Apologies for the slightly basic question but I'm completely new to Bentley and Microstation.
I'm a long-term AutoCAD and shorter-term Revit user and am considering a position at a company that exclusively uses Microstation (for architectural work) and I am concerned about the transition to another new software platform. They have told me they work almost 100% in 2D at the moment but have plans to go 3D in the near future. They've said they've purchased Microstation and another Bentley package which is 3D (and/or BIM). I'm not sure that the company in question fully understands what true BIM is.
I've looked around here and YouTube but can't conclusively work out if Microstation (or the Bentley add-on package) is true BIM or whether it is merely 3D solid modelling without the true (Revit-like) BIM capabilities of genuine parametric modelling, single shared 3D model, intelligent tagging, scheduling, detailing callouts, (basic) quantification, clash detection etc etc.
Would greatly appreciate any help and guidance on this.
Hi,
MicroStation is generic 3D modeling solution, not BIM (industry specific) platform. In Autodesk offer it's on the same position as AutoCAD that is also generic and not BIM solution.
BIM modeling is represented by OpenBuilding Designer. If you want to discuss this product and other Bentley BIM products, I recommend to ask in Building forum.
With regards,
Jan
Bentley Accredited Developer: iTwin Platform - AssociateLabyrinth Technology | dev.notes() | cad.point
Hey fella, nice to see a fellow RevitForum user over here. I'll send you a PM (you'll see an icon in the top right of the web page)
EDIT: actually I'll do it over at RFO as your profile on here is set to not accept PM's
Barry Lothian said:nice to see a fellow RevitForum user over here. I'll send you a PM
Why the secrecy? I'm sure that many of us would like to read a comparison of MicroStation BIM features with other products. Although, as Jan writes, MicroStation isn't designed to be a BIM tool out-of-the-box. Of course, with additional apps. and intelligent use of built-in features it can be extended to meet many requirements.
Regards, Jon Summers LA Solutions
Jon Summers said:Why the secrecy?
No secrecy per se, I just don't conduct private discussions on a public forum and prefer to use the dedicated facility provided by either website for that very purpose.
That said, I can confirm that I advised my own opinion summarised as below:
If I was tasked to undertake 2D drawing or 3D Non-parametric modelling, I wouldn't hesitate to use MicroStation.
However, if I had a BIM project and could use any software available, I wouldn't touch OpenBuildings Designer/AECOsim Building Designer with a barge pole (based upon previous experience) The issues with MicroStation CONNECT I understand have parallels with OBD (mostly from reading Jan's posts where his disappointment is pretty clear) so reading of the multitude of problems just reinforces the decision that for me personally it will always be Revit that I would use for BIM.
Revit is far from perfect (stairs notably are my biggest annoyance), many tasks that are simple in 2D MicroStation require having to create overly complex families (not sure what the Bentley equivalent is, perhaps its just a cell?) for certain objects yet has absolutely no benefit over the 2D option at all but I guess that's a BIM issue applicable to all software packages. However for many things Revit is great and can be a joy to use, is more user friendly and doesn't require configuring or faffing about with Datasets and the like. Most importantly to me, its nothing like AutoCAD at all so the learning process was very simple. As a long-term MicroStation user I find it unfortunate that I prefer the Autodesk option but that is just the way it is.
With that said, I am glad to be currently free from BIM projects and enjoying life back in MicroStation.
Jon Summers said:I'm sure that many of us would like to read a comparison of MicroStation BIM features
I can't provide a comparison as I don't use any BIM features of MicroStation.
Like Jan said MicroStation basically can be compared with AutoCAD. But it often goes wide beyond an has capabilities that you are listing, like parametric modelling scheduling, detailing, clash detection etc.
Microstation is the technology platform for the BIM Products of Bentley. Like OpenBuildings Designer for Buildings is based on MicroStation and provides the metadata for building objects. (Bentley has similar products for other Industry sectors that carries the IM (Information Modeling) idea into Plant, Road, Rail,...)While Autodesks AutoCAD and Revit are are different Technologies.
Bentley Products take a federated approach - Each craft works on separate files. In Revit everything is in the database.So it is BIM but with a differnt approach. Either Software has pros and con.., as always. And there are more manufacturers.
It depends on what your requirements are. If you are an architect designing straightforward single Buildings you probably prefer Revit.If the company is more into Infrastructures at large it may prefer the Bentley approach. Owner/Operator companies often do the latter.BTW: You will find a Plugin for Revit that allows to publish buildings as backdrop in MicroStation et.al.
I found this interesting: https://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?129003-Revit-vs-Bentley-BIM-Softwarehttps://www.bentley.com/en/products/product-line/modeling-and-visualization-software/microstation