AutoCAD
The foundational CAD tool for 2D technical drawing across architecture, engineering, and construction.
What it is
About AutoCAD
AutoCAD by Autodesk is the most widely used CAD application across architecture, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and construction. It is primarily a 2D drafting tool — producing the technical drawings (floor plans, sections, elevations, site layouts, engineering schematics) that form the legal and contractual documents behind any built project. AutoCAD LT is a 2D-only subset at a lower price; full AutoCAD adds 3D modelling and automation via LISP scripting. Despite the rise of BIM tools like Revit, AutoCAD remains essential for detailed drawing production and remains the lingua franca for exchanging drawings between disciplines.
What you can do with it
Capabilities
Draft a floor plan to scale using lines, arcs, polylines, and annotation tools on a 2D canvas with absolute coordinate precision
Set up layers to separate structural elements, MEP services, and annotation for controlled visibility and plotting
Create a sheet layout with a title block and viewport at a specific scale (e.g. 1:100) for print or PDF delivery
Use OFFSET, TRIM, and EXTEND commands to modify large drawings efficiently without redrawing elements from scratch
Plot a drawing set to PDF with consistent line weights, hatching, and annotation for client or contractor issue
How to learn it
Learning Resources
Autodesk's free training at autodesk.com/certification — structured courses for architecture and engineering pathways
YouTube: CADTutor and Balkan Architect offer free comprehensive AutoCAD tutorials from first commands to full drawing sets
Autodesk provides free education licences for students — use full AutoCAD, not LT, to learn the complete feature set
Complete a real exercise: draw a simple floor plan, add dimensions, set up a sheet layout, and plot to PDF
Pro Tip
Use layers properly from the start — every line should belong to a named, colour-coded layer. Drawings built without layers become unmanageable and impossible to hand off. This is the single habit that separates a professional AutoCAD drawing from an amateur one.
Skills that use this tool
Roles that use this tool