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The client loves the scheme, then asks what the facade looks like in brick instead of stone, and the meeting stalls because the only honest answer is "let me render that and get back to you." Every architect knows that stall.&nbsp;
At AEC+Tech, we've watched the AEC tools we cover get very good at making the picture look real. What's changing now is where that picture sits in the process, moving from documentation into the decision itself.&nbsp;
For most of the last decade, progress in architectural visualization has been measured in image quality. Physically accurate lighting, richer material systems, and real-time ray tracing have closed much of the gap between a render and a photograph. What used to count as exceptional is now the baseline clients expect.
Rendering has improved fast. One part of the workflow has barely moved.
Design reviews still lean on static images, pre-rendered animations, and fixed camera paths. Those outputs record decisions well enough, but they sit outside the conversation. The moment a meeting turns toward a different material, a new lighting condition, or an alternate scheme, the presentation stalls while someone prepares fresh visuals elsewhere.
That gap matters more as practice becomes more collaborative. Clients, consultants, engineers, and developers now weigh in across the whole design process, not only at the end. Meetings have turned into working sessions where decisions take shape in the room. The way architecture gets presented has to keep up with that.
So visualization is starting to play a different part. Beyond the final picture, it is becoming a medium for discussion, comparison, and decisions made on the spot. The next step forward may be interaction as much as realism.
Every architect knows the moment a client asks to see it another way and the room goes quiet waiting on new visuals. D5 says 3.1 closes that gap, and will <a href="https://www.d5render.com/webinars/whats-new-in-d5-3-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prove it live on July 21</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">Answer "Can We See It Another Way?" On the Spot&nbsp;</h2>
This is the thinking behind <a href="https://bit.ly/d5-3-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">D5 3.1.</a>
Plenty of tools compete on how convincing the picture looks. Fewer ask what happens to it once a room full of stakeholders starts pushing back.&nbsp;
The release starts from a practical question: how does visualization stay useful once the meeting starts?
D5's answer is Interactive Presentation, a workflow that lets architects organize a review like a slide deck while keeping the live project open behind it.
<figure class="image"><img src="https://aecplustech-files.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/764404fa-3db9-4d3c-b9ec-9e36afea816e.png" alt="Interactive Presentation enables real-time scene switching with slides and 3D triggers." width="1080">
<figcaption>Interactive Presentation enables real-time scene switching with slides and 3D triggers.</figcaption>
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Instead of preparing several image sets or separate animations ahead of time, teams can move between design schemes, materials, lighting, weather, viewpoints, and object visibility inside a single presentation. A question that used to interrupt the review can be explored right away. Real-time scene switching runs through slides and 3D triggers, so the flow of the meeting holds together.
The presentation becomes a working space for the design, one the team can steer as the discussion moves.
<h2 dir="ltr">Let Clients Walk the Space Before It Exists&nbsp;</h2>
Interactive Presentation sits inside a wider set of tools aimed at making review more interactive and easier to adapt to the room.
Stereoscopic Panorama brings depth-aware panoramic views to VR, which helps clients and project teams read scale, materials, and how spaces relate to one another. Better VR navigation and controller handling make VR walkthroughs steady enough for everyday reviews rather than occasional demos.
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Spatial Tour has moved along too, with faster scene generation, smoother transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces, and dollhouse views that make it simpler to move through a complicated project.
These tools sit alongside still renders and animations and widen the options, so a team can pick the right way to explore a design based on the audience, the project stage, and what the review needs to settle.
<h2 dir="ltr">Start Seeing the Design the Moment You Model It&nbsp;</h2>
The quality of any review depends on everything that happens before it.
As visualization gets pulled deeper into design work, architects increasingly want to test ideas while those ideas are still moving, instead of waiting for documentation to finish. In that sense, presentation begins earlier than the slide deck. It begins when a team first tries out form, light, material, atmosphere, and how a space feels to move through.
In practice, the visual thinking usually happens long before anyone opens presentation software, and tools have been slow to meet designers there.&nbsp;
That continuity reaches past D5 Render itself. After its earlier <a href="https://www.aecplustech.com/tools/sketchup">SketchUp</a> release, D5 Lite now works inside Rhino and <a href="https://www.aecplustech.com/tools/revit">Revit</a>, bringing real-time visualization into more of the tools architects already use. Designers can preview materials, lighting, and visual direction without leaving the modeling environment, which supports quicker exploration during concept work, massing studies, facade development, and iterative testing.
<figure class="image"><img src="https://aecplustech-files.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/faae324a-8c58-4578-aac2-06f9faac39b1.png" alt="D5 Lite: Visualize projects directly inside Rhino, Revit and Sketchup" width="1080">
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Start in D5 Lite, finish in D5 Render, without switching tools
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D5 Lite is built for that early work, making design decisions more visual from the start. When a project needs higher-end imagery, animation, or an interactive presentation, the work carries on into D5 Render. Paired with Cloud Collaboration, distributed teams can review and share work with less reliance on manual file swaps or local hardware, which keeps things continuous from concept through client review.
<h2 dir="ltr">Photoreal That Holds Up When Clients Look Closely&nbsp;</h2>
As presentations get more interactive, the visuals behind them matter even more. A live scene only works if it holds up when someone leans in.
D5 Render 3.1 adds a set of production-focused improvements that strengthen realism while keeping real-time response.&nbsp;
<figure class="image"><img src="https://aecplustech-files.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/84679fde-46df-4239-985d-65e93278fb1f.png" alt="ACEScg Color Space preserves richer HDR color detail and supports professional ACES workflows" width="1080">
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-qb-tmp-id="lt-926652" data-gramm="false">ACEScg Color Space preserves richer HDR color detail and supports professional ACES workflows</figcaption>
</figure>
The move to an ACEScg working color space brings in a production-grade color pipeline, the kind used in film and visual effects, which improves color consistency across visualization and post-production. HeightField Tracing gives displacement materials richer surface relief without adding geometric weight, so brick, stone, and timber keep convincing physical depth even in large scenes.
<figure class="image"><img src="https://aecplustech-files.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/196052f2-45b2-4577-a1c1-32e97aa7bc83.png" alt="Seasonal Vegetation lets foliage and branch structure change by date, previewing all seasons in one scene" width="1080">
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-qb-tmp-id="lt-626429" data-gramm="false">Seasonal Vegetation lets foliage and branch structure change by date, previewing all seasons in one scene</figcaption>
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Landscape work gains more nuance through Seasonal Vegetation, which lets foliage and branch structure change by date and previews a full year of a planting scheme in one scene. A run of smaller refinements rounds it out, including Custom Pivot, MeasureLine, improved City Generator controls, smarter Auto Exposure, and wider Gaussian Splatting support. Each one trims repetitive adjustments and keeps production moving.
It adds up to one point. An interactive presentation is only as good as the rendering underneath it, and that rendering has to hold both fidelity and speed at once.
<h2 dir="ltr">From Better Images to Better Decisions&nbsp;</h2>
Architectural visualization has spent years chasing realism. That work continues, though realism on its own no longer defines the field.
As projects get more collaborative, the ability to move between options, respond to feedback, and explain a design in context is becoming just as important. Presentations are becoming part of the design process itself.
<blockquote>
"The tools we end up writing about at AEC+Tech are rarely the ones with the longest feature list. They're the ones that change how a decision gets made."&nbsp; &mdash; Niknaz Aftahi&nbsp;
</blockquote>
D5 3.1 reflects that direction. It builds presentation into the design work, making visualization a place where ideas can be explored, compared, and refined with the people in the room.
Whether this turns out to be the next phase of the discipline is still an open question. The goal is clearly shifting, from producing better images toward better conversations about the work.
The biggest change in D5 3.1 sits outside the render itself. Visualization now stays in play through the whole conversation, long after the image is done.
<h2 dir="ltr">See it live&nbsp;</h2>
D5 will demonstrate the 3.1 workflow in a live webinar on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 1:00 PM UTC, hosted by Jeff Espinoza, D5's Director of Customer Success and Services. The session covers D5 Lite for Rhino and Revit, Interactive Presentation, VR review, Stereoscopic Panorama, ACEScg, HeightField Tracing, and Seasonal Vegetation.
You can register using&nbsp;<a href="https://www.d5render.com/webinars/whats-new-in-d5-3-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this webinar page</a>, and anyone who registers but cannot attend will receive access to the recording.
To learn more about D5 Render, visit their <a href="../../../tools/d5-render" target="_blank" rel="noopener">page on aec+tech&nbsp;</a>or explore the latest features on the official <a class="_ymio1r31 _ypr0glyw _zcxs1o36 _mizu194a _1ah3dkaa _ra3xnqa1 _128mdkaa _1cvmnqa1 _4davt94y _4bfu18uv _1hms8stv _ajmmnqa1 _vchhusvi _kqswh2mm _ect4ttxp _syaz13af _1a3b18uv _4fpr8stv _5goinqa1 _f8pj13af _9oik18uv _1bnxglyw _jf4cnqa1 _30l313af _1nrm18uv _c2waglyw _1iohnqa1 _9h8h12zz _10531ra0 _1ien1ra0 _n0fx1ra0 _1vhv17z1" title="https://www.d5render.com/" href="https://www.d5render.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-renderer-mark="true" data-is-router-link="false" data-testid="link-with-safety">D5 Render website</a>.
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<img src="https://aecplustech-files.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/b02023eb-2713-4ea3-a35f-e0c2bb302c00.png" alt="" width="160" height="160">
Niknaz Aftahi is the founder of AEC+Tech. This article was produced with materials from D5 as part of a partnership, and independently edited for the AEC+Tech community.
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D5 Render 3.1 turns design reviews into live sessions. Interactive Presentation switches schemes, materials, and lighting on the spot; D5 Lite reaches Rhino and Revit. 

