Collaborative CAD Software for Modern Construction Workflows

The ARES CAD software are widely used by companies in the construction industry. In Japan, for example, 65% of the top 20 construction groups have replaced AutoCAD with ARES Commander. This represents thousands of users per company, including major construction firms such as Obayashi, Takenaka Corporation, Taisei, Kumagai Gumi, and others.

To learn more about their motivations, you can watch our playlist in Youtube with customer testimonials: ARES CAD Software vs AutoCAD | Reviews & Customer Testimonials

Construction companies typically use DWG-based CAD software to create, edit, and manage technical drawings across the full project lifecycle — from early planning to construction documentation and on-site coordination. DWG compatibility is important for exchanging files with architects, engineers, and subcontractors.

Most construction firms rely on CAD solutions that support:

— 2D drafting and detailing (including floor plans, site plans, sections, and elevations)

— Construction documentation tools (to create and manage dimensions, annotations, layers, layouts, and plot styles)

— BIM collaboration workflows, especially when architectural or engineering teams deliver BIM models and data

— Multi-platform access (desktop, cloud, and mobile) so drawings can be reviewed and marked up in the office and directly on the construction site

Many construction companies choose CAD software that allows teams to work efficiently with drawings in the office, collaborate remotely, and access plans on-site thus helping reduce errors, improve coordination, and keep documentation up to date.

In construction, CAD and BIM are used for different purposes:

— CAD (Computer-Aided Design) focuses on creating 2D and 3D drawings, such as floor plans, sections, elevations, and construction details. CAD files (commonly in DWG format) are often used for drafting and documentation.

— BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a data-rich 3D model–based process. A BIM model includes not only geometry, but also information like materials, quantities, specifications, and relationships between building elements — supporting coordination, clash detection, and lifecycle planning.

Many construction workflows combine both — for example, by using BIM data to generate or update CAD drawings (BIM-to-DWG) for construction documentation and on-site coordination.

Construction teams use CAD to produce a standard set of drawings that guide planning, approvals, and on-site execution. The most common construction CAD drawings include:

— Floor plans (room layouts, including walls, doors, and dimensions)

— Site plans (property boundaries, access roads, utilities, grading)

— Elevations (exterior views of building façades)

— Sections and details (cut-through views, levels, heights, construction details)

— MEP drawings (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing layouts)

— Structural drawings / foundation plans (framing, beams, columns, footings, slabs, reinforcement)

— As-built drawings (final documentation reflecting what was actually constructed)

These drawings are usually created and exchanged in DWG format, and form the basis for construction documentation and coordination between all project stakeholders.

ARES CAD software supports construction teams with DWG-native tools, automation, and collaboration features designed for efficient construction workflows.

Key features of the ARES Trinity of CAD software include:

– Native DWG editing for reliable creation and exchange of construction drawings

– BIM Auto-Drawings to generate construction-ready DWG-format drawings from BIM projects

– Online DWG Drawings Automation from Revit & IFC BIM models (e.g., floor plans, sections, and elevations)

– Sheet Sets / drawing management to organize multiple drawings, revisions, and layouts within one project

– View-only links to securely distribute up-to-date drawings without sending files back and forth

– Real-time collaborative workflows for coordinated editing of cloud-stored DWG files without version conflicts

– 450+ dynamic blocks and Trinity Block Library for faster detailing with standardized symbols and annotations

– ARES AI Assist (A3) for AI-powered editing, selections, and smarter DWG/MTEXT text improvements

Yes, ARES Commander, ARES Kudo, and ARES Touch all use the DWG format as their native file format. This means they can open, edit, and save any dwg or dxf file without conversion, ensuring maximum compatibility with files created in AutoCAD®. Likewise, DWG files created or modified with the ARES CAD software can be opened and edited in AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT. The ARES CAD software also supports other file formats commonly used in AutoCAD and other DWG-based CAD applications, including DWT (templates), .DWS (drawing standards), .DST (sheet sets), and .LIN (linetypes). It also fully supports blocks and dynamic blocks, as well as LISP files and other related resources.

Switching from AutoCAD to ARES is very easy, you can learn more about this topic with our playlist on YouTube: Compare ARES Commander vs AutoCAD

ARES Commander — the desktop version of the ARES Trinity of CAD software — includes 3D solid modeling tools and supports exporting DWG geometry to the Sketchup® format (*.skp). Sketchup can also export to the DWG format. As a result, you can start a project in 2D or 3D with ARES Commander and continue after with Sketchup. And you can also export from Sketchup to DWG and obtain a 3D model that you can continue editing and annotating with ARES Commander.

