Applies To
	Product(s):	Bentley StormCAD
	Version(s):	V8i SELECTseries 3 (08.11.03.77)
	Environment:	N/A
	Area:	N/A
	Subarea:	N/A
	Original Author:	Mark Pachlhofer, Bentley Technical Support Group

 

 

Overview

The SELECTseries 3 release of StormCAD includes many new features and improvements. Let's explore each of these in detail.

- Support for Newer Platforms and Operating Systems
- Unified schema and one common data file format
- Keyword search in property grid
- More user control in DXF export
- i-model publishing
- Bentley DTM support in TRex
- New Compute Center
- Enhanced element type support including pond and pumps
- Enhanced gutter support
- Support for Cross Section Catalog referencing
- HEC-22 3rd Edition headloss
- Improved Model Management
- "Depressed Gutter?" property in the gutter element

Please see this link for a video presentation on What’s New with SewerGEMS SELECTseries 3 and other Storm and Sanitary products.

Support for Newer Platforms and Operating Systems

StormCAD now supports the following:

• Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit)unified
• AutoCAD 2012 and 2013 (32-bit and 64-bit)
• MicroStation V8i SELECTseries 3 (build 08.11.09.xx) and SELECTseries 2 (build 08.11.07.xx)
• ProjectWise V8i (build 08.11.09.xx and 08.11.07.xx)

In addition, StormCAD now offers support for interoperability with the latest releases of InRoads, GeoPAK, LandXML, and Bentley MX Drainage

Note that in order to integate with 64-bit versions of AutoCAD 2012 and 2013, StormCAD will need to be installed as a 64-bit application as well. As with the previous release of SewerGEMS this requires the either the 64-bit version of Microsoft Office be installed or no instance of Microsoft Office installed. MicroStation and ArcGIS are strictly 32-bit applications and do not require this for the integration to complete.

Unified Schema and One Common Data File Format

StormCAD now uses the file extension “.stsw” for new projects, and will automatically convert existing projects saved in earlier versions of StormCAD that had used the old file extension (.stc).

In addition to StormCAD projects, users now have the ability to open other Bentley storm and sewer (CivilStom, SewerCAD, SewerGEMS) projects within StormCAD and save them in one common data file format.

 

Keywork Search in Property Grid

Users can find the property they want quickly in the property grid using keyword search. To use this function, open the property grid for any element, by either double-clicking on the element or going to View > Properties. The new Property Search field is above the list of element properties. Simply start typing the word you are searching for and the property grid will dynamically filter to show any property field name that contains the phrase entered.

Recent searches are stored in the drop down selection. The search term is maintained even when selecting a different element or element type. To clear the selection, click the Clear button beside the drop down.

More user control in DXF export

StormCAD now offers more control over layer/level assignment during DXF export. When you use the Export command, you first specify the drive, directory, and file name of the DXF file to be saved. Then the Export to DXF Layer Settings window opens, allowing you specify the names of the DXF layers on a per-element type basis.

The Export to DXF Layer Settings dialog is divided into tabs for Link Layers, Node Layers, and Polygon Layers.

 

Each tab contains a table that allows you to specify a prefix and suffix for the associated DXF layer. The Preview field displays how the label will appear.

Note that specifying a prefix or suffix also creates new layers for each prefix/suffix. If no prefix or suffix is specified all links, nodes, and polygons will be exported to the same DXF layer.

The Link Layers tab has additional controls: Entering a value in the Pipe Size Significant Digits field allows you to organize the pipe layer into multiple layers taking the pipe sizes into account using the Layer by Pipe Size checkbox.

i-model publishing

With the SELECTseries 3 release of StormCAD V8i, you can now publish an i-model. An i-model is an immutable container for rich multi-discipline information published from known sources in a known state at a known time. Basically it is a portable, read-only copy of a model file that can be viewed by users that do not have StormCAD. The topology as well as the attributes and results (for a particular timestep) can be viewed in MicroStation, ProjectWise Navigator, and Bentley View. Since Bentley View is free, i-models provide a way for anyone to easily view data and results for a StormCAD model file.

Under File > Export, you will have a "Publish i-model" option, which requires the i-model publishing engine (downloadable from Bentley SELECTservices). The i-model publishing engine shows as a prerequisite on the download page for StormCAD, but is only necessary if you intend to publish i-models. If you have no need to publish i-models, you do not need to download and install this optional component.

