Budget CAD programs for BS5837

[forestrynick]

Hi all,

 

I'm looking at getting a basic CAD program for help with BS5837 survey plans and occasional landscape planting plans.

 

This isn't my main field of work so don't want to spend significant funds on this.

(I probably do 2 or 3 small /simply 5837's a year).

 

Any suggestions?

 

Nick

[Paul Barton]

Hi Nick. There's a free open source CAD program called Draftsight that might do you if you already know how to use CAD. I believe TurboCad is also pretty cheap.

 

However, for so few of these jobs would you be better off outsourcing the plans? I could do them for you if you like - send me a message if that would be of interest.

[daltontrees]

There's a free open source CAD program called Draftsight that might do you if you already know how to use CAD.

 

It's free, I believe, un til you want to save or print any of your work and at that point you get 30 days trial then you have to pay to keep it. So, it's free to play with on-screen but you have to pay for the useful bits or else you lose all the work when you switch off your computer.

[ReubenHayes]

I'm still getting used to CAD and working out how to use it. I out source the original plans and my drawings to someone who puts it into CAD for me. I then use Draftsight to make changes, produce new plans etc.

 

Draftsight you do get a few emails saying that your trial is coming to an end, please pay for a longer period etc. I ignored the emails and a year on still able to use it. I would say its useful but not the full CAD and can take a bit of time (its free so its not the up to date version and will not have everything).

 

There are many companies out there that can do BS5837 drawings, usually about £60 + VAT for the first plan, then less for any other plans. If you are looking at just a couple each year, I would get someone else to do it. It'll take them 5 mins to do something it'll take 1hr to do if you just have a basic package.

 

I have looked at buying a BS5837 package it'll be about £2k with costs etc.

 

I would be interested to know what packages others use, and how easy it is?

[Paul Barton]

Should've come to my seminar!

[Chris at eden]

Budget CAD - an oxymoron if ever I heard one!!!

 

I use pear tech which is quick and easy to use, don't need a lot of training. It does have its limitations though. It cost me £1,200 but I use it all the time so worth the spend and cheaper than full CAD packages. Don't think I would bother for 2 or 3 a year.

 

Cheers

[harvey b davison]

have you thought about checking the shelves at pc world etc. Might be something usefull and cheap on there.

[forestrynick]

Hi all,

 

Thanks for the replies, very helpful (I must make more use of this forum). Outsourcing the mapping is probably the way to go. I might have another go at producing these sort of maps in mapinfo when I have a spare hour.

 

Nick