Overview

This is the guide in terms of drainage and utilities for the users who are transitioning from Power GeoPak, Power InRoads to OpenRoads Designer Connect Edition. There are many queries in terms of hydraulic calculations when one transitions to a different software.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between power inroads SS4 vs Inroads suite SS4 in regards to storm and sanitary design?

• You can use Power InRoads for drainage design because Power InRoads and InRoads Suite have the same functionalities. The biggest difference between them is Power InRoads is not a layered application like InRoads, so MicroStation is not needed to run because the MicroStation environment is built into it.

2. We have a project that is starting in OpenRoads but some of the preliminary drainage design was already completed using InRoads Storm & Sanitary. Are the files and databases created using InRoads Storm & Sanitary translatable to OpenRoads? Or do I need to use the Subsurface Utilities toolbars to recreate my drainage networks and design in OpenRoads?

• You should be able to import sdb files in drainage and utilities
• Opening an InRoads Storm and Sanitary drainage database in Storm/Sewer products 
• Import InRoads ALG into OpenRoads (SS4)

3. Is there any way to generate drainage databases without having to create them manually? Meaning, can I import survey values from a text file or another file type and have them automatically generate an sdb. file with manholes and sewers at the correct northing/easting, elevation, inverts, etc? Essentially, is there any way to get around having to manually place each manhole/pipe yourself and enter the values one by one? Working with large amounts of survey information and areas, this can be very tedious and time consuming.

• Take a look at using ModelBuilder in StormCAD or SUDA to build the model from a datasource (XLS, CSV, etc), then export to an InRoads SDB file from there.

• Using ModelBuilder to Import External Data

4. We had a multi-mile interstate project.  We had multiple drainage engineers working on different sections of the drainage design.  Our client requires a clean hydro.dgn deliverable with all the drainage elements showing and no reference files attached. We were unable to copy the SUDA drainage elements of our test section into the master hydro.dgn file.  I ended up redrawing the SUDA drainage in by hand.  We did the rest of the drainage design in InRoads Storm and Sanitary.  Is there a way in SUDA to have multiple drainage engineers working on design, and then view/show the work in a master hydro.dgn file without having reference files in it? 

• For storm and sanitary drainage data, another way to achieve this is to use Export Submodel in the source DGN, then open the destination DGN and use Import Submodel.
• Combining models with Submodel Import

5. Hec 22 calculations in drainage and utilities, GeoPak
   • Although the curb inlet capture calculations in "drainage and utilities are based upon HEC-22, the HEC-22 standard has many gray areas and is open to interpretation. So, there are many situations where we have made enhancements beyond the basic HEC-22 equations, for a more accurate (or more conservative) result. So Inlet calculations between GeoPak and StormCAD will not always match. 

6. I have defined storms, grates, inlets and conduits which I use with GEOPAK Drainage or InRoads Storm and Sanitary.  Can I import these to StromCAD for OpenRoads to help build my hydraulic seed file?

• Although there is no direct import into StormCAD OpenRoads, you can import these files using the traditional StormCAD for Microstation.  Process is explained below.
• How do I move storm, inlet and conduit catalogs from GEOPAK or InRoads to StormCAD for OpenRoads?

NOTE : There is On-demand Answer Hour session video about activating advanced drainage capabilities in civil product. Which includes understanding StormCAD 100 inlets license within civil products, how to utilize 100 inlets license, how to change license to other available license options like StormCAD unlimited, SewerGEMS, CivilStorm, what is meaning and usage of each particular license and which one you should utilize to match your project requirements all this is covered in this answer hour session. YouTube versions here: Part 1 | Part 2

See Also

Video: Migrating InRoads SS4/SS10 Project Data to OpenRoads Designer

Units in StormCAD for OpenRoads and Subsurface Utility Engineering?

Is the StormCAD 100 inlets limitation per drainage library?

Platform Compatibility Chart – Civil Products – OpenFlows Products 

Answer Hour: Activating Advanced Drainage Capabilities in OpenRoads Designer