Visualize

Visualize Exporter

The Visualize Exporter will take the contents of the design project and create an optimized LumenRT scene that will automatically be opened in an instance of the latest installed LumenRT product on the user's machine. The design project can be "re-exported" to the same LumenRT scene where objects and animations that came from ConceptStation will be replaced. LumenRT-only placed content such as trees are preserved as long as the *.lrt file is not deleted.

If an instance of LumenRT is already running, the exporter will warn the user to save and close all instances of LumenRT. This is to prevent data loss, as the *.lrt files are not locked. The LumenRT product needs to be installed for ConceptStation to create an *.lrt file.

Filesystem Folder Paths

The latest LumenRT installation is determined based on the presence of registry files (*.reg) in the C:/ProgramData/e-onsoftware/ folder. For example, LumenRT 2016.reg. The registry file contains all the paths that the visualize exporter uses to write out data, reference LumenRT content, and launch the LumenRT product. Notable file paths are:

LumenRT Content Library. This path is configurable during the LumenRT installation process. If a content library is not installed, animations from ConceptStation will not export.
LumenRT Documents. This is where the *.lrt scene files are written to. By default, on Windows, this path is C:/Users/<your_user_name>/Documents/Bentley/Bentley LumenRT CONNECT Edition/. The *.lrt file is saved under the Scenes folder.

Exported Features

The following types of objects can be exported from ConceptStation to be Visualized in LumenRT:

Elements
All 3D geometry in the project and their materials/textures will be exported. This includes any geometry that was imported from external sources (such as MicroStation). 2D geometry and non-mesh geometry (e.g. lines) are not exported.

Note: Elements exported will show up in the LumenRT object browser as shown below.
Categories
Used categories are exported as layers in LumenRT. All objects that were on a category in ConceptStation will be on the corresponding layer in LumenRT. Layer visibility can be toggled on/off and objects can be color coded. Each terrain will be on its own layer. An example of usage is below where the road layer is color coded to yellow.

Note: If a layer is toggled invisible, any terrain clipping will remain (the holes will not be filled like in ConceptStation).
Scalable Mesh Terrains
All terrains are exported as references in the *.lrt file. Clip files (_clips and _clipDefinitions) are copied into the Scenes folder and sit alongside the *.lrt file. The *.3sm terrain file is not copied. This means any further edits to elements that clip the terrain in ConceptStation will not impact the exported LumenRT scene until the user re-exports.

Note: When creating a livecube in LumenRT, be sure to copy the clip files and the 3SM file to sit alongside the livecube. LumenRT first searches the original locations, then in the same folder as the livecube executable.
Lights
Lights from placed furniture (e.g. lamp posts), tunnels, etc will be exported as LumenRT lights. All lights are grouped together under a name based on the scene name (e.g. "<scene_name>-Lights"). The entire light group can be edited at once, such as disabling all lights or changing the overall power percentage. Individual lights can also be selected and modified through the LumenRT selection tools.
Animations
ConceptStation will export two types of animations to LumenRT:
- VISSIM animations, if *.an.txt attached as an externally referenced model.
- Train animations, if the backstage setting is enabled.
These animations are relatively non-modifiable in LumenRT. The animated objects can be selected and sound effects can be added to the objects, but the animation paths cannot be modified. If the LumenRT content library is not installed, animations will not export, since animated objects are determined by what content is available.

Note: Train animations have changed slightly in behavior compared to past ConceptStation versions. Previously they were animated objects that the user could select and edit the path. Due to constraints with exporting to a separate LumenRT product, they behave exactly like VISSIM animations.
Geolocation
The created *.lrt file will be geolocated based on the GCS of the ConceptStation design project. Additionally, the current date is saved to LumenRT. These settings help control the location of the sun in the scene, and can be overridden by the user once in LumenRT.
Camera Settings
During first-time export, if the perspective camera is turned on, the view in LumenRT will closely resemble what is currently viewed in ConceptStation. If the orthographic view is active, an approximate perspective camera is computed.