CU1703

SOFTWAREreview
All Bentley applications can be appropriated. Descartes CONNECT Edition simplifies
the extraction of existing ground surfaces from point clouds and reality meshes
functional components to model
underground drainage networks. These
can even be optimised for water flow
using integrated water analysis tools,
showing the results in data tables or
visually in profile views.
ROADWAY DESIGN
OpenRoads Designer - which you
could say is the culmination of the
development of InRoads, GEOPAK, MX
and PowerCivil - is used for the rapid
development of roadway designs. Its
parametric capabilities enables
changes made to any aspect of the
design to be reflected through the
model, and to modify those elements
affected by the change.
This, in effect, means that changing
the radius of a bend in the road would
automatically re-route the subsurface
drainage to maintain its relationship
with the road edges. To give further
examples of this, Bentley demonstrated
OpenRoads Designer's modelling
capabilities at a recent press event,
focusing on the design of a two-lane
highway. On a section of a proposed
roadway, previously positioned using
terrain modelling and reality modelling
to provide its context, the road was run
along the proposed corridor.
Using OpenRoads ConceptStation
(which we covered in the Sept/Oct
2016 issue of the magazine) the road
was modelled in situ with engineering
precision, preserving all work and data
for use when detailing the road for
construction purposes. Virtual
presentations at this point can place
the road in a visual context for planning
and publicity purposes.
The road type was specified by
incorporating the appropriate
templates, and the result was able to
be viewed and assessed immediately
in a rendered 3D view. Slices can be
taken at any location along the road to
provide, in real time, a view of the road
components at that point, or repeated
at regular intervals. Design models can
be viewed in all modes - plan, profile,
cross-section and 3D - and changes
made in one view dynamically update
all views.
The software is also able to show cut
and fill requirements at each slice -
however, because of the parametric
and federated nature of the model
users are now able to calculate and
extract volumetric quantities of earth
movements over specified sections,
directly from the 3D model.
Horizontal representations of sections
of the road can also be taken from the
model, then placed showing gradients
and inclines on the road, and to
provide annotated plan, plan and
profile, or cross section drawings
showing each discipline.
Multiple sheets can also be created,
each with a different set of annotations
pertaining to the associated task or
discipline. Subsequent modifications to
the design model, roadway gradient, or
other elements will also automatically
update any ruled annotation attached
to the model within the plan, profile
and/or section.
The demonstration showed how easy
and quick it is to make changes to a
model, enabling engineers to layout
roads more rapidly, or to run a series of
iterations to test route alternatives. With
all disciplines working on the same
federated model, design conflicts are
more readily seen and resolved earlier
in the process, and, during the
construction phases, office-to-field
collaboration is immeasurably
improved.
DELIVERABLES
Deliverables can range from traditional
sets of drawings to animations and
digital construction models, and can
even be used for automated machine
control and field positioning systems,
including excavation, grading, piling
and paving. Plan generation is
dynamically updated - it's no longer a
separate process - and views are
saved with specific display rules and
sheet indexes embedded, making it
easy to navigate between the model
and the drawings.
And, as we have also seen with
OpenRoads ConceptStation, the
software integrates directly with Bentley
LumenRT to produce cinematic quality
visualisations, adding vegetation,
climate and time display and traffic
simulation using VISSIM. Designs
created using OpenRoads Designer
can be checked for BIM status using
OpenRoads Navigator, which facilitates
the visualisation and review of 3D
designs as well as their status, giving
dispersed teams the ability to check
progress approvals and other issues.
CONCLUSION
We would be hard-pressed to point to
any element of the whole design and
construction process that was missing
or could be improved upon in
OpenRoads Designer, but as we have
seen in the past Bentley will no doubt
find a way to scale beyond even our
wildest expectations in time.
www.bentley.com/openroads
March/April 2017 11