Chimera level.

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Measure: iOS augmented reality app adult past Apple for the iPhone and iPad. You tin can speedily gauge the size of objects, and automatically detect the dimensions of rectangular objects.

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Demand something even more than accurate? Try Moasure, the starting time motility-based measuring tool. You can measure distance, angles, areas, circles, gradients, and more while moving.

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My Measures: take a photo of an object and add together dimensions: arrows, angles, photos of details, and equip them with text comments for easier understanding. Perfect for recording and sharing measurements made during site visits. Bachelor on iOS and Android.

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Adobe: apply your mobile device to fill and sign documents. Available on iOS and Android.

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Planimeter: This GPS tool (iOS, $7.99) uses a satellite map to make quick site measurements, including perimeters, distances, and angles, in regal or metric units. The app is piece of cake to use; just drop pins around the area you desire to measure out on the map. For Android, try Planimeter.

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Scan: Did yous know your phone or tablet is a scanner besides? iOS users tin can browse and sign documents with the Notes app. Android users, try CamScanner.

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If y'all're interested in more free apps for structure, check out this commodity.

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Spring to CAD & 3D | Site inspections | Sketching | Toolbox

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Best Apps for When You're On the Go

Expensify

BEST FOR | Receipt and expense management
WORKS ON | iOS and Android
PRICE | Costless for individuals, $5/mo/user for small-scale companies. More info on prices here.

Expensify is a existent productivity booster for architects who are often on the route, making expenses for lunch, expenses for travel, expenses for fuel, and more. Keeping track of everything can exist a pain. Expensify automates every step, from receipt scanning to reimbursement. Simply have a photo of a receipt and put your phone away. Expensify automatically reads and transcribes the receipt data, then adds information technology to an expense written report, which tin automatically be submitted, approved, and even reimbursed the very next day.

Image copyright by Expensify

Features:

• Ane-click receipt tracking.
• Mileage tracking.
• Automatic expense reporting and submitting for approval.
• Expense management: Expensify codes and submits business expenses for like shooting fish in a barrel approval, and adjacent-twenty-four hours reimbursement.
• Bookkeeping integrations: QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, and more.
• Travel booking: concierge books your flights, hotels, and cars for you in one simple chat. Information technology's a 24/7 corporate travel assistant that learns your preferences on the become.

Client Reviews:

"Staff now self-serve their own expense management tasks rather than relying on the finance staff to exercise everything for them."

"I travel quite a bit for my visitor and would collect receipts in my wallet and scan each i for my expense report. Information technology is a hassle. But then I discovered Expensify. It totally simplified the entire process. I take a picture of my receipt using the App and Expensify does everything else."

In the printing:

"The Best Concern Travel App" – Concern Insider

"Expensify is like a virtual accountant" – Wall Street Journal

"A mobile app that helps yous run your business" – Forbes

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Waze

BEST FOR | Fugitive traffic jams
WORKS ON | Android and iOS
Price | Free

Waze is a costless navigation app that saves you lot from wasting time in traffic. It uses alive user feedback to find improve routes. If traffic is bad on your route, Waze will alter it to relieve you fourth dimension. Waze (or Google Maps, which is very similar) is a must-have for every person often on the road.

Everyone knows Waze and Google Maps, nonetheless very few people brand information technology a habit to actually start using them. Don't forget, fourth dimension is your most valuable asset, and being stuck in a traffic jam is a pure waste of time.

Image copyright by Waze

Features:

• Fastest road to destination.
• Reminder for when to leave, based on bodily traffic conditions.
• Locations for the cheapest, closest gas.
• Alerts for when yous're over the speed limit.

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4 More than Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Smartphone or Tablet

Here, I'm sharing 4 more tips to get the most out of your smartphone or tablet, while you're out on the road, meeting with clients, or doing site inspections.

one. Voice Dictation

You speak, your smartphone or tablet writes. That easy. Works bully on both iOS and Android.

It feels a little strange at showtime, but y'all tin save a LOT of fourth dimension with it if you get the hang of it.

How? When you open your keyboard, you'll see a little microphone icon somewhere. Tap that push button, and then start speaking.

To add a menstruum, just say "period." To skip a line, say "new line." Here y'all can learn more vox dictation commands for iOS.