D5 3.1 Wants to End the "We'll Render It Tomorrow" Moment

<div><img src="https://aecplustech-files.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/5741b41d-2b98-40f9-9a96-00550e6d0a57.png" alt="InspectMind AI" width="1080"></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Most conversations about AI in construction start with speed.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;How many hours did we save?&rdquo;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&ldquo;How many pages could we review in minutes?"&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>But a recent aec+tech conversation on AI-driven plan review made a more useful point: the tools save time, but the real reason to adopt them is risk.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0nEGFxC7as">This conversation</a> brought together Colton Johnson, Principal Engineer at Flint Engineering Company; Aakash Prasad, Co-founder and CEO of InspectMind AI; and Simon G. Solorio, President of Solorio Inc. Much of the discussion centered on InspectMind AI's plan-checking tool, though the takeaways apply to any firm weighing this kind of software.&nbsp;
In this article you&rsquo;ll see where AI plan review helps, where it falls short, and why a firm with weak internal processes will not get much out of it no matter how good the software gets.
<h2 dir="ltr">Reading a Pictorial Language</h2>
Plan review is not just about reading text. Construction documents carry meaning through symbols, callouts, line weights, and schedules that change from one project type to the next. An industrial set does not look like a large residential set. Every new hire has to learn how to read that visual system before they can review anything in it.
<blockquote>
"Construction documents are a language, and on top of that they're a pictorial language. You're relying on graphic and visual cues to display the information, translating heavy analysis and code requirements into those pictures."
&mdash; Colton Johnson, Principal Engineer, Flint Engineering Company
</blockquote>
Solorio described the second half of the problem: volume.&nbsp;
Even with tools like <a href="https://www.aecplustech.com/tools/revit">Revit</a> and virtual walk-throughs on Meta Quest headsets, engineers still check ever-changing building codes by hand and coordinate across disciplines. Holding hundreds of pages of drawings against dense architectural, structural, mechanical, and civil specifications is a cognitive load that does not scale. There is only so much one person can keep straight at once, and plan sets keep getting bigger.
That is the gap AI steps into. Not the design work or the engineering judgment, but the slow, repetitive cross-checking that wears people down and still lets errors slip through.
A Third-Party Reviewer That Works Through Lunch
<figure class="image"><img src="https://aecplustech-files.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/bb52d8a0-3272-45e5-b6a9-e96e1717194f.png" alt="Errors missed in review surface on site, where fixes cost most." width="1080">
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-qb-tmp-id="lt-8150" data-gramm="false">Fig 2) Errors missed in review surface on site, where fixes cost most.&nbsp;</figcaption>
</figure>
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<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>
AI is a third-party reviewer. It&rsquo;s not a replacement for the engineer or the plan checker, but an extra set of eyes that never gets tired and never skips a page.
Prasad said InspectMind AI can typically review a 100- to 200-page project in one to two hours. In that window it catches discrepancies between drawings and specs, flags cross-discipline coordination issues, and checks against selected/applicable codes and references. It surfaces a prioritized set of findings while the team continues other work.&nbsp;
InspectMind AI has flagged a water main running straight into a 12-inch concrete pipe. It has caught a storm sewer drawn with no slope, which means it would never drain. These are the errors that hide on page 140 of a set and get expensive once they reach the field.&nbsp;
<blockquote>
"This isn't replacing your own diligence or your own quality of work. It's a useful automated review tool that helps you reduce risk and liability and improve quality overall."
&mdash; Aakash Prasad, Co-founder and CEO, InspectMind AI&nbsp;
</blockquote>
The discussion was honest about the limits, too. AI still struggles to read the purely graphical parts of a drawing when there are no words or numbers to anchor it. That should improve over the next few years, but for now InspectMind AI is strongest where drawings, specs, and code references can be grounded and cited. Purely graphical meaning, where the intent lives only in the picture, is still an area where human review matters.
<h2 dir="ltr">From Months of Back-and-Forth to Days&nbsp;</h2>
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<figure class="image"><img src="https://aecplustech-files.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/c6175af5-f771-4066-a384-2d4991e7ce06.png" alt="InspectMind AI tags each finding by severity, discipline, and code." width="1080">
<figcaption>Fig 3) InspectMind AI tags each finding by severity, discipline, and code.&nbsp;</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
A minor discrepancy on a drawing is not just a quality problem. It is a liability problem. Prasad pointed to ADA compliance as an example. A ramp drawn with a 2.2 percent slope instead of the required 2 percent maximum is a small number on a sheet and a frequent target for litigation. Catching it before construction starts is worth far more than the hour it saved.
The same logic runs downstream. Errors that survive review become Requests for Information (RFIs) and change orders once contractors are on site. Each one costs time and money and strains the client relationship. The financial case lives in catching those errors early.&nbsp;
