THE CHALLENGES OF

LEARNING COMPUTER AIDED

DRAFTING (CAD) IN
NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES AND
THE NEW TREND OF CAD IN
THE 21st CENTURY.

COMPILED AND DESIGNED BY

ADOKURU CHRISTOPHER AMASOR

M.TECH/2006/SET/1570

600 LEVEL ARCHITECTURE

SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
MINNA.
 OCTOBER 2007
INTRODUCTION
People use computers in many ways. In business, computers track
inventories with bar codes and scanners, check the credit status of
customers, and transfer funds electronically. In homes, tiny computers
embedded in the electronic circuitry of most appliances control the indoor
temperature, operate home security systems, tell the time, and turn
videocassette recorders (VCRs) on and off. Computers in automobiles
regulate the flow of fuel, thereby increasing gas mileage, and are used in
anti-theft systems. Computers also entertain, creating digitized sound on
stereo systems or computer-animated features from a digitally encoded laser
disc. Computer programs, or applications, exist to aid every level of
education, from programs that teach simple addition or sentence
construction to programs that teach advanced calculus. Educators use
computers to track grades and communicate with students; with computer-
controlled projection units, they can add graphics, sound, and animation to
their communications. One of such use is the use of computers to create
designs for buildings, bridges, roads, aircraft, ships and cars to digital
cameras, mobile phones; etc such is referred to as CAD.

CAD software, also referred to as Computer Aided Design (Computer

Aided Drafting?) software and in the past as computer aided drafting
software, refers to software programs that assist engineers and designers in a
wide variety of industries to design and manufacture physical products
ranging from buildings, bridges, roads, aircraft, ships and cars to digital
cameras, mobile phones, TVs, clothes and of course computers! CAD
software is often referred to as CAD CAM software ('CAM' is the acronym
for Computer Aided Machining or Computer Aided Manufacturing). (A
somewhat related concept is CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacturing)).
Engineers use CAD to create two- and three-dimensional drawings, such as
those for automobile and airplane parts, floor plans, and maps. While it may
be faster for an engineer to create an initial drawing by hand, it is much
more efficient to change and distribute drawings by computer.

THE EMERGENCE OF COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN

(CAD)

Designers have long used computers for their calculations. Initial

developments were carried out in the 1960s within the aircraft and
automotive industries in the area of 3D surface construction and NC
programming, most of it independent of one another and often not publicly
published until much later. Some of the mathematical description work on
curves was developed in the early 1940s by Isaac Jacob Schoenberg,
Apalatequi (Douglas Aircraft) and Roy Liming (North American Aircraft).
Robert A. Heinlein in his 1957 novel The Door into Summer suggested the
possibility of a robotic Drafting Dan. However, CAD software history
would be incomplete unless it started with the mathematician Euclid of
Alexandria, who, in his 350 B.C. treatise on mathematics "The Elements"
expounded many of the postulates and axioms that are the foundations of the
Euclidian geometry upon which today's CAD software systems are built.

It was more than 2,300 years after Euclid that the first true CAD
software, a very innovative system (although of course primitive compared
to today's CAD software) called "Sketchpad" was developed by Ivan
Sutherland as part of his PhD thesis at MIT in the early 1960s. Sketchpad
was especially innovative CAD software because the designer interacted
with the computer graphically by using a light pen to draw on the computer's
monitor. It is a tribute to Ivan Sutherland's ingenuity that even in 2004, when
operations which took hours on 1960s computer technology can be executed
in less than a millionth of a second and touch-sensitive TFT combination
display/input devices are readily available, there is no leading CAD software
that has yet incorporated such directness into its user interface.

It is argued that a turning point was the development of SKETCHPAD

system in MIT in 1963 by Ivan Sutherland (who later created a graphics
technology company with Dr. David Evans). The distinctive feature of
SKETCHPAD was that it allowed the designer to interact with his computer
graphically: the design can be fed into the computer by drawing on a CRT
monitor with a light pen. Effectively, it was a prototype of graphical user
interface, an indispensable feature of modern CAD.

