Comparative analysis of construction materials in El Salvador: available materials and rendering software

Abstract

The objective of this study was to provide a comparative analysis useful for professionals and students using design software, proposing a list of construction materials available in the market, aligned with the reality they aim to convey in renders, models, and digital presentations. Through surveys and interviews with professionals in the field, field visits, and the review of physical and digital materials, a list of the five most commonly used software programs for design and rendering was obtained. Additionally, the most frequently used materials were identified and organized by category. This information was tabulated to perform a comparative analysis between these materials and the default databases included in the selected software programs. Finally, the use of programs such as Lumion and V-Ray is recommended, as they offer the highest match between their databases and the construction materials available in the market in El Salvador.