A church project in California shows how that plays out. The design firm ran its full drawing set (architecture, civil, structural, and specs) through InspectMind AI before submitting to the city. The AI flagged around 300 issues. The team fixed them first. When the city's review came back, the comments were mostly minor, and the firm closed them out in days rather than the weeks or months a project like this can take.
That is the payoff that matters. Not the hours saved running the review, but the weeks of back-and-forth with the jurisdiction that never happened, and the rework that never reached the field.
Garbage In, Garbage Out Still Applies
<figure class="image"><img src="https://aecplustech-files.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/88271371-af97-4945-8f3f-0a5ee2295ce9.png" alt="AI only reflects the inputs it gets." width="1080">
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-qb-tmp-id="lt-415377" data-gramm="false">Fig 4) AI only reflects the inputs it gets.</figcaption>
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<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>
The strongest warning has always been against leaning on the tools too hard. The old 'garbage in, garbage out' rule still stands.
The software is powerful, but it sits on top of a firm's inputs, its standards, and the judgment of the people running it.
Solorio made the case for foundational knowledge. Junior engineers still need to learn the basics through hand calculations and free-body diagrams so they understand how loads travel and what a structural member is actually doing. Without that, an engineer cannot tell when the AI is wrong.
<blockquote>
"If you put in garbage, you're going to get out garbage, and that's still true with these new programs. If you put in something wrong, it gives you something wrong. You have to know the basics to know when it's giving you wrong information."
&mdash; Simon G. Solorio, President, Solorio Inc.
</blockquote>
Johnson framed the same idea as a sequence. He sees a working AI workflow as a three-tier system.&nbsp;
A firm establishes good internal processes first. Then it introduces standard automations. Only then does it put AI at what he called the tip of the spear. Skip the first two steps and there is nothing solid for the AI to stand on. When a firm's drawing standards and inputs are inconsistent, there is no realistic way to scale an AI workflow on top of them.
<h2 dir="ltr">Own the Output</h2>
Accountability is the other side of this. When an engineer signs off on a design, they own it, whatever tools helped produce it.
<blockquote>
"The motto we live by with AI is own the output. Just because you have a cool tool doesn't mean you get to say that the tool is the reason something was wrong. You own the output."
&mdash; Colton Johnson, Principal Engineer, Flint Engineering Company
</blockquote>
That has a practical edge. Johnson raised data security, pointing out that client information needs to stay protected under NDAs when a firm runs it through a third-party AI platform. Owning the output means owning the data path, too. Before uploading project documents, firms should evaluate the data path and the platform's NDA and security requirements. That is a question to settle before the first project goes up, not after.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Built by the People Who Use It</h2>
The panel closed on what actually makes these tools better, and the answer was feedback from the field rather than anything happening in a lab. Solorio and Johnson both pointed to the value of a simple thumbs up or thumbs down on each flagged issue. That input teaches the model the difference between a real problem and an irrelevant false positive, which is the difference between a tool engineers trust and one they learn to ignore.
Because AEC technology moves quickly, the tools that respond to this feedback can change almost daily. Johnson offered an example from a job site. He floated the idea of having the plan checker automatically generate a targeted field observation checklist based on the specific materials and structural elements it found in the drawings. Within hours, the development team had piloted a connection between the plan checker and a site inspection app.
That speed of iteration is the point underneath the whole conversation.
The AI plan review tools that earn a place in AEC workflows will be the ones built and shaped by the people doing the work, not the ones that promise to do the thinking for them. The engineers on this panel were not looking for software to replace their judgment. They were looking for a reviewer that helps them protect it. That is a smaller promise than replacing an engineer, and a far more useful one.
&nbsp;
To learn more about InspectMind AI, visit InspectMind AI's <a href="../../../tools/inspectmind-ai" target="_blank" rel="noopener">page on aec+tech </a>or explore the latest features and request access on the InspectMind AI's <a class="_ymio1r31 _ypr0glyw _zcxs1o36 _mizu194a _1ah3dkaa _ra3xnqa1 _128mdkaa _1cvmnqa1 _4davt94y _4bfu18uv _1hms8stv _ajmmnqa1 _vchhusvi _kqswh2mm _ect4ttxp _syaz13af _1a3b18uv _4fpr8stv _5goinqa1 _f8pj13af _9oik18uv _1bnxglyw _jf4cnqa1 _30l313af _1nrm18uv _c2waglyw _1iohnqa1 _9h8h12zz _10531ra0 _1ien1ra0 _n0fx1ra0 _1vhv17z1" title="https://www.inspectmind.ai/" href="https://www.inspectmind.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-renderer-mark="true" data-is-router-link="false" data-testid="link-with-safety">website</a>.
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&nbsp;
Editor's Note
<img src="https://aecplustech-files.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/c3806924-0521-483d-b74d-a01f09ed330e.png" alt="Niknaz Aftahi" width="160" height="160">
This article was independently reviewed and edited by Niknaz Aftahi, Founder of AEC+Tech, drawing on InspectMind AI's product documentation, direct conversation with the panel participants, and hands-on knowledge of plan review and QA/QC workflows. Figures drawn from the panel rather than published material were checked before publishing.
&mdash; Niknaz Aftahi, Founder, AEC+Tech
&nbsp;
</div>

