In this first part of our feature article on our 2002 AEC CAD IT Survey we discuss the report in general (the free online portion) and the published product for sale), the goals and size of the study, and its participants.

The Architosh AEC CAD IT Survey for 2002

For years Macintosh CAD and 3D users—but architects and other AEC users in particular—have asked us for quantitative and detailed analysis of the IT advantages or disadvantages of working on the Apple Macintosh platform. In 2002 we launched our first effort to study CAD IT market information so that we could share the results with our readers—and in particular prospective Mac users (or what Apple calls Switchers!).

We designed a series of about twelve multiple-choice questions dealing with firm size, firm type, CAD platform, OS platform utilization, servers, backup, databases used, and questions pertaining to hardware cost, replacement cycles and IT support costs. Our single goal was to develop substantive market data which IT professionals and firm principals could use to better plan for and implement information technologies. We have done that here with a complete report.

What follows is a series of online articles with animated QuickTime presentations of the various charts and graphics that help illustrate the survey results. While we have presented much data here online, there is a much more substantial paper-based publication available for purchase with a companion Web site with further media. You can read about that here and view the table of contents.

Size of Study

The results of this study are based on the complete responses to our Architosh AEC CAD IT Survey data collected during the second half of 2002. We started collecting results when it was first published on 13 June 2002 and continued to collect results through January of 2003. Ninety five percent of the results were collected in the 2002 calendar year.

We collected data from 71 AEC firms, ranging in size from sole practitioner to organizations up to 150 professionals. Organization types included all of the following categories: 1) Architecture or Planning, 2) Engineering, 3) Construction or DesignBuild, 4) Interiors, or 5) Other. A breakdown by size of firms is shown in the following interactive QuickTime movie:

Click to bring up the QuickTime Movie, click play button to advance

Half the Size of Boston

As we mentioned above this study included the data from 71 AEC firms. To put that in some perspective, here in the Boston area market, the latest Boston Society of Architects database list 169 architecture firms based in the city of Boston. While our study includes all AEC firms, this reference to architecture firms in one of this country's bigger cities provides a reference point for the size of our study.

Ideally it would have been nicer to have data for 170 firms or equivalent to interviewing data from all the architecture firms in a major US city. However we are not discouraged. The size of our report is equal to a similar and less detailed (IT wise) study conducted by Architectural Record magazine in the May 2002 issue.

Firm Activity (classification) Type Breakdown

We personally do not see firm type—in terms of a mix—as a particularly important finding or metric itself. However, when mixed with other IT variables (such as cost of workstations and replacement cycles) firm type plays a more important role. What is shown below and in the QuickTime animation above is the firm type breakdown.

It should be noted that many firms are engaged in multiple activities or specialties, such as an architecture firm that also does interior design or an engineering firm that does architecture. Therefore the following percentages equal more than 100.

A basic breakdown of our data is as follows:

• Architecture or Planning - 76 percent
• Engineering- 11 percent
• Construction or DesignBuild - 6 percent
• Interiors - 11 percent
• Other - 7 percent

You can also see this information in the interactive QuickTime movie above. Click here.

AEC CAD IT Report - Online Part : | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | TOC|