What's new in StormCAD V8i SELECTseries 5?

 

  Applies To 
  Product(s): Bentley StormCAD
  Version(s): V8i SELECTseries 5 (08.11.05.58)
  Original Author: Terry Foster, Bentley Technical Support Group

 

Overview

The SELECTseries 5 release of StormCAD includes many new features and improvements. Let's explore each of these in detail.

- Support for Newer Platforms and Operating Systems
- Integration with Bentley OpenRoads
- Support for opening .DGN files
- Taps and Laterals
          - Batch assign taps to links tool
          - Show Tap Locations in Profile View
- MicroDrainage Import
- Visual changes to Flex Tables
- HEC-22 3rd Edition Improvements
- New Ribbon in AutoCAD Interface
- Batch Morph Tool
- Show Terrain Model in Profile View
- Improved Display of Elevated Pipes in Profile
- Design Solver Improvements
          - on grade spread check
          - consider cover over length of conduit (using active terrain model)
- Bentley Map Data Source in ModelBuilder
- Rational Method Frequency Factor
- GIS Style Symbology in MicroStation
- Merged/integrated StormCAD for UK
- Communities Search
- RSS Feeds in StormCAD Standalone 

Support for Newer Platforms and Operating Systems

StormCAD now supports the following:

  • Windows 7 SP1 (32 bit/64 bit)**
  • Windows Vista SP2 (32 bit/64 bit)**
  • Windows 8, 8.1 (32 bit/64 bit)**
  • MicroStation V8i SELECTseries 3 (build 08.11.09.xx)
  • AutoCAD 2014, 2015 and 2016 (32 bit/64 bit)*
  • ProjectWise V8 XM Edition or later

* StormCAD V8i for AutoCAD license required.

** Note:  Windows XP is not supported for StormCAD SELECTseries 5.

Integration with Bentley OpenRoads

StormCAD design and analysis functionality has been added to the Subsurface Utility Design and Analysis (SUDA) technology which is a part of OpenRoads products (starting with the SELECTseries 4 release). This can be thought of as another platform, “StormCAD for OpenRoads”, but with tighter integration.

Functionality highlights include:

  • 3D physical modeling of storm/sewer networks along with the design and analysis functionality of StormCAD.
  • 3D models can be driven by hydraulic design constraints such as minimum and maximum slopes, velocity, cover and pipe sizes. Change are reflected in the 3D model.
  • Hydraulic elements can be laid out by taking reference of elevations of other utilities like road, drainage etc.
  • Available Hydraulics and Hydrology (StormCAD) functionality includes:
    • Scenarios, alternatives, hydraulic designs, numerical solvers, graphs, profiles
    • Tools like: ModelBuilder (importing external data), Terrain Extractor (populate ground elevations automatically)
    • Globally respected hydraulic design methodologies meeting requirements of HEC-22 3rd edition, TR-55 and others.
    • New Lateral element type (see details further below) for more accurate representation of lateral or service connections in a physical model in SUDA. Laterals connect directly to a pipe via a Tap connection.
    • Import and create a hydraulic and 3D physical model from a variety of file types: the below formats (available options depend on active license)
      • .stsw / .stsw.sqlite (existing StormCAD, SewerCAD, SewerGEMS of CivilStorm model)
      • EPA SWMM
      • Landxml
      • Micro Drainage
      • Bentley InRoads
      • Spreadsheet, database, shapefile, DXF (using Modelbuilder)
  • The standalone versions of StormCAD, CivilStorm, SewerCAD and SewerGEMS can access the hydraulic models inside of DGN files created by Subsurface Utility Design and Analysis.
  • The addition of our Subsurface Utility Engineering product adds conflict resolution (clash detection) of buried utilities.

Support for opening a .DGN file

A .DGN file can be opened from the File menu. Go to File > Open and browse to where the DGN file is located. In the File Name dialog box type in * followed by hitting the enter key. This will reveal the .DGN file.

Taps and Laterals

Two new element types have been added to StormCAD V8i SS5: Taps (a node that associates with a conduit) and Laterals (a link element that connects to the tap.) The lateral link connects to the other model links via a "Tap" node.  The tap nodes do not split existing links (unless you choose to), so existing numbering conventions are not affected. The lateral cannot be profiled and the StormCAD (GVF-Rational) solver does not do any hydraulic calculations in the lateral pipe.

The primary use of the Tap and Lateral element are road and site design engineers and OpenRoads users (see above) because this level of detail is more significant when working with a physical model. For example an OpenRoads user (starting with the SS4 release as mentioned above) might need to use the Subsurface Utilities Engineering (SUE) clash detection tool, in which case the exact location of the lateral and tap is important. Since this is the primary intent of the tap and lateral feature, it is not recommended to use this in very large models, where Modelbuilder would be required to import a large number of taps and laterals.  

Batch Assign Taps to Links tool

This tool is located in the Tools menu and allows you to automatically assign tap nodes to the nearest link (conduit). This is useful in cases where for example the taps and laterals were imported through Modelbuilder, where you may otherwise need to manually assign the associated conduit one by one. 

