SketchUp is proving to be an invaluable new tool for construction companies and architects who want to use design skills in a natural and efficient way.
It capitalises on a designer's intrinsic spark of imagination and is the flagship product from the @Last software company, which is exhibiting at Interbuild 2006.
iTSHOWCASE will be one of many special feature areas at the UK's premier construction exhibition at the Birmingham NEC from April 23-27, and will highlight the most useful IT solutions for the industry.
The SketchUp software is proving to be popular in driving forward design ideas for a range of projects, from small business refurbishments to large scale urban design masterplans.
Said Sanjay Patel, managing director of the UK division of @Last: "There is an incredible demand for this product because it is so easy to use: "We've only been operating in the UK for three years and the demand for this piece of software, which is now on its fifth version, increases every year."
SketchUp makes 3D design easy - even for designers with no previous experience of Computer Aided Design, or CAD. Added Sanjay: "Say you are drinking a cup of coffee in a café and have that spark of inspiration, your first instinct is to grab a pencil and piece of paper and draw it out. SketchUp utilises that instinct to make 3D design as natural and easy as possible. It has a streamlined interface that allows the user to concentrate on designing and not wondering what this tool does."
SketchUp is used by a wide variety of companies in the architecture, engineering and construction areas but the software is so adaptable it is now being used in interior design, mapping and even in film and videogame design.
Sanjay explained: "SketchUp was built on the philosophy that a small, powerful toolset which did its best to capture the spirit of drawing would be the most effective way of enabling designers to express themselves - without constraints."
It has also been used to submit proposals and sketches for preliminary review to city agencies, explore job site changes and communicate them to owners, architects and sub-contractors and create 3D detailing to generate isometric details.
Interior Designers have also found a great many uses for SketchUp and Sanjay added: "Many people just don't understand 2D drawings so Interior designers are constantly telling us how invaluable SketchUp is in helping their clients visualise their design. Shadows studies, walk-throughs and experimenting with colours and textures real-time can be powerful tools to selling design ideas."
SketchUp has also been used to generate space plans and walk clients through designs, interior and exterior shadow studies, real time colour composition, material and texture comparisons and populate interior spaces with high quality drag and drop items from the software.
Interbuild Event Director Gordon Thomas said the iTSHOWCASE area will feature the very latest leading edge software solutions for the construction industry. He explained: "Interbuild creates an exciting environment that brings buyers and suppliers together and helps to create lasting relationships. Specialist areas, such as iTSHOWCASE, underline how Interbuild is the leading event for sharing best practice, informing on new product development and reviewing technological advancements for the benefit of the whole construction industry."
More than 44,000 trade professionals attended Interbuild when it was last held in 2004 and they represented a combined buying power of around £24.5billion.
The 2006 show takes place from April 23 to 27 at the NEC in Birmingham.
Entry is £20 on the day but free to visitors who log on at http://www.interbuild.com to register their details in advance.
