Architectural Drafters
Architecture & Construction > Design/Pre-ConstructionProjected Growth: Slower than average
Projected Job Openings
Considerable Preparation Needed
Job Description
Your job is to Prepare detailed drawings of architectural designs and plans for buildings and structures according to specifications provided by architect.
Common job titles of Architectural Drafters include:
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Experience and Education
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for this occupation. For example, a person in this occupation must complete four years of college and work for several years in industry to be considered qualified.
54.59% said they needed a Bachelor's Degree.
25.84% said they needed a Master's Degree.
Tasks
Operate computer-aided drafting (CAD) equipment or conventional drafting station to produce designs, working drawings, charts, forms, and records.
Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.
Determine procedures and instructions to be followed, according to design specifications and quantity of required materials.
Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.
Lay out and plan interior room arrangements for commercial buildings, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment and software.
Draw rough and detailed scale plans for foundations, buildings, and structures, based on preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets, and other data.
Reproduce drawings on copy machines or trace copies of plans and drawings, using transparent paper or cloth, ink, pencil, and standard drafting instruments.
Analyze technical implications of architect's design concept, calculating weights, volumes, and stress factors.
Create freehand drawings and lettering to accompany drawings.
Represent architect on construction site, ensuring builder compliance with design specifications and advising on design corrections, under architect's supervision.
Supervise, coordinate, and inspect the work of draftspersons, technicians, and technologists on construction projects.
Obtain and assemble data to complete architectural designs, visiting job sites to compile measurements as necessary.
Prepare cost estimates, contracts, bidding documents, and technical reports for specific projects under an architect's supervision.
Prepare colored drawings of landscape and interior designs for presentation to client.
Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to lists of materials.
Build landscape, architectural, and display models.
Calculate heat loss and gain of buildings and structures to determine required equipment specifications, following standard procedures.
Tools
Wide-format document scanners
Triangles
Three-dimensional stereoscopic projectors
Three-dimensional motion controllers
Three-dimensional laser digitizers
T-squares
Sonic digitizers
All ToolsProtractors
Print servers
Pressure-sensitive graphic tablets
Plotters
Large-format digitizers
Handheld calculators
Graphics tablets
French curves
Flexible curves
Estimating keypads
Electronic scales
Desktop computers
Computer aided design CAD multi-unit display graphics cards
Compasses
Backlit digitizers
Architects’ scales
Technologies
Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
Alias Wavefront Design Studio
Autodesk 3d Studio Viz
Autodesk Architectural Desktop
Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
Autodesk Revit
All TechnologiesAutodesk Revit Architecture
Bentley MicroStation
Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
Computer assisted design software
Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS
ERP software
Graphisoft ArchiCAD
Logitech 3D Pro
Microsoft .NET Framework
Trimble SketchUp Pro
UGS Solid Edge
VectorWorks ARCHITECT
100 Plus Hatch Pattern Library
Adobe Systems Adobe LiveMotion
Animation software
ARCOM Masterspec
Autodesk 3ds Max
AutoDesSys form Z
Bill of materials software
Corel Paint Shop Pro
Digitizing and photogrammetric software
Document management system software
Graphic presentation software
Landscape modeling software
McNeel Rhino software
Microsoft Paint
Motion graphics software
Non uniform rational b-splines NURBS software
Scanning software
Softimage Extreme
Sun Microsystems Cobalt
Skills
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Abilities
See details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Sensory Abilities › Visual Abilities › Near Vision
Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Comprehension
Tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Problem Sensitivity
Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Cognitive Abilities › Spatial Abilities › Visualization
Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Deductive Reasoning
Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Written Comprehension
Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Expression
Arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Information Ordering
Occupation Sections
Knowledge
Building and Construction
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Design
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Law and Government
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Sales and Marketing
Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.