   

Tap Locations In Profile View

You can now view taps (lateral connection points) in a profile.  They are shown as a circle on the profile.  You cannot view the lateral link itself in a profile.

Note: the Tap element includes options for where it connects to the conduit (invert to center or invert to soffit). 

MicroDrainage Import

In StormCAD, you can now import and export MicroDrainage files, via File > Import > MicroDrainage and File > Export > MicroDrainage.  This will create a new project.  The files types that can be imported are .sws, .ews, and .fws.

Visual Changes to Flex Tables

Some visual changes have been made to the flex tables.  Check boxes are now shadowed.  The text in boxes is spaced a little more and is much easier to read.

If you would like to select a column to copy and paste it, you will need to right-click on the column heading > click on the copy button > go to where you want to copy the column and click on the paste button.

 

Improvements to HEC-22 3rd Edition Calculations

Improvements have been made to the GVF-Rational and GVF-Convex solvers regarding junction losses and near-plunging conditions.

New Ribbon in AutoCAD Interface

We have added a new ribbon when you are working in the AutoCAD interface.  With this ribbon in place, it will save you time finding the commands.

Batch Morph

The Batch Morph tool is now available in StormCAD.  This tool is great to use if you need to change several or all manholes (for example) to catch basins or another element.  You can do all of them, a selection set or a group of them faster than morphing them one by one.

Terrain Model in Profile View

You can now view the terrain ground line (from an active terrain model) on profiles. 

Improved Display of Elevated Pipes in Profile


The profile view of a pipe that is above the ground elevation has been improved.


Design Solver Improvements

In the Default Design Constraints, the Maximum Spread constraint now applies to both on grade and in sag inlets. Previously this was limited to in-sag inlets. This is the maximum allowed spread of water at the inlet measured from the curb.  StormCAD will adjust the length of the inlet in order to meet the constraint.

 


If you have an active Terrain Model, ground elevations from that model may be used during a Design run to consider cover along the pipe's length.  If you want to use this option check "Consider Cover Along Pipe Length?" as shown below.

 

Bentley Map Data Source in ModelBuilder

Bentley Map is now available as a data source type in ModelBuilder. You must be running StormCAD within MicroStation with Bentley Map activated in order to see this option in ModelBuilder.  You will select to import or export any available data sets that are saved in the currently open Bentley Map file.

 

Rational Method Frequency Factor

The frequency factor has been added to the Rational Method. To aid in the pairing of larger storm events with the Rational Method or Modified Rational Method, one option is to utilize the calculation options available for employing Frequency Factors.

 With the use of a Frequency Factor term the Rational Method effectively becomes:

Q=C'iA

Q = Rational Flow

C' = Runoff Coefficient (Adjusted)

i = Intensity

A = Drainage Area

C'=CfC

Cf = Frequency Factor corresponding to the storm's Return Period (T)

C = Runoff Coefficient (Unadjusted)  

You can enable use of frequency option through the calculation options. 

GIS style Symbology in Microstation

GIS style Symbology (also known as zoom independent visibility) is now available to control drawing characteristics in element Symbology with the Microstation platform. Previously this was only available for Standalone version.

When using this, if you annotate any element with any field, you will be able to see that value even if you zoom in & out in the GIS style.

Merged/integrated StormCAD for UK

There is no longer a separate build of StormCAD for the UK.  The code has been incorporated into StormCADSELECTseries 5.  This includes UK design storms, Modified Rational Method (UK), Wallingford Time of Concentration and UK inlet calculations.

When a UK user goes in to create a Storm and uses the UK Standard definition type, they will need to select a location: England and Wales or Scotland and Northern Ireland.  They will need to enter "R:" which is the rainfall depth value, and "M5-60" which is the expected depth of rainfall in millimetres (mm) from a storm lasting 60 minutes with a return period of 5 years.

For the time of concentration in a catchment, a UK user can select a Tc Input Type of Composite Tc and on the Tc Data Selection select Wallingford (UK).  The hydraulic length and slope fields must be filled in.  They can also use a User Defined Tc.

When exporting to MicroDrainage the label of the exported conduit is based on the UK dendritic numbering mechanism of the branch pipe.

 

Communities Search

Information available on Communities about some tools like Modelbuilder, Scenarios, Default Design Constrains can be accessed from the tool itself. Which will open up the topic related information on communities

Please see here for more details about using Communities. 

RSS Feeds in StormCAD Standalone

Once you have been on the Bentley Communities website and created an account, you can sign up for RSS Feeds.  On Communities.Bentley.com, log in, then scroll down to the bottom and you will see, under Social Media, RSS Feed.

 

Once you have signed up for the RSS Feed and chosen the subjects for your feed, when in StormCAD, you can go to Help > RSS Feeds to see a list of the wikis and/or forums on your feed.  Note:  You must have created a new project or have an existing project open in order to do this.

After you select RSS Feed a box will open with your feeds.  You can do a search by typing a search term in the search bar, or you can do a filter by clicking on the filter button.  If you click on the settings button in the upper right corner, a dialog box will pop up.  Here you can select a product's feed.


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