Best Practices for Design Files

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Working with design files: Best practices for CAD drafters and design file editors

Propeller Aero

4th December 2024

Read Time: 2 mins

Clean, well-structured design files load faster, perform better, and give your team more accurate data to work with in Propeller. This Power Hour recap covers the practical prep steps that make the biggest difference: layer organization, linework simplification, surface optimization, and IFC best practices.

Power Hour is an exclusive event for Propeller customers where we tackle technical challenges, share best practices, and explore ways to get more out of the platform. Each session focuses on a key topic, offering practical advice and insights from experts and real-world examples.

In the most recent Power Hour, we discussed how to optimize and prepare design files for better platform performance. From structuring files to ensuring they’re streamlined for analysis, we shared valuable tips to help customers maximize their results.

Here’s a recap of what we covered.

The basics: Layers, organization, and version control

Cluttered layers and outdated files create more work and room for error. Keep things organized to ensure your data is easily accessible, accurate, and ready for further analysis.

Layers: Aim for simplicity. Keep layer counts low and eliminate redundant layers. This reduces file complexity, speeds up processing times, and enhances platform responsiveness, making it easier to manage design outputs
Organization: Establish consistent naming schemes and control permissions to prevent accidental changes
Version control: Ensure everyone uses the correct file versions by naming files clearly and removing obsolete data

Linework: Simplification and optimization

Detailed linework can be powerful, but too much complexity gets counterproductive, especially when working with design files. Here’s how to streamline:

Reduce vertex counts: Avoid overloading your designs with unnecessary vertices. Simplify curves and arcs, and clean up straight lines where possible
Manage labels: Extra labels can cause unexpected performance hits. Keep them in separate layers and remove anything nonessential
Elevations: Non-elevation critical linework can be clamped to the model surface in Propeller

Optimizing surfaces for performance

Surfaces, including TINs (triangulated irregular network surfaces), are critical but can be cumbersome if not managed efficiently.

Trim and phase surfaces: Limit project areas and break large surfaces into phases to keep triangle counts low, maintaining precision without slowing performance
Optimize triangles: Reduce triangles in flat or less critical areas, focusing detail where it matters most
Consistent naming: Use uniform layer naming (e.g. “subgrade” vs. “final grade”) for easy reference
Efficient file types: Opt for formats like XML and TTM to minimize data overhead and enhance responsiveness compared to DXFs

IFCs: Not just design file types

IFCs (Industry Foundation Classes) are a key part of your workflow. To maximize their potential, keep these tips in mind:

Schema matters: Use the latest schemas (e.g. IFC 4 ADD2 TC1) for improved functionality and flexibility
Color and textures: Simplify colors and avoid texture-heavy exports that are often program-specific and do not display correctly outside that program. Color-coding classes (e.g. yellow for manholes, green for storm sewers) can improve clarity

Ready to learn how Propeller can power up your worksite with easy and effective data-sharing? Request a demo today.