When DRMP Structures Chief Designer Jim Arnemann joined DRMP more than 30 years ago, structural drawings were still created by hand on drafting tables. Revisions required an eraser, a steady hand, and a lot of patience. Since then, he has witnessed a significant transformation in the industry – the shift from manual drafting to sophisticated computer-aided design (CAD) software that has revolutionized how infrastructure is planned, designed, and delivered.
Throughout his career, Arnemann has helped bring countless transportation structures to life, including the award-winning A. Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville, Fla., by turning engineering concepts into detailed construction drawings that make projects possible.
In recognition of National CAD Day on Aug. 2, Arnemann reflects on more than three decades in the profession, sharing how CAD technology has evolved, the lessons that have stayed with him throughout his career, and why attention to detail remains just as important today as it was when he first started his career.
What interested you in CAD, and why did you choose this line of work?
I've always enjoyed solving problems and figuring out how things fit together. There’s an art to creating CAD drawings. It’s about understanding how all the pieces come together and presenting the information in a way that engineers, contractors, and field crews can easily understand. A good CAD drawing is accurate, organized, and clearly communicates the design.
CAD gave me the opportunity to take ideas and turn them into detailed drawings that bring projects to life. I enjoy the challenge of making sure every piece works as part of a larger system and knowing that the work we do on the computer eventually becomes something people use in their daily travels.
You've been with DRMP for over 30 years. What's the biggest change you've seen in structural design and CAD technology over your career?
I’d say the biggest change has been the move from manual drafting to digital design. When I started, everything was done by hand using ink pens, paper, and drafting tables, so making revisions took a lot of time and effort. Before CAD, making changes to drawings took a lot more time. Now we can make updates quicker, share information more easily, and work through problems earlier in the process. The biggest difference is the speed and efficiency CAD has brought to the design process.
What's one project from your career that you're especially proud of, and why does it stand out?
The A. Max Brewer Bridge is one of the projects I’m most proud of. It was a large, complex design-build project that replaced an aging swing bridge with a 3,207-foot high-level fixed bridge over the Indian River and Intracoastal Waterway in Titusville. The project also improved access to NASA property and the Canaveral National Seashore.
What makes this project stand out to me is that it was an important project for the community, but it was also a very complex design. The bridge included several unique elements, including a post-tensioning system, custom pilings, a scenic overlook, and an ADA-accessible fishing pier.
As part of the CAD team, my role was to take the engineers’ designs and develop the detailed construction drawings that contractors could use to build the project. That meant making sure the plans were accurate, coordinated, and could be built as intended while working closely with the engineers to resolve design challenges throughout the process. The drawings are an important part of communicating the design to engineers, contractors, and field crews, so attention to detail is critical.
It was also rewarding to be part of a project that not only improved transportation and navigation for the community but also created a visually impressive structure that people can enjoy. This project won multiple state and national engineering awards, and it’s exciting that I was a part of the team in bringing the design to life.
How has collaboration between designers and engineers changed since you first started in the industry?
The objective is always to produce the best possible and accurate design, but the way we work together has changed quite a bit. Years ago, collaboration relied heavily on printed drawings, face-to-face meetings, and manual markups. Today, digital tools allow designers and engineers to share files instantly, review revisions in real time, and coordinate much more efficiently. Faster communication helps us identify potential issues earlier in the design process, which leads to better project outcomes and quicker turnaround times.
What's one lesson that's stayed with you throughout your career?
Patience and consistency. Good design takes time, and paying attention to the details is one of the most important parts of the job. A small mistake on a drawing can become a much bigger issue during construction, so it's important to stay focused, double-check your work, and approach each project with the same level of care, no matter how large or small it is.
What do you think the future holds for CAD and structural design?
I think artificial intelligence will continue to become a bigger part of the design process. It has the potential to automate repetitive tasks, improve efficiency, and help us work faster. Will it take over? I don’t think it will replace experienced CAD professionals. Good design still requires engineering judgment, problem-solving, and an understanding of how structures are built. Safety should always be the No. 1 priority on every project, and we will still need that human set of eyes to review the work and make sure everything is done correctly. AI will be another tool that helps us do our jobs better, but experience and human judgment will continue to play an important role in delivering quality designs.
What's something most people would be surprised to learn about CAD or the work that CAD professionals do?
A lot of people think CAD is just drawing lines on a computer, but there's much more to it than that. CAD professionals need to understand how structures go together, interpret engineering concepts, identify potential conflicts, and create drawings that contractors can confidently build from. Construction drawings are the roadmap for a project, so accuracy and attention to detail are paramount.
Jim Arnemann serves as a Structures Chief Designer for DRMP’s Transportation Market Sector.
