Go to the Parameters tab first. Set number of floors, concrete grade (fck), steel grade (fy), clear cover, beam/column sizes, and foundation depth. These values apply to the entire structure.
💡 Default values (M25 beam, M30 column, Fe500) work for most standard buildings.
2
Upload Floor Plan Images
Go to the Model tab. Select a floor tab (PB, F1, F2...). Click the IMG upload zone or drag and drop your floor plan image. For PDF with multiple pages use the PDF upload — it assigns each page to a floor automatically.
💡 Use Copy This Floor To... button to copy one plan to multiple floors with the same layout.
3
Run Auto Detection
After uploading, click Detect in the sidebar. AutoStaad automatically finds columns (blue rectangles) and beams (green lines) using computer vision. Use Detect All to process all floors at once.
💡 Adjust Min/Max col area and Solidity sliders if detection misses columns or picks up noise.
4
Set Scale
Enter a known distance (e.g. 5.0m), click Set Scale, then click two column centers that are exactly that distance apart on the plan. The green crosshair snaps to column centers automatically.
⚠ Scale must be set before export for correct STAAD coordinates.
5
Edit Manually (if needed)
Use the toolbar to fix detection errors:
+Col Add a column
-Col Delete a column
Node-Node Draw beam between two columns
Node-Beam Connect node to beam perpendicularly
Pick Beam Click a detected Hough line
Ctrl+Z Undo last action
6
Set Loads
Go to the Loads tab. Set gravity loads (LL, SDL, Wall load, FF) per floor. Configure seismic (IS-1893) and wind (IS-875) parameters. Select active load cases. 42 combinations are generated automatically.
7
Export STAAD .std File
Go to the Export tab. Review the summary and click Generate STAAD .std File. The file downloads and can be opened directly in STAAD.Pro. Includes joints, members, material, supports, loads, 42 combinations, and concrete design commands.
Canvas Color Guide
Blue rectangles — Columns
Green lines — Beams
Cyan diamond — Intersection node
Red dots — Scale reference points
Yellow circle — Selected beam start
Green crosshair — Snap point
Frequently Asked Questions
▶ Detection found wrong columns — what to do?
Adjust the Min/Max column area sliders. If columns are small, reduce Min col area. If noise is detected, increase Solidity. Then click Detect again. Use +Col / -Col toolbar buttons to manually fix remaining errors.
▶ Many floors with same layout — do I upload each one?
No. Upload and detect one floor, then use Copy This Floor To... to copy to all other floors in one click.
▶ What image quality is needed?
Clear black and white structural drawings work best. Columns should appear as solid filled squares. Avoid colour architectural plans. Minimum 150 DPI recommended.
▶ Can I export without setting scale?
Yes, but joint coordinates will be in pixel units not metres. Always set scale before export for a valid STAAD model.
▶ Which STAAD.Pro version is supported?
Compatible with STAAD.Pro V8i, CONNECT Edition, and later. Open via File → Open in STAAD.Pro.
▶ Does AutoStaad design the structure?
AutoStaad generates the STAAD.Pro input file with geometry, loads, and design parameters as per IS-456:2000. The actual analysis and design runs inside STAAD.Pro when you execute the file.