What's New?

What is New Bentley OpenSite Designer CONNECT Edition

This section provides a list of new features in Bentley OpenSite, OpenRoads, and OpenRail Designer CONNECT Edition products, also referred to OpenX Designer products. Features that are only available in specific products are appropriately noted as such.

The following summarizes the new features and enhancements in this 2021 Release 2.

General Enhancements

Update of Power Platform to Edition (V10.16.02.34).
Subscription Entitlement Service (formerly CONNECT Licensing) is utilized. For more information: Subscription Entitlement Service .
This version uses OpenFlows SewerGEMS version 10.03.03.44. More information here: What's New in SewerGEMS, CivilStorm, StormCAD, SewerCAD, and SewerOPS CONNECT Edition Update 3 (version 10.03.04.53) - OpenFlows | Hydraulics and Hydrology Wiki - OpenFlows | Hydraulics and Hydrology - Bentley Communities
Includes Bentley LumenRT Designer CONNECT Edition Update 14.
Includes Bentley Descartes CONNECT Edition (V10.16.02.34).
Update of gINT Civil Tools CONNECT Edition (V10.07.01.83).
Support for following ProjectWise Connect Edition (V10.00.03.453).
Includes Bentley Generative Components CONNECT Edition (V10.16.02.34).
Continued support for side-by-side installations of major versions. 2021 Release 2 can be installed side-by-side with previous major versions such as 2020 Release 3 (10.09.00.91). The second set of digits in the product version number indicates the major version number. A 10.09 and 10.10 product can be installed side-by-side, but two 10.10 products cannot be installed side-by-side.
Added ability to export corridor data to IFC4x3 (Release Candidate 4).
Added the Civil File Manager tool to the backstage so it can be run directly from the software.
Added a new tool to temporarily load a dgn or dgnlib into the active WorkSpace.
Added a new Feature Definition Properties Viewer (technology preview) that shows the Feature Definition, Feature Symbology and Element Template properties in a single view.
Added a new Civil Feature Re-mapper tool to update the contents of an IRD or ITL file from one standard to another such as when upgrading project data from SS2/SS10 to OpenRoads Designer.
For workspace changes please see \Configuration\Organization-Civil\Workspace Updates - 2021 Release 2.pdf included with the delivered workspace.

Survey Enhancements

Geometry Enhancements

Enhanced the import of GENIO files by improving performance and allowing an import graphics only mode.
Enhanced the Station Offset and Station Base Reports to allow for reporting directly on 3D linear elements and survey features (without having to convert them to geometry elements).
Boolean CFG variable (CIVIL_RULES_PREFER_SPIRALPARAMETER=1) can be used to control what definition the user prefers the spirals to be stored and when making edits using tools "Table Editor", "Geometry Builder Edit" and "Geometry Connector".

Terrain Enhancements

Modeling Enhancements

Enhanced performance for Quantities by Named Boundaries, Mass Haul, Export to IFC and End Area volume tools by multi-threading the process when boundary option is used.
Mesh Feature Definitions that have a volume option of custom have an additional option to display/create Both or Remove Only.
Performance is enhanced in querying models/elements for Create Point Control, Target Alias, and the Corridor Object.

Drawing Production and Annotation Enhancements

Enhanced alignment and profile annotations so that when text is moved to a new position it will remain in that position when the annotations are updated. Previously the text would snap back to its default position.
Plan and Profile annotations in a drawing model that uses component middle as the location will automatically be duplicated on each sheet.
Annotate Elements tool allows the selection to include element in reference files when the "All Elements in Model" option is enabled.
Enhanced End Area Volume annotation to be placed via grid annotation. This removed the limitation that End Area Volume annotations were only on a single corridor. The Example workspace exhibits this new capability.
Text Fields have been added allowing for both the Arc Radial direction and Arc Tangent direction at start/stop of horizontal curves to be labeled.
Text Field for Equivalent R Vertical Curve Parameter value has been added. EqvRvalue= 100*K.
Rotation for point annotation has a property to be set to Relative to Point.

