In our last article ‘Part 1 - The Integration of CAD & AudioVisual (AV) Design’ we conducted a preliminary coverage of introducing the primary link between CAD and AV system design. This article aimed to provide a basis that the two are indeed mutually interdependent and that CAD served not just a supporting role in the process, but instead, is a necessity in the overall AV pipeline process of a project. The end of that article left us with the following questions:
Is CAD necessary for AV system design and integration?
If so, what are the benefits of utilizing and integrating CAD for AV design?
What types of CAD documentation, specifically, would be invaluable towards a typical AV design workflow?
Let’s explore these questions a little further.
1. Is CAD necessary for AV system design and integration?
As listed above, yes it certainly is a necessity. In the same way that architectural blueprint plans, elevations and sectional detail are required prior to the construction of a building or commercial renovation. The answer should be equally self-evident in the case of AV system design. However, it is a strange thing when one approaches this concept with skepticism as opposed to the latter example above. Or perhaps my cynicism has gotten the better of me. Then again, I would not think to mention this if I had not personally experienced such objections during meetings with AV integrators and proprietors. And that too on multiple occasions.
Bottom line - CAD is absolutely integral as far as AV system design is concerned. And we shall explore why in the next question.
AV System schematic for Videowall AV system
2. If so, what are the benefits of utilizing and integrating CAD for AV design?
The fundamental benefit and necessity for CAD integration in AV would be minimization of design error, especially during the pre-construction planning and development stage. Mapping out AV equipment installation locations and cable pathways on floor plans, preparing technical wiring diagrams that show how each device in the system chain is connected, rack layout elevations that show specific RU heights and positioning of processing and switching gear - all these things will do wonders for a smooth and efficient delivery of the system on site during the installation and commissioning phases. In addition, several side benefits may also be realized. Having a complete set of drawings on file for a finished project will come as a very handy reference in the future when the client decides they want to upgrade their system. The supply and presentation of technical diagrams and 3D visuals also reflect a professionalism and qualitative impression to your clients, which in turn, increases your firm’s value in their eyes.
Running an Audio Visual business is not easy, and certainly not cost friendly. Hence, AV integrators do charge a sizeable amount for their services - and justifiably so. Think about it though, the integrator themself has to put up a fair amount of capital upfront for any given project. In addition to staff labour fees and other general operational costs, they also need to purchase all the AV equipment and relevant accessories (i.e. cable drums, connectors, custom hardware, mounting brackets etc). Sure, their billing covers these costs in the end along with a (hopefully) decent profit margin. I have heard personally from some integrators in the industry that their margins in general are fairly slim. Just enough to keep the company running sustainably.
Now let’s imagine with the above scenario if colossal mistakes are made on a respective project. Like specifying and ordering the wrong equipment models that do not have the appropriate inputs and outputs to integrate with the main system? Underestimating the quantity of cabling that is required for the system that runs short on site mid-installation? Manufacturing custom hardware without accurate verification of the dimension data? Fairly simple to see how that slim margin will instantaneously flip over to a loss on the project as replacing these defects can prove very costly. And all of this because not enough time and effort was spent during the design phase and thorough vetting of the drawings.
Pundits in the AV industry who just happen to stumble across this article may read it and go “Well this is obvious, why even discuss it?”. And they’re right. Because as we posited earlier in this article, the integration of CAD and AV should be a given standard. Large-scale AV companies practice this and employ a dedicated in-house CAD team that prepares all their AV drawings and technical documentation. However, this article is not intentionally directed to large-scale AV players. Instead, it is the smaller independent AV enterprises that I am interested to reach. They are the ones that are likely to suffer the deep financial consequences of design-based errors due to lack of resources and financial stability. Ultimately, it is the smaller businesses that undergo more pressure with this since they are the ones that cannot physically afford the mistakes that their larger conglomerate friends can. And it is to this group of my fellow AV peers that I implore earnestly to consider investing more time and due diligence into CAD and making it an integral part of your company’s design & project process.
We thus, move onto the final question:
What types of CAD documentation, specifically, would be invaluable towards a typical AV project design workflow?
We shall address this separately in Part 3 of this article series as there is a fair amount of ground to cover in this area alone. Thank you for sparing your time to read this article. We truly appreciate it and hope you find the information useful.
Stay tuned.
Warmest Wishes,
The LD CAD Lab Team