First commercial applications of CAD were in large companies in the

automotive and aerospace industries, as well as in electronics. Only large
corporations could afford the computers capable of performing the
calculations. Notable company projects were at GM (Dr. Patrick J.Hanratty)
with DAC-1 (Design Augmented by Computer) 1964; Lockhead projects;
Bell GRAPHIC 1 and at Renault (Bezier) – UNISURF 1971 car body design
and tooling.

One of the most influential events in the development of CAD was the
founding of MCS (Manufacturing and Consulting Services Inc.) in 1971 by
Dr. P. J. Hanratty who wrote the system ADAM (Automated Drafting And
Machining) but more importantly supplied code to companies such as
McDonnell Douglas (Unigraphics), Computervision (CADDS), Calma,
Gerber, Autotrol and Control Data.

As computers became more affordable, the application areas have gradually

expanded. The development of CAD software for personal desk-top
computers was the impetus for almost universal application in all areas of
construction.

Other key points in the 1960s and 1970s would be the foundation of CAD
systems United Computing, Intergraph, IBM, Intergraph IGDS in 1974
(which led to Bentley MicroStation in 1984)

CAD implementations have evolved dramatically since then. Initially,

with 2D in the 1970s, it was typically limited to producing drawings similar
to hand-drafted drawings. Advances in programming and computer
hardware, notably solid modeling in the 1980s, have allowed more versatile
applications of computers in design activities.

Key products for 1981 were the solid modelling packages -Romulus
(ShapeData) and Uni-Solid (Unigraphics) based on PADL-2 and the release
of the surface modeler CATIA (Dassault Systemes). Autodesk was founded
1982 by John Walker, which led to the 2D system AutoCAD. The next
milestone was the release of Pro/ENGINEER in 1988, which heralded
greater usage of feature-based modeling methods and parametric linking of
the parameters of features. Also of importance to the development of CAD
was the development of the B-rep solid modeling kernels (engines for
manipulating geometrically and topologically consistent 3D objects)
Parasolid (ShapeData) and ACIS (Spatial Technology Inc.) at the end of the
1980s and beginning of the 1990s, both inspired by the work of Ian Braid.
This led to the release of mid-range packages such as SolidWorks in 1995,
SolidEdge (Intergraph) in 1996, and IronCAD in 1998. Today CAD is one of
the main tools used in designing products.

A very brief history of CAD development is listed;

1. 1940s - First digital computer developed
2. 1950s - Commercial computers become available
3. 1955 - CRTs begin being used in military projects
4. 1957 - APT II (Automatic Programmed Tool) developed for
generating NC control. Automated NC used in industry.
5. 1959 - Stromberk Carlson develops a system to interpret graphics on
tape, then output them to a screen, or print on special paper
6. 1963 - Ivan Sutherland presents a paper on "Sketchpad" which allows
interactive graphics
7. 1965 - Lockheed introduces a CAD/CAM system, and a FEM system.
McDonnell introduces CADD
8. 1966 - Business world sees Wall Street Journal title "Electronic
Sketching; Engineers Focus on Screen to Design Visually via
Computer; Keyboard Enlarges, Rotates `Drawings'; Lockheed, GM
Enthusiastic About Uses"
9. 1971 - David Prince writes first book on computer graphics
10. 1975 - ICAM (Integrated Computer Aided Manufacturing) project is

begun by US Air force

11. 1976 - Colour raster graphics technology begins to develop.

12.1979 - Development of IGES begins

 13.1980 - Introduction of PCs revolutionizes all markets
14.1980s - Solid Modeling on UNIX
15.1990s - Solid Modeling on low end systems
WHAT IS CAD?

CAD originally meant Computer Aided Drafting because of its original

use as a replacement for traditional drafting. Now, CAD usually means
Computer Aided Design to reflect the fact that modern CAD tools do more
than just drafting.