Drainage and Utilities Enhancements

Drainage and Utilities elements have been enhanced to improve performance and make annotation easier, particularly when working across references. Common properties such as shape, number of barrels, flow, capacity, and more are now stored on the graphical elements, which will decrease the time taken to load files with referenced databases, particularly in a ProjectWise environment. Item Types can be used to add other drainage properties. Using these new properties, the drainage databases are no longer required for annotation, or for sharing information with other designers. To utilize this new capability, drainage Text Favorites in all workspaces need to be updated to point to the new element properties instead of the database properties. Optional - The existing method of extracting drainage databases across reference files can still be used in this release by setting the configuration variable CIVIL_SUBSURFACE_LOAD_REFERENCES = 1. However, this is not recommended, particularly in a ProjectWise environment. Bentley recommends migrating all workspaces and projects to the new element-based properties as soon as practical. The ability to extract drainage databases across references will be deprecated in a future version.
If you open a design file that contains elements in the graphics that are not in the databases, you are now asked if you want to preserve the graphics, where previously they would have been removed. This preserves the graphical data, so that it can be used for plotting, or as a reference when placing new elements.
The ability to set minimum and maximum depths of cover on a node is now available. This enhancement makes it possible to set depths of cover on a node, to complement the existing functionality for depths of cover on a conduit. Some design standards state a minimum depth of cover on a node, to accommodate precast sections for example. If set, then when a Gradually Varied Flow scenario which is set to design the system is computed, elevations will be calculated that honor both design constraints. If the constraints differ - such as the conduit having a minimum cover that is less than the minimum cover for a node, then the lower of the two elevations is used.
Catchment Delineation now works when a manually delineated catchment is connected to the inlet and honors its area if the two overlap. This means that you can manually delineate an area, for example to model runoff from existing ground, and also automatically delineate an area, for example to model road runoff, and connect them both to the same inlet.
New functionality has been added to update multiple delineated catchments. This uses a selection set of inlets and will update any catchments that have been automatically delineated. This offers a more efficient workflow than updating automatically delineated areas quickly when you're not sure which areas need to be updated, because you can select all of the inlets and update their catchments in one go.
The ability to apportion catchment runoff to gutters that flow to a sump inlet. This enhancement lets you state that if a catchment is connected to a sump inlet, which has two gutters connected to it, then the flow from the catchment should be apportioned between the gutters, as opposed to the same flow being assigned to both gutters.
The Critical Storm Analysis wizard now caters for cross section and transition nodes, which makes it applicable to models that include ditches for example.
The position of start and stop control structures in conduits has been adjusted, so that they are now next to the start or stop node in the profile model, when the SWMM solver is used (previously they were in the middle of the conduit). This means that the Hydraulic Grade Line better reflects reality in an unsteady-state analysis, because the control structure is located correctly.
When the ILSAX runoff method is used, the catchment properties now show the coefficients that are used in the loss model when a predefined SOIL and AMC value are used.
Only one Drainage and Utilities project can now be created in a design file. Existing design files that have more than one project can still be opened.

Item Types Enhancements

Item Type Last Valid Values are automatically updated on all civil elements. Previously some Last Valid Values could be out of date. Item Type expressions are constantly evaluated and kept the data up to date. Last Valid Values are used to display a value when an expression cannot be evaluated such as when a civil file is opened in MicroStation. When MicroStation is not able to evaluate an expression, it will display the Last Valid Value instead of a blank.

The following summarizes the new features and enhancements in 2020 Release 3.

General

Update of Power Platform to Edition (V10.14.04.04), Bentley Descartes CONNECT Edition (V10.14.04.04) and Bentley GenerativeComponents CONNECT Edition (V10.14.04.04).
Includes OpenFlows SewerGEMS version 10.03.01.08. For additional information refer to: OpenFlows: What's New.
Includes Bentley LumenRT Designer CONNECT Edition Update 14.
Update of gINT Civil Tools CONNECT Edition (V10.07.01.03).
Support for following ProjectWise Connect Edition (V10.00.03.334) and (V10.00.03.4xx).
MicroStation task navigation interface capability has been added to UI allowing to switch from Ribbon to task-based navigations. Task navigation is for legacy support of MicroStation tools and does not include support for OpenX Connect Edition tools.
iTwin Synchronizer & iTwin Design Review has been added.
Visualization Content is included as optional feature in the installer.
MicroStation based clash detection tool is included under Drawing>Analyze, note this is only available when in a 3D model.
Siteops Desktop application is included with the OpenSite Designer installer.
Downgrade Civil Model tool on the backstage allows the ability downgrade OpenX DGN files to a previous version or as a plain MicroStation DGN. (OpenX-Technology Preview)
Civil File Manager has replaced Version Checker. Civil File Manager allows for variety of file management of OpenX Designer DGN files. This application is located at: C:\Program Files\Bentley\OpenX Designer CONNECT Edition\OpenRoadsDesigner\CivilFileManager.exe.
Added the ability to report station and offset of Item Types on 3D elements such as meshes.
Update standards tool supports updates from the item type library.
Dynamic Plan view allows to navigate along an alignment and automatically rotate view normal to current station and exaggerate in X and Y axis.
Icons have been updated for the Activate and Deactivate rules.
All rail spiral types are supported when exporting to DWG format.