Call up about punch lists and site observations where yous could dictate particular names or descriptions, instead of writing them down. Or think about writing downwards text while you're somewhere on the road. It'southward all much more pleasant and efficient using phonation dictation.

2. Siri and Google Assistant

I guess you lot know Siri or Google Assistant, the virtual assistant that comes with your iOS or Android device. For architects, oft on the road, using Siri or Google Banana can plough your mobile device into an even more powerful instrument.

But to give you lot some inspiration, here are some examples of how architects on the road could utilise Siri or Google Banana;

• Location or fourth dimension-based reminders: "Remind me to phone call John when I get abode."
• Quick calculations on-site:"What is 545 divided past iii.v?"
• Launch apps:"Launch ArchiSnapper!", or"Open up Waze," and start navigating.
• Check the weather report:"What is the weather like today?"
• Find the closest gas station/type of eating house/mall/etc.: "Show me the nearest [kind of location]."
• Cheque the traffic conditions: "What are the traffic conditions near [name location]?"
• Check voicemail:"Check my voicemail."
• Read your emails: "Read my new electronic mail."
• Transport emails:"Send an email to [proper name]."
• Make phone calls:"Telephone call [name or number]."
• Set warning:"Gear up an alarm for [time]."
• Schedule meetings: "Schedule a meeting with [proper noun] at [solar day and time]."
• Listen to podcasts:"Proceed podcast."
• And so, so much more …

You tin ask Google Assistant or Siri to practise these things from your motorcar or on the construction site, all without typing a single word or even touching your device.

Check out this article for more inspiration on working with Google Assistant, and this one for Siri.

three. Apple Pencil

The Apple Pencil really is a world apart. It draws, writes, and highlights uncommonly well and has a high level of precision. The Pencil 2, in item, with its magnetic attachment and wireless charging, is practically a miracle. Response time is super-fast, and when drawing on the laminated brandish of the iPad Air and iPad Pro, information technology'southward almost similar drawing direct onto paper.

One of the reasons architects invest in an iPad is the choice to employ these great sketching apps – similar Morpholio, Concepts, or Procreate – in combination with the Apple Pencil. The iPad Pro with Apple Pencil in combination with any of these apps gives a great experience to using a tablet and bridges the gap between analog and digital.

You can also use a stylus in combination with annotation-taking or writing apps and write just like yous would with a pen. Notation-taking apps to consider for iOS users, include GoodNotes, Nebo, and Notability. Android users could consider Nebo, OneNote, or Evernote. BTW, some of these note-taking apps take decent write-to-text conversion.

four. Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive

Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and the like are pretty mainstream, right?

Notwithstanding I still come across quite some architects print out their floor plans and drawings earlier site visits, or find them struggling to get access to the latest plans on-site.

Or they take hundreds of photos every week and store them on the camera roll without whatsoever automated sync to a cloud account.

So although everybody knows these tools, I experience obliged to mention them here.

If you lot're in the structure industry, y'all're frequently on the route, heading from site inspections to customer meetings, and sometimes it's difficult to carry a heavy laptop. With tools like Google Drive and Dropbox y'all accept all your files, drawings, plans, and contracts with you wherever you go, on your desktop, phone, or tablet.

Google Drive is 1 of the best apps out there for storing and managing documents, and at the same time very affordable.

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And that'south it for today. Now information technology's your turn. Accept reward of one or more of these apps to help yous save fourth dimension, gain an border on your peers — and piece of work smarter instead of harder.

Now get to it. Don't just apply your phone just to snap funny pics of your true cat. Make your phone a powerful ally for work.

Have whatever apps y'all call up we should stick in our toolbox? Make sure to let united states of america know in the comments below. 👇

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Hey, while you're here… could I enquire y'all for a little favor? It took me days to write this blog post, but it would take you merely seconds to share it.

That would motivate me to write improve and write more — and it would also assist me explain to my married woman why I spend Sundays writing web log posts. 😉

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Read Side by side

• Best tablet for architects
• All-time laptop for architecture
• xi Ways to Make your iPhone or iPad your best construction tool
• Software (costs) for Solo Architects
• 9 Elementary Things Architects, Engineers or Contractors Tin Practise To Heave Their Revenue

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Source: https://blog.archisnapper.com/top-apps-for-architects/

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