Best Structural Engineering Software for Mac of 2025

Skanect simplifies the process of capturing vibrant, color-rich 3D models of objects, individuals, or entire rooms, making it both accessible and budget-friendly. By transforming your Structure Sensor or Structure Core depth sensor into an economical 3D scanner, Skanect allows you to generate 3D meshes from real-world environments in mere minutes. Step into the exciting realm of 3D scanning today! Unlike traditional methods, Skanect captures high-density 3D data at a remarkable rate of up to 30 frames per second. Simply navigate around with your Structure Sensor or Structure Core to gather a comprehensive array of viewpoints, and you'll receive a real-time 3D mesh. The platform is designed to facilitate various 3D scanning scenarios through a selection of predefined setups that cater to most applications. Sharing your 3D models online is a breeze, making it unnecessary to possess professional training before diving into the world of 3D scanning! By utilizing consumer-grade 3D cameras like the Structure Sensor and Structure Core, Skanect significantly reduces hardware expenses compared to earlier 3D scanning technologies. This democratization of technology empowers a wider audience to explore and engage with 3D modeling.

VisualSFM is a user-friendly application designed for creating 3D models through a process known as structure from motion (SFM). This reconstruction software combines elements from several earlier projects I have worked on, including SIFT on GPU (SiftGPU), Multicore Bundle Adjustment, and Towards Linear-time Incremental Structure from Motion. By leveraging multicore parallel processing, VisualSFM enhances speed and efficiency in tasks such as feature detection, feature matching, and bundle adjustment. Additionally, for dense reconstruction, it seamlessly incorporates Yasutaka Furukawa's PMVS/CMVS tool chain, allowing for improved results in the final output. This integration of various tools and techniques makes VisualSFM a powerful resource for those engaged in 3D reconstruction projects.

The Braceworks® add-on for Vectorworks Spotlight offers design, production, and rigging experts a streamlined method to assess the performance of temporary structures when subjected to loads. This innovative module prioritizes safety and adherence to engineering regulations, facilitating a fully integrated process for modeling, analysis, and documentation all within a single interface. With regulatory demands like the Eurocodes and the rising expectations of venues, municipalities, and property owners, event design, A/V, and rigging firms are increasingly required to provide load and structural calculations for approval by structural engineers. Users can perform static analyses and finite element method (FEM) evaluations, with results visually represented on the model for straightforward interpretation. Furthermore, it allows for the automatic creation of comprehensive calculation reports, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in the documentation process. By simplifying these complex tasks, the module ultimately supports professionals in delivering safe and compliant events.

The user interface of our software has been designed for maximum ease of use. Users can create geometry in multiple views using sophisticated modeling tools, or they can input data through spreadsheets, all seamlessly integrated within RISA-3D. This powerful tool offers analysis and design capabilities that facilitate the quick creation of various structures, accommodating a diverse selection of materials. You can design everything from buildings and bridges to tanks and culverts, covering a vast array of engineering needs. Detailed reports can be generated, featuring both graphical and numerical results, which provide comprehensive output and instill confidence in your designs for you and your team. The latest iteration of RISA-3D's user interface has been tailored specifically to the workflow of structural engineers. It employs a straightforward left-to-right, tab-by-tab ribbon system that allows users to easily navigate their models from initial concepts to final design refinement by simply following the sequence of icons. Moreover, the interface offers customization options, enabling users to keep their most frequently used tools readily accessible at all times, enhancing their efficiency even further. Ultimately, this thoughtful design ensures that engineers can focus more on innovation and less on navigating complex software.

Home Designer Software stands out as the leading 3D interior design and home remodeling application, built upon the advanced technology of Chief Architect's professional architectural tools, making it accessible for do-it-yourself enthusiasts. Explore the reasons that make Home Designer the premier choice for visualizing and crafting your next home improvement project. Chief Architect is the go-to software for professionals such as architects, builders, remodelers, and interior designers alike. With its intelligent building features, users can effortlessly produce construction drawings, detailed floor plans, elevations, and stunning 3D renderings, including immersive 360-degree views. This software is specifically designed for residential projects, equipped with tools that automatically generate essential elements like roofs, foundations, and framing dimensions. As you design walls, windows, and doors, the application concurrently constructs a 3D representation, which can be conveniently shared with homeowners, structural engineers, or subcontractors via the 3D Viewer app. Such capabilities enhance collaboration and streamline the design process, ensuring that every detail is communicated effectively.

S-FRAME empowers users to model, analyze, and design any type of structure, accommodating a wide range of geometric complexities, material specifications, loading scenarios, nonlinear behaviors, and design code stipulations. The platform features automated framework generators that facilitate rapid model creation and offers seamless integration with BIM and DXF formats, allowing users to enhance their efficiency with built-in design tools for concrete and steel, which support design, optimization, code adherence, and report generation. Through S-FRAME, users can swiftly define structures with advanced modeling automation, enabling the generation of regular framework structures and both standard and custom trusses, while clone tools allow for the easy replication of entire models or specific sections. Moreover, the ability to import existing BIM and DXF models significantly reduces modeling time, further improving productivity. The sophisticated meshing capabilities of S-FRAME create a detailed finite element mesh, equipping users to derive comprehensive analysis results tailored to their areas of interest. Lastly, users have the flexibility to delve deeper into their analysis by converting members into multi-shell models, enhancing their understanding and evaluation of structural performance.

Framing serves as a versatile design tool tailored for timber frame and floor construction, addressing the evolving demands of the contemporary offsite construction sector. It is widely adopted by timber frame producers, structural engineers, and design firms, facilitating the creation of detailed 3D models for timber frame structures, which in turn generates thorough material schedules and manufacturing drawings suitable for both manual assembly and direct integration with industry-standard automated machinery and saws. The software excels in detailing a variety of timber frame building styles, and although it primarily operates within a 2D context, it efficiently constructs a 3D model based on user specifications, enabling straightforward verification of levels and heights throughout the process. This capability enhances accuracy and streamlines workflow, making Framing an essential resource in modern construction practices.