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D5 Render is a leading real-time rendering solution that revolutionizes the architectural and design workflows. Powered by AI-driven and cutting-edge technologies, D5 empowers architects, designers, and visualization artists to work more efficiently and collaboratively, accelerating creation while ensuring consistently accurate and photorealistic results. -Best balance between speed and quality -Seamless integration with your favorite design workflow -User-friendly for designers, architects, visualizers, and archviz animation professionals alike -Free access and a cost-effective teams subscription option D5 Render is transforming the world of architectural visualization by bringing real-time rendering into everyday workflows&mdash;without sacrificing quality. Designed with architects, designers, and visual storytellers in mind, D5 combines high-speed GPU processing with an intuitive interface, allowing users to create photorealistic renderings, animations, and walkthroughs almost instantly. Unlike traditional rendering engines that require long wait times and technical know-how, D5 simplifies the process through real-time preview and rendering capabilities. Users can drag and drop assets, make lighting and material adjustments on the fly, and see results in seconds&mdash;all while working within a seamless, responsive environment. It also supports live sync with popular modeling tools like SketchUp, Rhino, Revit, and Archicad, streamlining the design-to-render workflow. What sets D5 apart is not just its speed, but also its ability to handle large, complex scenes with remarkable performance. Its AI-powered denoising engine and built-in library of assets&mdash;including vegetation, lighting, and materials&mdash;help elevate visualization without external plugins or post-production tools. Architects and design firms using D5 report significant time savings, improved client communication, and enhanced design decision-making. By eliminating the barrier between modeling and rendering, D5 allows teams to visualize concepts earlier and with greater clarity&mdash;ultimately leading to better outcomes. For firms working on tight deadlines or aiming to elevate their presentations, D5 offers a powerful solution that redefines what&rsquo;s possible in real-time rendering. It&rsquo;s not just a tool&mdash;it&rsquo;s becoming a core part of the modern architectural tech stack. Check out our latest article: https://www.aecplustech.com/blog/rendering-redefined-d5-real-time-revolution-architects-design-firms