Learn more from this video: Convert DWG to Sketchup (SKP format)

ARES Commander can import BIM files but cannot export them. Its BIM features are designed to support BIM-to-CAD workflows, creating smarter DWG drawings that are automated from the intelligent information contained in BIM objects, not to replace BIM authoring software.

It supports the import of Autodesk Revit® files (RVT format) as well as IFC files generated by other BIM applications such as Graphisoft Archicad®, Allplan®, Snaptrude®, and Qonic®.

Imported BIM models can be visualized in 3D and combined in the same project, for example, by using a Revit model for a building together with an IFC model for urban planning or infrastructure. You can also filter by discipline, type or category, to show only the relevant information. You may also select BIM entities and read their properties in the properties palette, and use the BIM data extraction to export the BIM information that you need into tables or spreadsheets to share with Excel or other similar software.

Yes. ARES Commander can automatically convert Revit or IFC models into native 2D DWG drawings.
From imported BIM files, ARES Commander can generate floor plans, sections, and elevations as DWG files, including automatic dimensions and labels. You can further use the CAD features in ARES Commander to draw anything on top of these automatically generated drawings, such as detail views, blocks, annotations, or any project you can dream of.

The generated DWG drawings remain associated with the underlying BIM entities. When the BIM model is modified, it can be reloaded and the DWG drawings are updated accordingly without losing any of the CAD details added on top.

In addition to desktop automation, BIM-to-DWG conversion can also be configured using ARES Online Drawings Automation, enabling batch processing and scheduled jobs (for example nightly or weekly) on a cloud server, without occupying the local workstation.

To learn more, make sure to watch our playlist on Youtube: Auto-Drawings in DWG from Revit or IFC

Builders can use ARES CAD software directly on construction sites to access and work with DWG drawings when they’re away from the office.

With ARES Touch (Mobile CAD) — part of the ARES Trinity of CAD software — teams can view plans, check details, and add markups or comments on-site using Android or iOS mobile devices. This helps ensure field teams always work with the latest construction documentation and can provide real-time feedback from the jobsite.

Construction teams collaborate on CAD drawings by using cloud and multi-device workflows to share, review, and update DWG files across the office, the construction site, and remote teams. This helps everyone work with the latest construction documentation and reduces coordination errors.
 
ARES Trinity connects Desktop, Mobile, and Cloud CAD in one ecosystem, supporting real-world construction collaboration such as:

1) Drafting & drawing updates in the office (design changes / revisions)

When architects, engineers, or CAD managers need to update plans, sections, elevations, or construction details, they typically work on a desktop CAD system.

→ With ARES Commander (Desktop CAD), teams can create and edit DWG drawings using advanced 2D/3D tools, and continue working offline when needed.
 
2) Remote access & coordination (meetings / stakeholder review)

During coordination meetings or when stakeholders need fast access to the latest DWG files, cloud workflows make collaboration easier.

→ With ARES Kudo (Cloud CAD), teams can open and edit DWG drawings directly in a browser, enabling secure remote access, fast coordination, and modern collaboration — without installing software.
 
3) Construction site feedback (markups, punch lists)

On construction sites, project managers and field teams often need to review drawings, clarify issues, and document changes.

→ With ARES Touch (Mobile CAD), builders can view DWG drawings on Android or iOS devices and add markups, comments, and annotations on-site — ideal for subcontractor coordination, site inspections, and punch list updates.

You can start a free 30-day trial of ARES Trinity on the Graebert website. The trial provides full access to all components of the ARES Trinity of CAD software.

The trial includes:

— ARES Commander (Desktop CAD): download and work offline on Windows, macOS, or Linux

— ARES Kudo (Cloud CAD): access DWG drawings directly in your browser

— ARES Touch (Mobile CAD): view and mark up DWG files on Android or iOS

This allows construction teams to test DWG workflows across the office and remote work environments, including construction sites.

ARES Commander is a cost-effective alternative to AutoCAD, offering powerful DWG-native CAD functionality at a lower price.

Construction teams can choose from flexible licensing options such as annual plans, 3-year plans, perpetual licenses, and flex/network licensing, depending on project needs and team size.

You can find current pricing and licensing details on the Graebert website.

If you have any questions about our products or licensing options, feel free to contact our customer support team.