Overview of structural drafting in engineering

Structural engineers rely heavily on drafting software to translate calculations and design intent into clear, buildable drawings. 

This article explores the most popular drafting platforms used in Australia and the United States, outlines the typical structural drawing process, highlights standards and best practices, and provides practical advice for selecting and learning drafting software.

In addition to selecting the right tools, collaboration between structural engineers and drafters plays a critical role in delivering accurate and timely project documentation. Miscommunication and unclear handoffs are frequent culprits in construction delays and rework. For best results, drafting software should support a streamlined, feedback-rich collaboration process. 

For an in-depth look at this dynamic, see our companion article: Stop Construction Chaos: Streamline Engineer-Drafter Collaboration.

Typical structural design and documentation workflow

Structural design usually begins after initial architectural drawings are produced. These architectural plans provide information about the building's layout, usage, elevations, and materials—serving as the base for structural design. 

By securing the architectural drawings in their native file format, the structural engineer can save significant time in the drafting process by re-using plans and sections rather than having to draft them all from scratch, which would unnecessarily increase the time and cost of the project.

Key Stages

1. Architectural Drawings – Created using software like Revit, ArchiCAD, or AutoCAD Architecture.
2. Preliminary Structural Design – Feasibility and concept checks using tools like ClearCalcs or hand calculations.
3. Detailed Structural Design – Detailed calculations and checks using an accurate, efficient, cloud-based, structural design calculator like ClearCalcs.
4. Structural Drafting – Producing detailed drawings, using tools like AutoCAD, Revit, Tekla Structures, or MicroStation.
5. Documentation and Coordination – File sharing and revision tracking, typically done through BIM 360, Bluebeam, or cloud platforms.

Sometimes the architectural drawings will need to be revised based on the advice of the structural engineer, eg, when spans can’t be achieved (too large in architecturals), members need to be larger than what’s assumed by the architect, or the architect's design is too costly to construct. 

It’s important to communicate these required changes to the architect and have the drawing set revised to match the structural details.

Structural drawing standards (United States & Australia)

High-quality structural drafting involves more than lines and labels. Key elements include:

• Accuracy
• Consistency with architectural drawings
• Material callouts and schedules
• Legibility and layering
• Coordination with architectural, civil, and building services (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) drawings

The applicable standards that detail the requirements for drafting in the United States and Australia are detailed below.

United States:

• AISC and ACI drawing standards
• ASME Y14.5 (formerly ANSI Y14.5) for dimensioning
• IBC (International Building Code)

Australia:

• AS 1100.101-1992 Technical drawing, Part 101: General principles
• NCC (National Construction Code) 2022

Structure of a complete drawing package

A complete structural documentation set should, as a minimum, include:

1. Cover Page – Project name, address, client, drawing index.
2. Locality Plan – Context of site within the broader area.
3. Contents Page – Page index.
4. General Notes – Design criteria, material specs, codes.
5. Plan Views – Floor framing, roof layout, foundations.
6. Sections – Through key parts of the building.
7. Details – Critical junctions, reinforcement, connections.

Title block

At the bottom of each drawing, there should be a title block, which will have a consistent format across the entire drawing set. The title block of each drawing should include, as a minimum:

• Drawing number and revision
• Plan name or description
• Date and author
• Checker, approver and engineering license/registration details, if required by jurisdiction
• Project name and address
• Designer/engineer of record
• Scale and north point
• Builder/client

Key drafting software platforms compared

Here’s how the leading structural drafting platforms compare, based on use case, features, and ideal project types:

AutoCAD

AutoCAD is the industry standard for 2D drafting, particularly well-suited for renovations and smaller-scale projects. It supports the widely used .DWG format and runs on both Windows and Mac systems. 

While it offers strong compatibility and modest hardware requirements, it lacks the automation and coordination tools needed for complex BIM environments.

• Best for: 2D drafting, renovations, simple projects
• Learning curve: Moderate; good self-paced training via LinkedIn Learning and AutoDesk Academy
• Strengths: High compatibility, quick edits, low barrier to entry
• Limitations: Manual drafting slows down larger projects; not BIM-friendly
• Example use: Custom home foundations, small commercial buildings
• Website: autodesk.com/products/autocad

Revit

Revit is designed for 3D modeling and full BIM coordination. It excels in projects where multiple disciplines need tight integration and offers parametric modeling to automate changes. While its power is unmatched for complex builds, it requires more training and hardware investment.

