iTwin Services Add-in presents itself as an in-product sidebar in participating applications - it connects engineers and designer to collaboration, interoperability and cloud services.
All users have free access to Synchronize to File mode whereas Synchronize to Cloud and associated services are only available to EAP Participants - See Below:
|
Synchronize to Cloud .. and its associated cloud services are only available to EAP Participants |
|
Synchronize to File Formerly known as ISM - remains available to All users |
****** Features listed below relate to Cloud Synchronization and associated cloud services and are only available for participants of EAP******
1. Introduction to iTwin Services
Engineers invest significant time building data rich 3D models for analysis and design. While the level of detail put into these models varies based on project complexity and objectives, they are nonetheless useful beyond a single engineer’s computer. Unfortunately, though, they are often used only for analysis and then discarded, or visited again only when absolutely needed. What if each engineering analysis model you develop could be used for collaboration, review, and exchange during the entire course of the project and beyond? This is the spirit of Bentley iTwins.
Bentley’s Engineering Simulation software products (STAAD, SACS, RAM Structural System and RAM Concept) has integrated with Bentley iTwin Services as exposed in ProjectWise 365 portal via iTwin Services Add-in.
ProjectWise 365 is an instant-on 100% cloud-based solution to keep remote workers securely connected to project data and each other. Bentley’s Engineering Simulation Software products expose ProjectWise 365 features and capabilities via an in-product sidebar (see Figure 3).
This will allow users to do more with the models they build in these applications without any disruption to the way the software is currently used. Further, this value will grow significantly over time. The most visible and immediate change you will notice in the software applications is a new add-in called iTwin Services. This will be presented as an in-product sidebar and common to all Engineering Simulation products that interact with the iTwin. This add-in will ‘house’ all the iTwin-enabled capabilities these applications offer.
Figure 1 - Design Review in the web browser - Internal view of a steel roof structure with members color coded by design utilization ratio.
Figure 2 - Cross section view of Post Tension (PT) profile with measurement tool indicating external cover. Issues (Red Flags) are shown in areas of interest for review by the engineer.
Figure 3 - Sidebar as shown within Bentley's Engineering applications. Users can directly access synchronization to iModels, View iModels in Browser and in-product issues resolution service
Using iTwin Services the Engineer can:
- Create iModels and share it to all project participants to view the 3D model in the browser
- Whilst in the browser, review and query Analytical and Design results such as
- Post Tension (PT) tolerances
- Design utilization ratios including critical design checks
- Member profiles and material properties.
- Leverage Bi-directional change management capabilities*
- Access Issues Resolution Service.
Table 1 - iTwin Services button in Engineering Applications
|
Product |
iTwin Services |
|
STAAD.Pro Physical Modeler | |
|
RAM Structural System | |
|
RAM Concept | |
|
SACs |
Figure 4 - Sidebar user interface legend
A. Toggle between Cloud/File Synchronization mode. File synchronization formerly known as ISM.
B. Push to Cloud allows you to push your application data to an iModel. For an initial Push, a new model would be created on your behalf. For subsequent push, only the changeset would be submitted for consolidation to the iModel
C. Pull from Cloud allows you to pull in changes from your connected iModel. These changes may come from other project participants using a different application.
D. Settings; Displays application specific settings on how the synchronization would take place. Some common settings such as model offsets are standardized across all applications.
E. Design Review. Click on Design Review to view your iModel in the browser. The iModel in the browser will always reflect the latest changeset in its timeline of change.
F. Click on Issues to view the Issues Resolution Panel.
2. Getting Started
iTwin Services exposed in the sidebar makes it easy for Engineers to access ProjectWise 365 features. iTwin Services Add-in comes bundled with your Engineering application. You can update to the latest iTwin Services Add-in via Connection Client. This guide will always reflect the latest update of iTwin Sevices Add-in.
Follow along to Sync your Application data to an iModel and start collaborating with your team and project stakeholders. At the conclusion of this brief tutorial – you will be able to see your model in the browser, view analysis and design summary results, create issues and discussion threads at points of interest and track status of issues within the in-product issues resolution component. Alright, lets get started!
- Have a model in your application of choice handy and click iTwin Services button
within your application (for location of where the iTwin Services button is located in your application see Table 1).
- Once the sidebar is loaded, ensure “cloud” mode is toggled on in the top right corner of the sidebar
.
- Click “Push to Cloud”.
- Follow on screen prompt to authenticate. An external web browser may popup to prompt you to sign in and grant access to web services. You would know that you have successfully authenticated when you see your initials in the top right of the sidebar.
- A Digital Connection is a prerequisite to Push/Pull data with an iModel (your Digital Twin in the cloud), view its Change history access Design Review in the browser and in-product Issues Resolution Component
A Digital Connection links your Application data to a PW365 Project or an iModel, both Projects and iModels can be selected or created (by clicking on ) within the sidebar. Synchronization requires a Digital Conneciton to an iModel whereas issues only require a PW365 Project to be selected.
Once a Project and an iModel is selected. Click confirm to establish Digital Connection.
6. After the Digital Twin Connection is established accept the defaults and click “Sync”.
You can optionally review below list to further modify your synchronization experience.
A – Optionally review synchronization settings. This describes HOW objects are translated into the iModel. (For most cases, Okay to leave as default, these settings differ between desktop applications, below image shows STAAD settings for brevity). For STAAD specifically -To get the most out of Analytical Design Review experience - ensure "Design Results" is checked. Having this settings enabled ensures strength check utilization ratios and other design code check details are available in Design Review (in the browser for the reviewer).
B – Show Change management – Toggling this option on displays iTwin Analytical Synchronizer which compares and displays the “from” model vs “to” model so that you can control the objects and properties to commit to your iModel. This step is optional.
C – For subsequent changesets – you can include a Name so that its easier to track the layers of change as the iModel is updated.
Once the Push is completed – click the “Open in Browser” link to open your iModel containing the latest changeset in the browser. You can also access your iModel in the browser at any time by clicking on Design Review.
Congratulations, you have now have completed your first "Push to Cloud" operation, from here, feel free to explore additional topics below: