STAAD Pro is a structural analysis & design computer program that was developed by Research Engineers International (REL) at Yorba Linda, California in 1997. Today, STAAD Pro is one of the popular and widely used software for structural analysis and design across the globe by Civil engineers While it may not be specifically tailored for building structural design like ETABS, StaadPro offers distinct advantages, particularly in handling non-conventional geometry and special requirements.
StaadPro is especially valuable for quickly analyzing secondary structures and finds widespread use in infrastructure design, including tunnels, bridges, and culverts.
It remains a popular choice in government organizations and older consultancies, mainly because many of them have yet to transition to tools like ETABS. The steel design capabilities of StaadPro are comparable to other design software such as ETABS. Additionally, Staad Pro has some compatibility with Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools like Revit. Bentley, the parent organization of STAAD Pro, also offers its own BIM products that seamlessly integrate with StaadPro.