RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Hamza Mahmood
Intern/Mentor
2015-2016
Title: Designing and Drafting: The Importance of AutoCAD in Creating Building Designs
Overview of Research:
The research is centered on AutoCAD and hand-drawings in the architectural work field.
The researcher wants to investigate how AutoCAD and the advances occurring in it are affecting
the architectural field as in building or housing designs compared to hand-drawings. The
researcher is attempting to solve how AutoCAD has advanced building designs over the years
that it has been implemented and accessible in the work field.
Background and Rationale:
In the past there was not technology that would create designs or be able to function as a
tool for a live model simulator of sorts, there was only hand drawings, done with simple pen or
pencil. Great architects such as Vespasian, the creator of the Roman Coliseum, and Ustad
Ahmad Lahouri, the creator of the Taj Mahal, did not have any type of software mechanisms that
allowed them to create three-dimensional models of their designs and yet they created such
beautiful pieces of work, which all started with a simple hand sketch. As time progressed and as
technology advanced many program and software were made to assist architects and many other
people who work in a type of designing field. In 1979 a major company that was created to be
this helping in the architectural field was Autodesk, the company that made Autodesk Inventor
and also AutoCAD. As some more years progressed Autodesk was integrated into the workplace
and also into some school curriculums, so students are able to get a feel for designing threedimensional models of whatever they may want.
Nowadays many companies have implemented Autodesk or many other types of 3Dmodeling softwares into the work place such as AutoCAD, Building Information Modeling
(B.I.M.), or Sketch Up. Each of the different programs offers different capabilities and features
that are all beneficial in their own ways. The researcher is only familiar with AutoCAD do to the
mass use of it in the internship, but is working on obtaining knowledge on all of the programs so
there will be no bias. Hand-drawings play a major role in all of this because it offers a touch of
creativity that may be limited in the computer softwares because of limitation or constraints.
Overall, hand drawings is the basis of which all 3D-modeling companies started off of due to the
ease they provide over the hard pencil sketches.
The researcher feels like this is a major problem in the architectural work field because
some people enjoy using Autodesk since it provides the benefit of creating model with a simple
click of the mouse. However, others still want to maintain the use of the traditional hand
drawings because it enables them to create their own ideas through their own hand rather than
changing it due some computer constraint. Since the researcher has been in high school he has
worked with both hand drawings and also Autodesk to create different projects such as a puzzle

cube. For the project the researchers class had to first create hand drawings and then proceed
onto creating those same drawings in inventor and assemble them together. The idea having
software capable of creating live models of anything one may conceive is an important problem
to be discussed because it shows how the architectural field is changing from its old traditions
and moving into the modern world.
Research Methodology:
Research Question:
How is Autodesk altering or changing the process of architects creating buildings and
construction pieces, rather than the use of traditional hand drawings?
Research Hypothesis:
With Autodesk being more accepting in the workplace, architects would be able to create
better construction pieces due to the features Autodesk has compared to hand drawings.
In the researchers investigation they want see what AutoCAD has done to advance
building design and construction models. Another point the researcher may argue in their paper
is what other programs are offered that play a role in the advancement of building design. Also,
the researcher wants to see what past architects did with the availability of their resources, which
were basically hand drawings.
Research Design Model:
The model that the researcher is using is going to be historical research because
they feel as though going back in time and viewing the evolution that hand drawings had
in the past and the way that AutoCAD was built up. The research is going to be
Qualitative Research because through the qualitative method the researcher is able to
view different sources that show the advancement of AutoCAD and 3D-modeling
software and its effect on the architectural community. The independent variable is the
tool used to create designs for buildings, i.e. AutoCAD or hand drawings. The dependent
variable is the physical building or construction piece. The constant is the location of
where the change has taken place
Data Collection:
For original data collection the researcher wants to create an observational
research notebook because it is the most reliable way to collect data and many other data
collections would not fit the standards of this type of researcher. The researcher will
collect data through the use of the internet and searching up different
The researcher will create an original product through showing a different view of
the issue and not going explaining basic information, but go into specific detail and
description of the project. The researchers literature review will support their data
collection because the literature collected is very high level and will obtain research
articles from high leveled sources.

Product Objectives:
To showcase the data collected the researcher will choose to have a compilation of all of
the AutoCAD creations that were made in the time of the internship. The researcher will make
their information tangible to the target audience through the use of the AutoCAD models because
the researcher is creating a variety of different designs spanning from household constructions to
simple locator pieces. The specific, targeted audience of the project and the product are students
in any technology class (which relates to building or creating some type of project) because it
gives them information on the history of AutoCAD and what benefits it provides. Technology
classes, such as PLTW Engineering Design, are my targeted audience because the students
research directly deals with a program that they use very frequently in the class and also the
students in that class have dealt with hand drawings and all the different types present. The
product will be communicated to the selected audience when the researcher is presenting their
final research to the class, then will show the audience the different types of creations made to
interest them in the research done.
Logistical Considerations:
The resource that is needed for the project and product is Autodesk AutoCAD. The school
computers located in Mount Hebron High School contain the Autodesk program and also the
research has availability to the program at home. To create a final compilation document of all of
the projects done a PowerPoint presentation may be made.
Timeline of Product Development:
For my data collection I have created an observational notebook where I will write in all
of the facts and features of the architectural construction piece I am viewing. For my project I am
going to make a compilation of the AutoCAD practices that I have done in a document or
presentation format. My intended audience for my final product is going to be an engineering
class, such as the engineering class that I am currently in, Engineering Design and Development
(EDD). I plan to deliver it when I give my presentation and then I would show them all of the
different AutoCAD pieces that I have created, since both are digital. Until now I have begun my
data collection and starting to analyze the information collected and how they relate to one
another.
Date
2/25/16

3/16/16

3/25/16

3/29/16

Item to be
Completed
Brainstorm
buildings to
research
Make final
notebook

Further Elaboration
Brainstorm a list of 10 buildings that were created either in
AutoCAD or hand drawn.

By this point, I would like to narrow down my notebook to

10 or more edifices and format it so that it is ready to go. I
also need someone to edit it.
Complete data
I would like to finish collecting all of the information in my
collection notebook notebook and be able to compare each of the different
construction projects.
Create rough design I would like to have an idea of how I am going to present my
for final product
AutoCAD designs.

Completed?

3/28/16

Analyze data

I would like to put all of the data from the notebook. I would
like to start to understand my results and where I can go with
them.

4/5/15

Implement all
analyzed day

4/10/16

Rough draft of
AutoCAD
presentation
List of information
that the students
would need to
know
Talk to mentor

Right now (3rd quarter) I do not know when the final paper is
due but I would like to have put in all of my data that I have
collected into the paper.
I would like to sketch out my ideas for the design of what
AutoCAD pieces I want to put in product.

4/12/16

4/15/16

4/20/16

4/25/16
5/10/16

Email/talk to
mentor about
presenting product
Complete final
Product
Present final work

By this time I would like to have created a list of information

that I think is important for students in a class to know about
hand drawings and AuotCAD, and what my research is
about.
I would like to talk to my mentor about all the AutoCAD
practices that I have created and which ones I should include
or not.
I will need to ask my Mentor for his advice/ideas for
information I may still need in my presentation or other ideas
that I have not thought of.
I would like to have my AutoCAD product completely ready
by this point so that I can present it.
By this date, I would like to have presented my final
products and all of my research to my intended audience.

Approval:

__________________
Student Signature

_____________________
G/T Resource Teacher Signature

_____________________
Mentor Signature