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Reer is&nbsp;an Intelligent Design Environment that brings AI directly into&nbsp;Rhino (&amp;Grasshopper), Revit, and more.
While most AI tools in AEC work on downstream point solutions like documentation, compliance, and visualization, Reer works upstream, directly at the source, the CAD and BIM model files where every project decision originates.
For decades, CAD and BIM platforms have been the backbone of AEC projects worldwide. They are powerful, deeply embedded, and not going anywhere. But the way professionals interact with them has barely changed. Most tasks remain manual, repetitive, and error-prone, requiring users to translate their intent into commands, scripts, and step-by-step operations rather than focusing on the work that actually requires their expertise.
Reer brings a true CAD-native AI collaborator directly into the tools we all rely on, fundamentally changing that interaction. The agent understands the context of your model, acts on your behalf, and handles the full range of workflows professionals deal with every day:
<ul class="[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3">
<li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Batch edits and parametric modeling</li>
<li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Data extraction and analysis</li>
<li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Object, layer, and file organization</li>
<li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Cross-platform coordination</li>
<li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Visualization and rendering</li>
<li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Construction documentation</li>
<li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2" style="font-style: italic;">And more for you to explore...</li>
</ul>
Beyond individual productivity, teams can build custom skills and modules on top of Reer, turning everyday interactions into reusable design intelligence that compounds over time.
The long-term vision is one intelligent environment across the entire AEC project lifecycle, from schematic design in Rhino through coordination in Revit and beyond.
Reer is currently in Free Beta in Rhino - <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.food4rhino.com/en/app/reer-ai">Try it now</a>
Revit coming in June!

Reer

With ARES Commander, users can work both locally and with files stored in the cloud to improve collaboration. Sync files across users and devices. Create and modify DWG drawings in 2D and 3D, leveraging the drafting and design features that you&rsquo;ve come to expect &mdash; all at a significant cost savings. ARES Commander can stand alone or coordinate with ARES Touch and ARES Kudo to form the Trinity of CAD, unlocking productivity-boosting collaboration features. ARES Commander by Graebert is a powerful and flexible CAD solution designed for professionals who require full-featured 2D and 3D drafting capabilities in native DWG format&mdash;without the high costs or limitations of traditional CAD software. Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, ARES Commander is part of the ARES Trinity suite, which includes access to cloud-based editing through ARES Kudo and mobile capabilities via ARES Touch, all under a single license. One of the key strengths of ARES Commander is its seamless DWG compatibility, allowing users to create, edit, and share files without worrying about format issues. The software includes robust 2D drafting tools, 3D modeling functions such as push/pull editing, and support for dynamic blocks, splines, and parametric features. Beyond the desktop, the ARES Trinity ecosystem enables real-time collaboration through cloud integration, supporting services like Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox. Users can work from anywhere, review drawings on-site, share view-only links with stakeholders, and keep track of revisions with built-in version control and commenting tools. ARES Commander also bridges the gap between CAD and BIM. It allows the import of Revit and IFC files, from which users can extract 2D drawings, automatically generate annotations, and streamline documentation workflows. This functionality makes it easier to work alongside BIM teams while staying within familiar CAD environments. The user interface has been continually refined to support productivity and ease of use, with the latest versions offering customizable workspaces, AI-assisted tools, and a simplified transition path for users coming from other platforms like AutoCAD. ARES Commander is widely adopted across industries, from architecture and engineering to construction and manufacturing. It's known for its solid performance, affordability, and flexibility, offering a complete CAD solution that meets the demands of modern workflows. Whether working independently or as part of a larger team, users appreciate its robust toolset, intuitive design, and commitment to innovation.

Files created in ARES Commander can also be accessed in ARES Kudo or ARES Touch.

ARES Commander includes BIM drawings automation features.

The ARES Trinity of CAD Software: Create and Modify DWG Files with Modern Collaboration Tools

ARES CAD Software: Top 10 Trinity Features Outperforming AutoCAD | Expert Review by Architosh

DWG Drawings Automation for BIM - ARES Commander Product Review | Niknaz Aftahi of aec+tech

BIM Drawings Automation: From Revit & IFC to DWG in ARES Commander

450+ Dynamic Blocks in Tool Palettes and Trinity Block Library in ARES Commander

AI for CAD in DWG: ARES AI Assist (aka A3) 

Switch from AutoCAD or other AutoCAD Alternatives to ARES effortlessly

ARES Commander | N°1 AutoCAD Alternative for DWG CAD Software on Windows, Mac and Linux

ARES Commander

ARES Commander Standalone [Perpetual License]

ARES Commander [Perpetual License] with Trinity

ARES Commander Flex / Network Seat [Perpetual License]

ARES Commander runs on Windows, MacOS, and Linux platforms.

