Introduction - Adobe Acrobat and PDF for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction - page 3

The standard will likely open the PDF standard for 1:1 scale drawings. Three-dimensional (3D) PDF
documents will be possible under this standard, as will animated drawings that interactively show the
consequence of an action, such as removal of a critical part. The goal of the standard is to improve
document exchange, collaboration, and print accuracy within engineering workflows. PDF/E will allow the
AEC community to design in the most appropriate formats, but manage the complete project in one
electronic PDF format.
The Current State of PDF
The intricate design/build/operate phases of the AEC lifecycle encompass a mix of related information,
including 3D models, two-dimensional (2D) drawings, and written specifications. Document sets serve as
the currency of AEC projects and become the topics of record for large, as-built assets. AEC is a $3.4
trillion industry where documentation is the basis for product and services delivery. 4
Architects, engineers, and contractors require a safe, small, smart format to share and archive these sets
globally.
Using PDF
Engineering workflows are complicated, often entailing thousands of drawings, specification sheets,
notations, and other materials. Maintaining and updating even a small project can be an onerous task. Using
Acrobat and a logical workflow, a project can be managed more effectively.
Imagine being able to search all the drawings of a spacecraft for a defective bolt: Currently we can use
drawings from several CAD programs converted to PDF. In some circumstances, we can search thousands
of CAD drawings in seconds. The search can include CAD files originally drawn with fonts, provided those
fonts are true scaleable fonts (and therefore searchable), or rendered with Adobe Acrobat 7.
Several utilities are using geo-referenced PDF files with embedded data working with MAP2PDF, a
product developed by Layton Graphics. 5 Working with the free Adobe Reader and a plug-in or two, field
crews can access all the system's information. For example, a click on a power pole will reveal embedded
data such as the type, height, associated utilities, and other equipment. A map displaying the exact location
can be found in seconds. A field supervisor using Adobe Acrobat can field annotate changes for the
engineering staff to update the GIS and engineering databases. A server automatically publishes up-to-date
PDF maps.
Industry and Government Adoption
PDF is the standard format for submission and distribution in government and regulatory agencies
worldwide. To date, there are sales of over 14 million seats of the full Acrobat product. Over three-quarters
of a billion copies of Acrobat Reader and Adobe Reader have been licensed, and the Reader is bundled with
60% of all PDAs, as well as distributed by the top ten PC manufacturers.
4 Industry value quoted in article derived from McGraw-Hill Construction sources. [4]
5 MAP2PDF converts GIS data formats to intelligent geo-referenced non-proprietary PDF files. [5]