DigiCad 3D 10 – Innovation in photogrammetry and cartography

DigiCad 3D is an architectural and aerial photogrammetry, cartography and mapping program born in 1987 and continuously renewed to follow the developments of the technique. We started from graphics tablets and large digitizers to get to drones and the future is not over yet.

To better meet new needs and new technological challenges, the program has been completely rewritten, both as a user interface and as an analytical code, using a cross-platform development system with advanced features and including new software technologies.

From Google Maps to Domus.Cad with Map2Cad

Map2Cad is a module of Domus.Cad Pro and Std, which enables you to import both satellite and road maps from Google Maps.

Maps are imported with actual measurements and represented in the video scale selected in Domus.Cad.

The main features of Map2Cad are:

  • Internal browser for viewing maps, with the Google Maps functions integrated
  • Import of maps
  • Managing a list of maps
  • Inserting the maps from the list into Domus.Cad
  • Maps are imported with actual measurements

The use of Map2Cad is very simple and allows for the integration of each of the Google maps features in Domus, including search functions, display choices, street view and more.

When you choose Map2Cad from the Domus.Cad Modules menu, the following dialog box appears:image01

On the left, a list of previously imported maps appears.

Domus.Cad 2.1 – New features

Version 2.1 of Domus.Cad Pro and Std, a complete BIM, parametric architectural 3D CAD, was released.

Major novelties include:
  • New “smart” inspector
  • OpenBim IFC 2×3 support
  • DXF, DWG, DWF and SVG import/export improvements
  • New RoofTiles module for creating 3D roof tiles
  • New Super2Dto3D module for easy and fast converting a 2D drawing to 3D model
  • New Map2Cad module for getting maps from Google Maps
  • SuperPipe and SupeRot improvements
  • Optimization for new operating system
  • New documentation with several movies
  • ..and many more

See details below.

Architectural photogrammetry – Mosaicing methods

Foto mosaico con DigiCad 3DIt is often impossible to take the entire facade of a building in just one photograph. You have to take several photos then mount them together in a mosaic to form the picture. 

Many programs claim to do mosaics of several photos, but what they actually mean can vary a lot. Some do no more than straighten up several photos in one document, leaving the user the task of mounting them together as best he can, with programs such as PhotoShop.

Excluding such kinds of program, many other alternatives remain:

Crazy parameters

How to deal with the crazy parameters of the ‘Old World’ buildings

 

80% of architectural work in Europe is done on old buildings. This is undoubtedly also the case in any country with an architectural heritage of buildings made of stone or other durable material, of equal or greater importance than any new construction work .

This means working with an incredible variety of non-standard construction elements. Some architectural CAD programs attempt to solve this by increasing the number of parameters, but it is a hopeless struggle, because the number of construction elements is infinite and it is near impossible to cover all eventualities. So the parameter problem becomes a real obstacle to the architect.