Featuring Graebert at the AEC Innovate Conference

InspectMind AI helps engineers review hundreds of pages of drawings in minutes instead of hours.
InspectMind AI is an AI-powered plan review and code compliance platform built for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. The platform automatically analyzes construction drawings, engineering plans, and technical documents to identify code violations, design inconsistencies, and constructability issues before projects move into permitting or construction.
Traditional plan review and QA processes require engineers, architects, and reviewers to manually analyze hundreds or thousands of pages of drawings. This process is time-consuming, expensive, and prone to human error. InspectMind AI accelerates this process by using advanced artificial intelligence models trained on construction drawings, building codes, and engineering standards.
Users upload their project plans directly to InspectMind, and the AI system analyzes the drawings sheet-by-sheet. The platform detects issues such as missing details, dimension conflicts, structural inconsistencies, accessibility violations, and code compliance risks. InspectMind then generates a structured report highlighting the detected issues along with visual references to the affected drawings.
The platform is designed for engineers, architects, developers, contractors, plan reviewers, and government agencies who want to reduce risk and improve design quality. By catching issues early in the design process, InspectMind helps teams avoid expensive rework, delays during permitting, and construction change orders.
InspectMind AI supports a wide range of building codes and standards including IBC, ADA, NFPA, and local jurisdictional codes. The system can analyze architectural drawings, structural plans, engineering reports, and construction documentation.
Typical workflow:
<ol data-start="2968" data-end="3342">
<li data-section-id="qsu294" data-start="2968" data-end="3069">
Upload drawings Users upload their architectural or engineering plans directly into InspectMind.
</li>
<li data-section-id="15wns3j" data-start="3071" data-end="3213">
AI plan analysis The AI analyzes the full drawing set, identifies potential issues, and compares plans against applicable building codes.
</li>
<li data-section-id="tm56oz" data-start="3215" data-end="3342">
Review results Users receive a detailed issue report showing potential risks, code conflicts, and recommended corrections.
</li>
</ol>
InspectMind AI dramatically reduces manual review time, improves plan quality, and helps project teams move faster from design to construction.

InspectMind AI

Catch construction mistakes before they get built

AI-Powered Site Documentation: An InspectMIND Case Study

Featuring InspectMind AI at the AEC Innovate Conference

Featuring InspectMIND at the AEC Innovate Conference

Using AI to Automate Building Inspections

One Click LCA is the world&rsquo;s leading end‑to‑end sustainability platform, purpose-built for the construction and manufacturing sectors. Founded in Helsinki in 2001, the company has grown to a team of over 200 professionals across all continents and now serves users in more than 170 countries  At its core, this cloud‑based platform offers streamlined, automated Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), enabling users to scientifically measure and reduce environmental impacts of structures, infrastructure, renovations, and manufactured goods. Beyond LCA and EPDs, it also supports assessments of circularity, life‑cycle cost, and biodiversity. A standout feature is its extensive global database with over 250,000&ndash;300,000 datasets&mdash;covering supplier-specific and generic material data&mdash;fully verified and regularly updated. This empowers users to make informed, data‑driven decisions. The platform supports over 80 compliance standards, including LEED, BREEAM, GRESB, CALGreen, and various country‑specific regulations. One Click LCA seamlessly integrates with more than 20 leading BIM and design tools, such as Autodesk Revit, Tekla Structures, Bentley iTwin, Rhino, and Grasshopper. This allows for real‑time feedback and early‑phase embodied carbon optimization&mdash;notably through its Carbon Designer 3D tool, which enables quick, BIM‑integrated carbon hotspot analysis and comparison of design scenarios. In some cases, Carbon Designer 3D helps identify carbon footprint variations up to 50% during conceptual design. Leading global players&mdash;including Skanska, WSP, Foster+Partners, Turner, ArcelorMittal, Arcadis, ARUP, Geberit, and Saint‑Gobain, among others&mdash;rely on One Click LCA to drive their decarbonization efforts. AECOM, for instance, equipped its ScopeX&trade; platform with One Click LCA to target a 50% carbon reduction across its projects. Its visibility among industry analysts reflects its market leadership: One Click LCA was featured in Verdantix&rsquo;s 2025 Buyer&rsquo;s Guide for LCA tools and is the first platform validated by RICS under its Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) programme. One Click LCA also makes parts of its platform freely accessible via its Planetary embodied&ndash;carbon calculator&mdash;a tool for benchmarking cradle‑to‑gate carbon impacts across building designs and supporting EPD usage worldwide. In summary, One Click LCA stands out with its: - Massive, high-quality global dataset (250&ndash;300k records) - Broad compliance across 80+ standards - Deep BIM integrations for early and ongoing carbon management - Recognition by major firms and standards bodies It remains the go-to platform for turning sustainability goals into measurable, actionable outcomes across construction and manufacturing value chains.

One Click LCA

Featuring One Click LCA at the AEC Innovate Conference

Featuring One Click LCA  at the AEC Innovate Conference

AI, Sustainability & Latest Tools for AEC

Sustainability Tools to Watch Out For in 2025!

