Responding to market forces, the specialist bridge division at national civil engineering firm, Jeffares & Green, has standardised its design software on AutoCAD-based Autodesk Architectural Desktop.

The company, which celebrated its 80th anniversary last year, is one of the oldest civil engineering practices in South Africa. Its Pietermaritzburg-based bridge division provides a national and international service, designing river and road bridges for large contractors, and other clients. The division recently completed the design of 18 river bridges for a Malawian infrastructure project. The bridges are located on a 100 km stretch of road running adjacent to the shore of Lake Malawi. The contractor is Murray & Roberts.

According to Jeffares & Green director, Corrie Meintjes, failure to make a switch to AutoCAD technology could impact negatively on companies. "Monitoring market forces, we are very aware that more and more clients are specifying the use of AutoCAD software," explains Meintjes. "The market is demanding AutoCAD drawings." He says AutoCAD software seems to be the standard in computer-aided design (CAD) in South Africa and abroad and equates its prevalence in the CAD market to the widespread use of software like Microsoft Word in the office environment.

Following evaluation of market requirements, the office switched to Autodesk Architectural Desktop software in the fourth quarter of last year. It acquired five licences of the AutoCAD-based software for use in its seven-person design office in Pietermaritzburg. "Not only are we now servicing our clients better, giving them drawings in precisely the required format, we can now exploit additional business opportunities," says Meintjes.

The reinforced concrete detailing package that operates the AutoCAD platform is an operational advantage. "Although we are still on a learning curve with AutoCAD, the mere fact that we have access to the reinforced concrete detailing package has already made us more productive," explains Meintjes.

The sole reseller of Autodesk software in KwaZulu-Natal, AfricaBlue, assisted Jeffares & Green with its transition to AutoCAD.

For more information contact Autodesk, 012 664 8115.