Bentley DTM support in TRex

In addition to previously supported file formats, the TRex tool in StormCAD now supports the Bentley DTM file format. This is available through the Data Source Type pulldown.

 

New Compute Center 

Users can now perform all actions related to model runs through one common location using the Compute Center. This streamlines the process modeling process of changing frequently used calculation options properties, including creating new calculation options. These functions are still available in the Calculations Options properties though.

  

The Compute Center is docked to the lower left of the drawing pane by default, and is accessible through the Analysis pulldown.

Enhanced element type support including ponds and pumps

Elements that were previously unavailable from the other Storm and Sewer programs are now supported for the GVF Rational solver. Pumps are now supported as ideal flow pumps, meaning that flow in will equal flow out and the pump curve is not used in the calculations. Ponds with no control structure will be treated as a junction where flow in will equal flow out. For ponds with control structures the flow out of the pond is determined by the specified pond initial elevation and the hydraulic calculations for the outlet control structure determine the pond outflow. Once the pond outflow is determined it becomes a fixed flow (system additional flow) and all other fixed and rational flow elements are terminated at the pond outlet. The new fixed outlet flow is carried on downstream.     

All the other storm and sewer numerical solvers, including StormCAD, have the ability to handle all element types, gravity as well as pressure. Note that some limitations apply to certain elements in certain solvers.

Enhanced gutter support

StormCAD now supports new gutter shapes (v-shaped and parabolic gutters) in addition to the gutter shapes previously supported.

Also a Gutter Catalog is now available, accessible through the Components pulldown, or in the gutter property field “Catalog Gutter.” This allows for commonly used gutter types to be stored in the Engineering Library, and made available for gutters that may be in other models, similar to the Conduit Catalog. When a gutter from the Gutter Catalog is used, the properties in the catalog entry are used in the model calculations.

Support for Cross Section Catalog referencing

A Cross Section Catalog is now available for use in setting up channel data through the Cross Section property grid. The Conduit Catalog is used for this. Users can assign a catalog cross-section by picking a trapezoidal channel or irregular channel type in the Conduit Catalog. The Conduit Catalog is accessible through either Components pulldown or by clicking the <Edit Conduit Catalog>  option in the pull down area of the "Catalog Cross Section.” property. This property is only available if the "Cross Section Type" property is set to 'Catalog Cross Section'

HEC-22 3rd Edition headloss

Node headloss calculations in accordance with HEC-22 3rd Edition are now available in SewerGEMS. To use the third edition calculations, select it from the "Headloss Method" type field in the Physical(Structure Losses) area of the element properties. Note that the second edition standard is still available.

Improved Model Management

StormCAD offers more flexibility to users in connecting different element types for more ease in laying out a model and morphing of one element type into another.

User notifications have been improved to allow so that modeling errors can be found more quickly and efficiently

Also, StormCAD offers a new category of common graph properties for each element type to enable the user to quickly find and use the most commonly graphed properties.

Flextable field display now has handling for multiple solvers, as not all fields are used for all solvers. Users can now choose to display fields specific to the active numerical solver (default setting) or all fields available in the product.

StormCAD now handles conflicts in controls better, with improvements to model validation and user notifications.

StormCAD now allows users to generate profiles for virtual links and diversions.

What is the difference between the "Depressed Gutter?" property in the gutter vs. catch basin elements?

There is now a boolean property in the gutter element for "Depressed Gutter?". You might notice that this property is also present in the catch basin properties under the physical section too. When the property is set to "True" in either element the 'Gutter Cross Slope' and 'Gutter Width' fields are exposed.

The difference between these is in gutter element itself these fields define the gutter shape up to the inlet. In the inlet element these fields define the gutter shape just on upstream side of the inlet opening where the spread is highest. The property is included in the inlet because it's possible the gutter changes slope or shape slighty right before the inlet.  

See Also

What's new in SewerCAD V8i SELECTseries 2?

What's new in SewerGEMS V8i SELECTseries 3?

Product TechNotes and FAQs

OpenFlows Product Tech Notes And FAQs

 

External Links

Bentley LEARN Server