CAD is sometimes translated as "computer-assisted", "computer-aided

drafting", or a similar phrase. Related acronyms are CADD, which stands for
"computer-aided design and drafting", CAID for Computer-aided Industrial
Design and CAAD, for "computer-aided architectural design". All these
terms are essentially synonymous, but there are a few subtle differences in
meaning and application. CAM (Computer-aided manufacturing) is also
often used in a similar way, or as a combination (CAD/CAM). The term
CAD is generally used for graphical design, whereas non-graphical
computer-aided design is usually called Knowledge-based engineering
(KBE).

CAD is used to design, develop and optimize products, which can be

goods used by end consumers or intermediate goods used in other products.
CAD is also extensively used in the design of tools and machinery used in
the manufacture of components, and in the drafting and design of all types of
buildings, from small residential types (houses) to the largest commercial
and industrial structures (hospitals and factories).
 CAD is mainly used for detailed engineering of 3D models and/or 2D
drawings of physical components, but it is also used throughout the
engineering process from conceptual design and layout of products, through
strength and dynamic analysis of assemblies to definition of manufacturing
methods of components.

CAD has become an especially important technology, within the scope

of Computer Aided technologies, with benefits such as lower product
development costs and a greatly shortened design cycle. CAD enables
designers to lay out and develop work on screen, print it out and save it for
future editing, saving time on their drawings.

Examples of CAD are given below;

An engineering design
An engineering design

An architectural design
Three dimensional computer generated views.
 FIELDS OF USE
The various field of use for CAD include the following areas;

1 The AEC industry- Architecture, engineering and construction

a. Architecture
b. Building engineering
c. Civil Engineering and Infrastructure
d. Construction
e. Roads and Highways
f. Railroads and Tunnels
g. Water Supply and Hydraulic Engineering
h. Storm Drain, Wastewater and Sewer systems
i. Mapping and Surveying
j. (Chemical) Plant Design
k. Factory Layout
l. Heating, Ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC)
2 Mechanical (MCAD) Engineering
a. Automotive - vehicles
b. Aerospace
c. Consumer Goods
d. Machinery
e. Ship Building
f. Bio-mechanical systems
3 Electronic design automation (EDA)
a. Electronic and Electrical (ECAD)
b. Digital circuit design
4 Electrical Engineering
a. Power Engineering or Power Systems Engineering
b. Power Systems CAD
c. Power analytics
5 Manufacturing process planning
6 Industrial Design
7 Software applications
8 Apparel and Textile CAD
a. Fashion Design
9 Garden design
THE NIGERIAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
The Nigerian educational system is broken down into various stages here;
STRUCTURE OF SCHOOL SYSTEM:
Primary
Type of school providing this education: Primary School
Length of program in years: 6
Age level from: 6 to: 12
Junior Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Junior School
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 12 to: 15
Certificate/diploma awarded: Junior School Certificate (JSSC)
Senior Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Senior Secondary School
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 15 to: 18
Certificate/diploma awarded: Senior School Certificate (SSSC)
Technical
Type of school providing this education: Technical Secondary School
Length of program in years: 6
Age level from: 12 to: 18
Certificate/diploma awarded: Senior School Certificate (SSSC)
SCHOOL EDUCATION:
Primary education lasts for six years. Entrance to secondary education is
based on an examination. Secondary education is divided into junior and
senior secondary, and technical and vocational education. The Junior School
Certificate is awarded after three years of junior school. The Senior School
Certificate is awarded after three years of senior secondary education. It
replaced the West African GCE "O" level in 1989. Pupils who complete
junior secondary school are streamed into senior secondary school, technical
college, out of school vocation training centre or an apprenticeship.
Technical secondary education is offered in secondary commercial schools
which offer six-year courses including academic subjects and specialization.
At the end of the course, students may take the examinations for the Senior
School Certificate. Vocational education produces low level manpower and
is offered in technical colleges or business and engineering skills training
centres. Technical colleges are the only alternative to senior secondary
schools as a route to further formal education and training after junior
secondary education. To enter university, students have to pass the
University Matriculation examination (UME).