Melt Takeoff is built for estimators who need takeoffs that are not just fast, but truly bid-ready and reliable. Unlike fully automated takeoff software that only measures what&rsquo;s drawn, Melt Takeoff is designed around a simple truth: winning bids requires accounting for what&rsquo;s missing from plans &mdash; the scope gaps, incomplete details, coordination conflicts, and implied work that experienced estimators catch through judgment.
Melt Takeoff combines AI vision with expert estimator validation to deliver takeoffs with both speed and accuracy. The workflow is simple: upload plans, the AI measures and identifies scope, flags drawing/spec conflicts, adds allowances, and then senior estimators validate everything before delivery. This hybrid model is what makes Melt Takeoff dependable &mdash; AI accelerates measurement, but real estimators ensure completeness and constructability.
Key capabilities include:
<ul data-start="923" data-end="1834">
<li data-start="923" data-end="1042">
AI Vision measurement detecting 800+ building elements with counts, lengths, perimeters, areas, and volumes
</li>
<li data-start="1043" data-end="1129">
Automated scope recognition across architectural, structural, and MEP drawings
</li>
<li data-start="1130" data-end="1256">
Detailed allowances for scope not shown, added as itemized ROMs based on code requirements and real project benchmarks
</li>
<li data-start="1257" data-end="1351">
Drawing&ndash;spec conflict detection, with estimator-led resolution before it hits your bid
</li>
<li data-start="1352" data-end="1528">
Estimator-verified outputs, reviewed by onshore senior estimators with 20+ years of field experience, including delivery of multi-million to billion-dollar projects
</li>
<li data-start="1529" data-end="1691">
Flexible classification standards, supporting MasterFormat&reg;, UniFormat&reg;, or custom structures, so takeoffs drop directly into your estimating workflow
</li>
<li data-start="1692" data-end="1834">
Interactive takeoff output, with side-by-side plan review, traceable quantities, and clean Excel exports ready for pricing and bidding
</li>
</ul>
Melt Takeoff is designed for speed without sacrificing trust. Quantities aren&rsquo;t just dumped into a spreadsheet &mdash; they&rsquo;re delivered in a structured, reviewable format so teams can validate quickly, collaborate internally, and confidently move into bid submission. The output stays fully in your control: review, adjust, and export clean files without messy reformatting.
Melt Takeoff delivers a takeoff process that is 40% more accurate, 20% faster, and 10% cheaper, with turnaround times ranging from 2&ndash;3 days for small projects to 7&ndash;8 days for extra-large projects. The result is fewer missed scope items, stronger bid coverage, reduced risk of underbidding, and significantly more confidence in your numbers &mdash; so estimators can bid faster and win more work.

Melt Takeoff

ArchiBoost AI is an AI-powered co-pilot built specifically for the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. Developed by architects and engineers rather than generic AI developers, the platform helps project teams navigate complex building regulations, activate institutional knowledge, and automatically review project documentation to identify coordination risks and compliance issues before they become costly problems.
ArchiBoost AI supports architects, engineers, developers, and general contractors working across the full project lifecycle&mdash;from early design through construction documentation and project delivery.
The platform combines three core capabilities into a unified intelligence system: Code Compliance, Knowledge Hub, and AI-powered QA/QC review.
1. Code Compliance &mdash; Project-Aware Regulatory Intelligence
ArchiBoost provides project-specific code compliance guidance, not just code search.
The system evaluates project conditions&mdash;including occupancy classification, construction type, fire separation distance, and jurisdiction&mdash;to determine the exact requirements that apply to a project. It automatically resolves the hierarchy between international, state, and municipal codes, ensuring that teams see the governing regulations rather than conflicting sources.
Each response includes clear explanations and direct citations to the applicable code sections, helping teams confidently apply requirements during design, documentation, and plan review.
By identifying compliance paths early, ArchiBoost helps teams avoid costly redesigns, permit delays, and late-stage documentation changes.
2.1. Knowledge Hub &mdash; Institutional Intelligence for AEC Firms
Architecture firms often possess vast amounts of knowledge scattered across project folders, standards manuals, specifications, and internal documentation. ArchiBoost transforms this information into a structured and searchable intelligence layer.
The Knowledge Hub organizes two key knowledge domains:
Firm Intelligence &ndash; reusable internal standards such as BIM execution plans, QA/QC checklists, documentation standards, master specifications, and lessons learned from previous projects.
Project Intelligence &ndash; project-specific information such as owner standards, design guidelines, specifications, schedules, meeting minutes, and consultant documentation.
This structure allows teams to quickly access relevant information without manually searching through large document repositories.
2.2 Detail Library &mdash; A Living Library of Proven Solutions
Within the Knowledge Hub, ArchiBoost includes a Detail Library that transforms past project details into a living, searchable resource.
The platform extracts metadata from drawing sets and organizes details based on parameters such as: - project type - construction type - occupancy classification - applicable codes - jurisdiction - client standards
Teams can quickly locate vetted details from previous projects and reuse them with confidence. The system integrates directly with Revit, allowing teams to insert editable details into their models without interrupting their design workflow.
This helps firms standardize documentation, preserve institutional knowledge, and reduce time spent recreating common solutions.
3. AI-Powered QA/QC Review
ArchiBoost automatically analyzes complete drawing sets&mdash;including architectural and consultant documentation&mdash;to identify coordination gaps, inconsistencies, scope omissions, and potential compliance risks.
Issues are surfaced through a structured ticketing system that links directly to the relevant sheet location. Teams can review findings, assign ownership, track resolution, and export issue reports for consultant coordination.
By identifying problems earlier in the documentation process, ArchiBoost helps reduce RFIs, change orders, and costly rework during construction.
Who Uses ArchiBoost AI
ArchiBoost AI is designed for: - Architecture firms working across multiple jurisdictions - Design teams producing large, multi-disciplinary drawing sets - Developers seeking early compliance validation - General contractors reviewing documentation prior to construction - Firms looking to activate and scale institutional knowledge across projects and offices
Platform Overview
ArchiBoost AI is delivered as a cloud-based SaaS platform that integrates with existing AEC workflows and documentation processes.
By combining regulatory intelligence, institutional knowledge, and automated QA/QC review in one platform, ArchiBoost enables teams to identify risks earlier, make better design decisions, and deliver higher-quality projects with fewer surprises.

