Enabling Technologies for CAD Systems
| Project Leader | Project Co-leader |
| Wolfgang Stuerzlinger York University |
Robert Woodbury Simon Fraser University |
Computer-aided design (CAD) systems are comprehensive environments. Specific features support long-term productivity for CAD users. Constraints and simulation through modeling enables designers to adapt to context and to the physical forces acting on a design. Histories and alternatives enable deeper problem space exploration. Simpler user interfaces for modeling are the third enabling feature.
Constraints and simulation establish a new design space, in which histories and alternatives enhance the ability to explore new alternatives for new designs. Simplified user interfaces for modeling support rapid, interactive exploration of the design space, which is essential to achieve all of the desired outcomes of a design exercise.
ENCAD will combine constraints, simulation, histories and alternatives with established representations so CAD system developers can readily transfer to commercial practice.