HIGHER EDUCATION:
Higher education is provided by universities, polytechnics, institutions of
technology, colleges of education (which form part of the universities and
polytechnical colleges or are affiliated to these) and professional institutions.
Universities can be established either by federal or state governments. Each
university is administered by a Council and a Senate. Within the universities,
the institutes and colleges are more or less autonomous.

THE CHALLENGES OF LEARNING CAD IN NIGERIAN

UNIVERSITIES
The focus of this write up is on Nigerian universities. The concepts
computer-aided design has given birth to compute-aided teaching, which
represents a combination of both teaching and learning. The use of CAD and
CAD softwares in Nigerian universities for sometime now has grown
tremendously especially in then last four years. With the introduction of new
softwares and programs that tend to make design faster and more efficient.
Nigerian students are now looking of improving on their capabilities and
flexibility in the use of these softwares.
 Although the learning of CAD by these students is being faced by various
challenges, it is pertinent to note that the students whom are privileged to
have the required skills in the use of these softwares become the envy of
their fellow students, even their lecturers are no left out. So the learning of
CAD by the student becomes necessary so as to make him/her marketable
and useful in his/her area of study.

Although learning CAD holds great potentials in supporting and

augmenting existing educational as well as National development efforts in
Nigeria, several challenges remain. If these challenges are not addressed
they would become serious bottle-necks in the learning of CAD. These
challenges include:

1. Inadequate ICT infrastructure including computer hardwares and

softwares;
2. Lack of skilled manpower, to manage available systems and

inadequate training facilities for CAD education at the tertiary level;

3. Resistance to change from traditional pedagogical methods to more
innovative, technology based teaching and learning methods, by both
students and academics;
4. The overall educational system is under funded, therefore, available

funds are used to solve more urgent and important survival needs by
the institutions;
5. The over-dependence of educational institutions on government for
everything has limited institutions ability to collaborate with the
private sector or seek alternative funding sources for ICT educational
initiatives.
 6. Ineffective coordination of all the various ICT for education

initiatives.

NEW TREND IN CAD (SCOPE OF CAD)

Well before the development of Computer-aided design, the

manufacturing world adopted tools controlled by numbers and letters to fill
the need for manufacturing complex shapes in an accurate and repeatable
manner. During the 1950's these Numerically-Controlled machines used the
existing technology of paper tapes with regularly spaced holes punched in
them (think of the paper roll that makes an old-fashioned player piano work,
but only one inch wide) to feed numbers into controller machines that were
wired to the motors positioning the work on machine tools. The electro-
mechanical nature of the controllers allowed digital technologies to be easily
incorporated as they were developed.

The development of Computer-aided design had little effect on CNC

initially due to the different capabilities and file formats used by drawing
and machining programs. However, as CAD applications such as
SolidWorks and AutoCad incorporate CAM intelligence, and as CAM
applications such as MasterCam adopt sophisticated CAD tools, both
designers and manufacturers are now enjoying an increasing variety of
capable CAD/CAM software. Most CAD/CAM software was developed for
product development and the design and manufacturing of components and
molds, but they are being used by architects with greater frequency.
 Today, over three-quarters of new machine tools incorporate CNC
technologies. These tools are used in every conceivable manufacturing
sector, including many that affect building technologies. CNC technology is
related to Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), Computer Aided
Process Planning (CAPP) and other technologies such as Group Technology
(GT) and Cellular Manufacturing. Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS)
and Just-In-Time Production (JIT) are made possible by Numerically-
Controlled Machines.

The scope of CAD now covers various areas and fields of use, such as;