ArchiBoost AI

Kestrel is the first structured compliance data layer for the built environment.
Building code has historically existed as static documents that architects read, interpret, and apply manually. In a world where design has moved into BIM, compliance has remained outside the model&mdash;fragmented across PDFs, markups, and late-stage plan review.
Kestrel changes that.
Kestrel is building code compliance software that runs inside Revit, evaluating BIM models against jurisdiction-specific requirements during design. Instead of checking compliance after drawings are complete, teams run checks continuously while designing, surfacing issues when they are still easy to fix.
At the core of the platform is a fundamental shift: building code becomes computable.
Kestrel translates licensed building code data, including International Code Council (ICC) sources, into structured, machine-executable logic that runs directly against the BIM model. Every issue is tied to a specific element in the design and linked to a cited code section, so teams can see what is wrong, why it matters, and how to resolve it.
This approach turns compliance from a manual, interpretive process into a system that can be evaluated in real time throughout design.
Kestrel&rsquo;s rule library includes millions of checks across key regulatory categories such as egress, accessibility (ADA), fire and life safety, occupancy classifications, height and area limits, and jurisdiction-specific requirements. The platform applies these rules in context to each project&rsquo;s location, building type, and conditions.
The result is a shift in how compliance happens:
<ul data-start="2268" data-end="2467">
<li data-section-id="1912hsz" data-start="2268" data-end="2340">From checking PDFs at the end &rarr; to evaluating the model continuously</li>
<li data-section-id="ab3kd5" data-start="2341" data-end="2405">From manual interpretation &rarr; to structured, verifiable logic</li>
<li data-section-id="2zqfm2" data-start="2406" data-end="2467">From late-stage surprises &rarr; to early, actionable feedback</li>
</ul>
Kestrel is designed for the entire design team. Architects and designers work directly inside the Revit model, resolving issues in context. Project managers and principals track compliance status through a shared dashboard without opening BIM files, giving the entire team a clear view of where the project stands.
Kestrel does not replace architect judgment. It surfaces what is checkable and grounds every result in real code. Final interpretation and design decisions remain with the architect.
As BIM became the system of record for design, there has been no equivalent system for compliance. Kestrel fills that gap.
It is not a plugin or a point solution. It is the compliance layer that sits alongside the model, enabling teams to move faster, reduce rework, and reach permit with greater confidence.

Kestrel Labs

Mist Architects, founded by Cheng Bo and Li Bo, is a design studio renowned for its focus on precision, craftsmanship, and innovation. Facing the challenge of producing high-quality architectural visualizations efficiently, the firm adopted D5 Render to transform their workflow. Prior to D5, creating photorealistic renderings required significant time, external resources, or complex technical setups, which slowed down client presentations and internal design iterations.

By integrating D5 Render, Mist Architects can now generate cinematic-quality renderings in a single day, drastically improving design turnaround and enabling faster client approvals. The tool’s real-time rendering capabilities and intuitive interface empower architects to manage in-house visualizations independently, reducing reliance on outsourcing and streamlining the workflow. Built-in smart assets, such as lighting presets, vegetation, and PBR materials, allow the team to create highly realistic environments efficiently, without compromising speed or hardware performance.

Furthermore, D5 Render’s Archicad integration ensures seamless model conversions and minimizes technical adjustments, allowing architects to focus entirely on design quality. With its robust capabilities for rapid iteration, realistic visualization, and workflow optimization, D5 Render has become a core tool for Mist Architects, enabling them to deliver visually compelling projects that align closely with client visions, enhance team productivity, and maintain a competitive edge in architectural design.

Mist Architects & D5 Render

SOHO Gubei
The distinctive zig-zag form of SOHO Gubei strikes a dynamic silhouette that extends the character of the new Hongqiao Central Park and creates a signature landmark for Shanghai’s central business district.

The project consists of a 38-story office tower and a 12-story podium with retail and basement parking. The landscape design takes advantage of proximity to the park, extending the experience of resting and strolling in a lush natural environment into the project.

Taking advantage of its central position in views across the park, the architectural form is at the same time rational and expressive. Inspired by the proportions of Constantin Brâncuși’s Endless Column, the tower presents itself as an undulating obelisk featuring a diagonally canted zig-zag profile. Each side of its sculptural form consists of four stacked volumes. A series of shifted grids creates a density of wall surface that shades from the sun, reduces glass glare, and creates a sense of urban solidity.

The podium massing complements the tower with a simpler articulation. The angle on its vertical planes places emphasis on the street experience by reflecting the residential neighborhood. On the top level, a sky garden offers dining and outdoor spaces to both the building tenants and the general public.

Result for “China”

Case Studies "2 results"

Mist Architects & D5 Render

KPF & D5 Render