Survey

A configuration variable has been added that defines the path where images files are located for survey data processing, CIVIL_SURVEY_PHOTOS_FOLDER.

Geometry

Added the capability to define feature definition(s) to geometry during import.
Reporting for tangent direction now indicates if it is the Forward (Ahead) or Backwards (Back) tangent.
Rail Parameters have been added to Design File Settings.
Regression line is now also used as slew line, reducing the clutter in the plan view.
Fixed and information regression point types are added.

Terrain

Import Topo tool allows the creation of terrain model from ESRI, USGS, and SRTM. Importing from ESRI service requires an ESRI account. (OpenX-Technology Preview)

Modeling

Copy Template tool has been enhanced to allow copying Corridor templates from one corridor to another.
Added ability to calculate multiple substratum layers with earthwork quantification with the Create Cut Fill Tool.
Template Library file (*.itl) now prompts user for checkout from ProjectWise if available. If the file is already checked out, one can enter the template library and perform a Save As.
Properties and quick properties display the Volume Option of a mesh for quick identification.
Corridor Modeling tools that require a corridor to be selected now allows the picking of the corridor in the 3D model by selecting a corridors mesh or 3d linear geometry.
The corridor Clipping Reference object now identifies if the clip is 2D or 3D clip.
Create Closed Mesh tool allows the creation of a mesh from corridors, linear templates, terrain models, and meshes.
Feature Definitions with a Custom Volume option can specify if Fill is or is not included in the Mass Ordinate.
Corridors processed in 2020 Release 3 include metadata on mesh and 3D linear graphics. This metadata is used for increase performance for a variety of tools including the Cross Section Grade Report and Cross Section annotations.
A key-in for Process All has been added, GEOMETRY PROCESSALLOBJECTS.
Cant dialog is simplified, additional parameters are added to Design File Settings. (OpenRail)

Drawing Production and Annotation

Named boundary and sheet creation tools support selection sets for bulk creation of plans, profiles and cross sections on multiple geometries.
Ability to name Saved Views, Named Boundaries, and Sheet Models has been added.
Vertical change in Plan annotations are now supported.
Cross Section Grade Report has enhanced filtering abilities and optimized performance.
Ability to automatically trim profile vertical grid lines by the existing ground line has been added.
Survey chains can be annotated on cross section sheets.
Ability to label elevation along a plan view element with a profile at an even interval.
Cross Section sheets can be cut looking down station, "backwards facing".
The key-in PLACELABEL TOOL OPEN has been added for Place Label tool.
Added the ability to annotate Rail cant in plan. (OpenRail)
Additional rotation options are added to turnout annotation, for cell-based representation of turnouts. (OpenRail)
New plan cant annotation definitions are added. (OpenRail) New vertical change in plan annotation definitions are added.
New cab definitions are added to 3D Drive Through tool

Drainage and Utilities

A new Critical Storm Analysis Wizard gives the ability to easily run a number of storm events on a system, and identifies the worst-case storm for every conduit or node - without having to create the scenarios first. This makes it much easier to test a system that has been designed using the Rational method.
A series of nodes can now be placed at an interval along a linear element.
Place Node now lets you state that the elevation reference is for the node invert, instead of the cover or ground. This is useful when placing endwalls in a ditch.
Place Node now lets you extract an irregular cross section from the elevation reference.
Place Node now lets you place a tap node in a conduit.
Added the OpenFlows batch pipe split functionality, that automatically inserts nodes in conduits if they are within an offset tolerance.
An option has been added to list all conduits that are missing a start or stop node.
Properties that have civil rules are now displayed in Utility Properties as read only.
Properties for the largest and smallest conduits connected to a drainage node have been added.
The ability to only draw "whole" conduits on profile sheet has been added. This will force the subsequent conduit to be placed on the next profile sheet.
The profile manipulator for conduit slope can now display the OpenFlows value, if this is selected in Design File Settings.
The road cross slope for a catch basin can now be read from a terrain model.
Added support for UK Flood Estimation Handbook 2013 Rainfall Data.
Loading of reference files containing drainage and utilities database occurs automatically when the active file also contains a database. This will allow the exposure of reference drainage and utilities properties and the ability to annotate them across reference files.
ModelBuilder now supports the Node Rotation property when importing and exporting data. This has caused a change to the way that the Node Rotation value is set. If you have existing design files containing nodes that use a relative rotation, the value needs to be reset before you compute the hydraulics and hydrology. To do this, select each node, and use its manipulator to change the value - either very slightly, or change it, then change it back.