Steel Construction CAD Software
HiCAD by ISD Group is 3D CAD software built for steel construction, connecting design, detailing, and fabrication in one continuous model instead of a chain of disconnected files. Every drawing, section, and bill of materials updates automatically when the model changes, so your team stops chasing outdated versions and starts working from one source of truth.
Steel Logic, Built In
Generic drafting tools treat steel like any other shape. HiCAD doesn’t. Connections, standard part catalogs, and configurators for stairs and railings are part of the software itself, not add-ons you have to configure from scratch. The system already understands steel geometry and connection behavior, which means less manual correction and fewer surprises once fabrication starts.
What’s Inside the Platform
- Full 2D/3D continuity – switch between modes without exporting or rebuilding
- Automatic part recognition and steel connection generation
- Configurable stair and railing modules for repeat design tasks
- Real-time updates across all views, sections, and drawings
- Native file support for NC, NCX, KISS, IFC, STEP, DXF, and DWG
For firms coordinating with architects, fabricators, and contractors on shared BIM files, this kind of interoperability is what separates dependable construction engineering software from tools that just draw well in isolation.
Where the Time Actually Gets Saved
Shop drawings, sectional views, and bills of materials generate directly from the 3D model – no separate drafting pass, no re-checking numbers by hand. Firms using HiCAD report cutting design timelines by up to 50%, mostly from automating the repetitive work that used to eat up a detailer’s week.
Purpose-Built Across Steel Applications
HiCAD supports structural frameworks, custom facades, industrial buildings, and steel pre-engineered buildings alike, adapting to project scale without forcing teams into workarounds. Whether the job is a warehouse shell or a complex architectural structure, the same modeling logic applies from concept through fabrication-ready output.
How It Runs Through Your Project
- Concept design and requirement analysis
- Detailed 3D and BIM modeling
- Connection design and structural detailing
- Automated shop drawing and BOM generation
- As-built model creation post-construction
One Platform, Managed End to End
Paired with HiCAD PDM for product data and revision management, HiCAD gives engineers, fabricators, and contractors a single connected environment rather than a patchwork of separate tools. It’s this combination – modeling, detailing, documentation, and data management under one roof – that positions ISD Group’s offering as genuine Solutions for Construction Software, not just another CAD license with a subscription attached.
Ready to see it applied to your own project files? Reach out to arrange a demo.
FAQs
Does HiCAD handle both structural steel and facade work?
Yes. It covers structural frameworks, custom steel facades, and stair or railing systems within the same modeling environment.
Can HiCAD integrate with our existing BIM setup?
It supports NC, NCX, KISS, IFC, STEP, DXF, DWG and many more formats natively, so it fits into most established BIM workflows without a rebuild.
How much faster is a HiCAD-based workflow compared to manual detailing?
Teams have reported design timelines shrinking by up to 50%, largely from automated connections and drawing generation replacing manual steps.
