Architectural & Civil Drafters
Architectural Drafter, Civil Drafter, Computer-Aided Drafting Designer (CAD Designer), Draftsman
What they do:
Prepare detailed drawings of architectural and structural features of buildings or drawings and topographical relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, and public works. Use knowledge of building materials, engineering practices, and mathematics to complete drawings.
On the job, you would:
- Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.
- Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
- Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.
Knowledge
Engineering and Technology
- design
- building and construction
Arts and Humanities
- English language
Math and Science
- arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Safety and Government
- public safety and security
Skills
Basic Skills
- reading work related information
- figuring out how to use new ideas or things
Problem Solving
- noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
- figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
- thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
Abilities
Verbal
- communicate by writing
- listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
- use rules to solve problems
- come up with lots of ideas
Math
- choose the right type of math to solve a problem
- add, subtract, multiply, or divide
Personality
People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cooperation
- Analytical Thinking
- Adaptability/Flexibility
- Independence
Technology
You might use software like this on the job:
Computer aided design CAD software
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Trimble SketchUp Pro
Presentation software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Graphics or photo imaging software
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
Education
Education: (rated 3 of 5)
Job Outlook
Below Average
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Explore More
- Civil Engineering Technologists & Technicians
- Civil Engineers
- Electrical & Electronics Drafters
- Mechanical Drafters
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists & Technicians
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about architectural and civil drafters.