How to draw Civil Engineering Drawings
Engineering drawings refer to the technical representations of systems, objects or structures. Engineering drawings help to provide detailed information which is essential for constructing a specific project. The engineering drawings have been used in various aspects including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, technical engineering and civil engineering. The key features of the engineering drawings help to provide comprehensive insights into the project.
Key features of Engineering Drawings
Title Block
This component of engineering drawing is located at the bottom side of the drawing which includes the title of the project, the number of drawings, the number of revisions, the date, the name of the engineer, and the scale of the drawing.
This key component of the engineering drawing has been acting as the reference point which helps to ensure that anyone can quickly identify the purpose and the context of the drawing while reviewing the drawing.
Scale
This is another crucial component of engineering drawing which helps to indicate the ratio between the dimensions in the drawing and the actual dimensions of the structures. This allows the engineers to measure the distance and the dimensions on the engineering drawings more accurately.
Dimensions
This component helps to provide the measurement which is important to construct an object. The correct interpretation of the dimensions is necessary to ensure that all parts of the structures have been fitted together as intended.
Symbols and Notations
A variety of symbols and notations has been used in the engineering drawings which helps to represent different types of elements including materials, finishes, and connections.
Views
Different types of views help to represent the objects of the engineering drawings from different types of perspectives.
Plan View
This is the top-down view of the structure which helps to show the layout of the site.
Elevation View
This is the vertical view which helps to depict the front, rear or side of the structure.
Section View
This is the cut-through view which helps to show the internal components as well as provides details insights into the details of the construction process.
Step-by-step guide about studying Engineering Drawings
The engineering drawings have been prepared based on the technical standards or professional codes which are appropriate for reading by anyone without any kind of misinterpretation or difficulties. The following elements are necessary for studying an engineering drawing.
Starting with the title block
The title block should be checked for knowing the basic information about the engineering drawing. The title block should have to be read first to find out the crucial information regarding the engineering drawing. The name and contact information for the company which distributes parts can be read by studying the title block. The name of the object part, the scale of the drawing, and the name and contact information for the engineers can also be read by studying the title block.
Reviewing the notes
The next step is reading the symbols are notations that are used in the engineering drawings. Studying the notes helps to understand specific design criteria or instructions which are not represented visually.
Analyzing the plan view
Studying the overall arrangement and noting the key component’s locations including walls, windows, doors, and structural supports can be done by analyzing the plan view.
Analyzing the elevation view
Studying elevation views helps to give engineers a sense of the external appearance of the buildings and the height of the various elements. These views have been studied to understand the vertical dimensions as well as the aesthetic details of the building structures.
Interpreting the section view
Studying the section view helps to understand how different types of materials, components, and layers have come together. This study regarding the section view is important to understand the structural integrity and load-bearing elements of the construction structure.
Analyzing the cross-reference dimensions
Studying the cross-reference dimensions between the different views helps to ensure the accuracy and consistency of the engineering drawings. The measurements in the plan views, section views and elevation views and their alignments with each other can be checked by reading the cross-reference dimensions.
Understanding the materials and the construction process
The materials and the construction method have been studied to ensure that the project has been built on the basis of the project design. In this context, paying attention to the annotations regarding construction techniques, finishes, and materials is necessary.
Reviewing the revisions
The engineers always have to check for revisions in the engineering drawings as the changes made after revisions have a significant impact on the construction process. Revisions also help to make sure that the engineers can get the latest version of the engineering drawings.
Common mistakes that need to be avoided while reading Engineering Drawings
Ignorance of the scale
The misconduct of scales or failing to measure scales leads to faulty or misinterpretation of the engineering drawings.
To learn more, watch the following video tutorial.
Video Source: Plan & Spec
Symbols misinterpretation
The misinterpretation of the symbols can lead to the occurrence of errors in the construction methods, selection of the materials, and the placement of the components.
Focusing on one view
In the case of the engineer focusing on the single view of the engineering drawing, the understanding regarding the construction structure has been incomplete.
Overlooking the revisions
In case of working with an outdated version of the engineering drawing leads to the occurrence of costly mistakes.