• Best for: BIM-heavy, multi-disciplinary projects
• Learning curve: Steep; ideal courses on BIMGuru and Udemy
• Strengths: 3D modeling, automatic schedules, real-time design coordination
• Limitations: Costly, not ideal for budget-sensitive or small-scale work
• Example use: Hospitals, schools, mid-to-high-rise buildings
• Website: autodesk.com/products/revit

Tekla Structures

Tekla excels in steel detailing and fabrication workflows. It's widely used by structural steel fabricators and engineers working on infrastructure or industrial buildings. With robust automation and strong integration with steel databases, it speeds up detailing significantly but is overkill for smaller, light-framed designs.

• Best for: Steel warehouses, bridges, stadiums
• Learning curve: Moderate to high; Tekla Campus and LinkedIn Learning offer focused training
• Strengths: Detailing automation, connection modeling, advanced concrete tools
• Limitations: High cost, excessive for timber or residential projects
• Website: tekla.com/products/tekla-structures

MicroStation

Bentley’s MicroStation is favored in civil and transport infrastructure work. It handles large file sizes well and supports extensive project datasets. However, its user interface is less intuitive for first-timers, and it’s rarely used in small commercial or residential projects.

• Best for: Highways, bridges, large-scale transport infrastructure
• Learning curve: Moderate; Bentley LearnServer provides role-based learning paths
• Strengths: Ideal for infrastructure scale, DGN file format compatibility
• Limitations: Steeper learning curve, not commonly used in residential design
• Website: bentley.com/software/microstation

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Summary table: Drafting software comparison

Platform compatibility

Pricing overview (AUD/USD estimates)

Learning Resources

• LinkedIn Learning – Great for AutoCAD and Revit basics
• Autodesk Academy – Official free courses
• YouTube – Community-driven tutorials
• TAFE & RTOs in Australia – Short courses for drafters
• Bentley LearnServer – MicroStation learning paths

Integration With ClearCalcs

ClearCalcs streamlines structural design by helping engineers quickly size members and connections to code, then seamlessly handing this data off to drafters. Whether you're using AutoCAD, Revit, or Tekla Structures, integrating ClearCalcs into your drafting workflow can significantly reduce errors, shorten timelines, and simplify updates.

What makes ClearCalcs drafting-friendly?

ClearCalcs is built for collaborative workflows between engineers and drafters.

Firstly, many jurisdictions require the engineer to provide detailed calculations to meet regulatory compliance, and there is no clearer calculation output than the one provided by ClearCalcs, which is based on the exact applicable standard or design codes. Some clients even specify this as a requirement of the design. 

Below is an example.

ClearCalcs allows for the member and connection schedule for the project to be exported, which can be rapidly inputted to any of the above drafting packages to speed up the design process. 

The best part of this feature is that often the concept design or architectural plans will detail the members that require specification by the engineer, as per the example below. The above member specification table can be given to the drafter to rapidly update the drawings and turn around the submission to the client much faster. 

Another method to speed up the design process is to allow the drafter to begin drafting the structural plans while calculations are being performed to size members and connections. Then, as soon as the calculations are done in ClearCalcs, the exported member table can be passed on to the drafter to be added to the already drafted plans, which dramatically decreases the critical path of the design process.

Once the drawings, exported schedules and calculations are issued to the client, often further updates are required, which can be due to procurement issues of certain structural components or builders' preference. ClearCalcs provides instantaneous feedback on member changes using the member selector tool or updated member/connection utilisations once any design parameters are changed. 

Then the member schedule can be immediately exported and passed to the drafter to update the structural drawings, to ensure the client is provided with fast design updates.

Real-world integration workflows

Here’s how ClearCalcs fits into a typical project timeline:

1. During concept design

Architectural plans often reference key members (e.g. ridge beams, columns). Engineers can run these members through ClearCalcs early to establish feasibility, even before drafting starts.

2. During drafting

Let your drafter start plan views and sections while you're still completing calculations. As soon as your member sizing is complete, export the schedule and drop it into the drawings, no time lost.

3. When revisions hit

Material substitutions, builder preferences, or supplier delays are inevitable. With ClearCalcs, you can revise the design live, regenerate the schedule, and hand off the new member table to the drafter—all in under 5 minutes.

The Future of Structural Engineering Drafting

Expect continued integration of AI, cloud-based collaboration, and real-time design changes with live analysis. Tools like ClearCalcs will become more embedded within BIM platforms, enabling structural engineers to validate decisions instantly. OpenBIM and IFC standards will improve interoperability between architectural, structural, and MEP models.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) will also become more common, helping clients and contractors visualize structures pre-construction.

Conclusion

Choosing the right drafting software depends on your project type, team size, and budget. Tools like AutoCAD are reliable for smaller works, while Revit and Tekla dominate in large-scale BIM environments. Whatever your choice, integrating clear workflows with design tools like ClearCalcs will ensure accuracy, efficiency, and compliance.