1. Wireframe geometry creation

2. 3D parametric feature based modelling, Solid modelling
3. Freeform surface modelling
4. Automated design of assemblies, which are collections of parts and/or
other assemblies
5. Create Engineering drawings from the solid models
6. Reuse of design components
7. Ease of modification of design of model and the production of
multiple versions
8. Automatic generation of standard components of the design
9. Validation/verification of designs against specifications and design
rules
10. Simulation of designs without building a physical prototype
11. Output of engineering documentation, such as manufacturing
drawings, and Bills of Materials to reflect the BOM required to build
the product
12. Import/Export routines to exchange data with other software packages
 13. Output of design data directly to manufacturing facilities
14. Output directly to a Rapid Prototyping or Rapid Manufacture Machine
for industrial prototypes
15. Maintain libraries of parts and assemblies
16. Calculate mass properties of parts and assemblies
17. Aid visualization with shading, rotating, hidden line removal, etc...
18. Bi-directional parametric association (modification of any feature is
reflected in all information relying on that feature; drawings, mass
properties, assemblies, etc... and counter wise)
19. Kinematics, interference and clearance checking of assemblies
20. Sheet metal
21. Hose/cable routing
22. Electrical component packaging
23. Inclusion of programming code in a model to control and relate
desired attributes of the model
24. Programmable design studies and optimization
25. Sophisticated visual analysis routines, for draft, curvature, curvature
continuity...

FUTURE TREND
Nigerian educational institutions face the challenge of globalization and
the information age for the transformation of the academic system from the
traditional role of teaching, learning, research, and development
technologies to those driven by the information technology, which is the
latest revolution changing all aspects of human endeavour. It must be
realized that the current ICT infrastructure in Nigeria can not enable
Nigerians or the universities to be part of the Global Information Society.
The poor telecommunication infrastructure, quantity and quality, constitute a
major problem to ICT development in many Nigerian universities. However,
the situation will start to change with the wind of deregulation blowing
across the country. One is happy to note that in the past five years things
have been changing for the better as far as information technology and CAD
use in Nigeria is concerned. Until a few years ago, it was generally assumed
that computer technology was not viable in Nigerian universities. However
some university are now either computerizing their activities through their
respective university's Computer Centres or installing these computers in
their own departments. One is also happy to note that both the Federal
Government of Nigeria and International funding agencies are now
interested in the general development of ICT in Nigerian universities. For
example, the Federal Ministry of Education has embarked on the
establishment of the National Virtual (Digital) Library Project. One of the
objectives of this is to provide, in an equitable and cost effective manner,
enhanced access to national and international library and information
resources and to share locally available resources with libraries all over the
world using digital technology. A Model Virtual (Digital) Library at National
Universities Commission (NUC) will be the hub of the university-based
libraries. The delivery of the Virtual Library will be through the Internet,
CD-ROM, and Wide Area Network (WAN). When this is finally
materialized, it will definitely be a boost to the development of ICT in
Nigerian educational system. There is the need for all universities to be
interconnected by a network to facilitate cross breeding of research efforts.
CONCLUSION
For an Architect, Engineer, Designer etc o succeed in his/her profession in
this 21st century, the understanding and use of CAD cannot be ruled out. In
various professional firms, CAD is being extensively in design, drafting and
so on, so the learning of CAD, in general, should be well encouraged in all
the Nigerian Universities running related programmes so as to impact he
necessary skills and knowledge that would prepare him/her for the
profession. The Nigerian University Education scheme should incorporate
programmes, workshops and avenues where the use and understanding of
CAD should be encouraged. This to a large extent would help prepare the
students for he challenges of the future.

REFERENCES
1 Computer Aided Design (CAD); www.wikipedia.com

2 Ernest and peter Neufert, 2000. Architects data, third edition,

Blackwell science ltd.

3 Carlson, Wayne (2003). A Critical History of Computer Graphics

and Animation. Ohio State University.

4 Computer Aided Design (CAD); Encarta Encyclopaedia 2007.

5 Computer Aided Design (CAD); www.cad.com

6 Ajayi, G. O. (2000). Challenge to Nigeria of Globalization and the

Information Age. Keynote address at the Workshop on National
Information Communication Infrastructure (NICI) Policy Plans and
Strategies for Implementation, Maitama, Abuja.
7 Capron, H. L. (2000). Computers: Tools for an Information Age.
New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
8 Ndiaye, A. L. (2001). African Universities and the Challenge of
Knowledge Creation and Application in the New Century. Paper
presented at the Association of African Universities 10th General
Conference, Nairobi, Kenya.