CAD and Design Tools
This page carries links to software providers. Some software is free to download having been written and provided by various built environment companies/organisations. Free distribution may be limited to certain groups for example, UK students. Other packages must be purchased but may be available free for a trial period, typically 30 days.

ArchiCAD
Graphisoft, the author of Archicad®, 3D Building Information Modelling (BIM) software, and Virtual Construction™, Building Estimation and Scheduling software, has launched a new initiative for the education sector. Called “Built Environment Future Foundations” whose aim is to provide free Archicad software and a free Interactive training guide to students in UK Universities.

Students can register for their personal copy at http://info.graphisoft.co.uk/student

Resources and free software are also available for tutors more information at http://pdf.me.uk/graphisoft/aabm/TutorFactSheet.pdf

Calculux Road and Calculux Area.
Free to download software from Philips lighting. For the design of road and external lighting schemes based on Philips lighting products.

Daylight Visualization
VELUX Daylight Visualizer is a simple tool for daylighting design and analysis. It is intended to promote the use of daylight in buildings and to aid professionals by predicting and documenting daylight levels and appearance of a space prior to realization of the building design.

Dynamic Thermal Properties Calculator
Excel based calculating tool developed by the Concrete Centre and Arup to determine mass related thermal properties of construction elements such as thermal mass(kappa) values and decrement factors

Google SketchUp
Free graphics software from Google that you can use to create 3D architectural models. Easy to use but site also has resources and training aids. A professional version is also available to purchase.

Renewable Energy Tools
The RETScreen International Clean Energy Project Analysis Software can be used worldwide to evaluate the energy production and savings, life-cycle costs, emission reductions, financial viability and risk for various types of energy efficient and renewable energy technologies (RETs).

Standard Building Energy Model (SBEM)
Developed by the Building Research Establishment, SBEM is a computer program that provides an analysis of a building's energy consumption. SBEM calculates monthly energy use and carbon dioxide emissions of a building given a description of the building geometry, construction, use and HVAC and lighting equipment.

Steel Construction Design Tools.
Comprehensive suite of software programs dedicated to providing assistance in the design of steel intensive buildings. Software provided by Corus plc. Tools are available for the analysis of steel beams and flooring systems.

Virtual Environment
<Virtual Environment> is a unique software system of integrated building performance analysis tools for use by architects and engineers, planners and facilities managers. It is available at a special student offer price of £50 per annual licence. This offer is only available to students attending a university who have a Maintenance Contract for the <Virtual Environment>