How to start with GenerativeComponents

Question

Hi Forum 
 At our office we are looking at GC to avoid time-consuming re-modelling of our curved concrete bridges. 
 Normaly we get from our Road-department (using Inroads) a 3d-centerline which we use to design our bridges using Microstation Feature Modelling. 
 Problem: When the Road-department change their centerline we use a lot of time te reproduce our bridge.. 
 Is GC a good solution for this? And where can I find a step by step manual to start playing with GC? 
 Looking forward to get some help 
 Best Regards 
 
 Arjan Molenaar

Mueller · Answer

Hi Arjan, 
 Yes, GC is a good solution for the use case that you describe. You can reference the road centerline into GC, use a Range node to convert the road centerline geometry into an object that GC can utilize, and then build based on that your curved bridge. If the road alignment changes, you reload the reference file in GC and the curved bridge regenerates based on that changed input. 
 You find an introduction to GenerativeComponents in the Wiki on this site. 
 After installing GC (V8i) you will find the Bentley GenerativeComponents V8i Quickstart Guide under the Help menu. 
 Bentley LEARNservices has GenerativeComponents training available, too. 
 Beyond that Q&A through this community is available, as well as, support through professional services (who can help you get further faster). 
 Please let me know whether these materials help. 
 Regards, 
 Volker

Mueller · Answer

Hi Arjan, 
 In principle: yes, GenerativeComponents is a great tool for this and I know engineering firms using it in this way. 
 Of course, our Bridge Design and Analysis Solution provides you with specialized tools for bridge design and analysis which you would have to emulate in GC (similar to what you do in MicroStation). GC wraps MicroStation modeling in a way that allows inserting variables where MicroStation modeling uses fixed numbers, and change propagation to react quickly and comprehensively throughout the logical dependencies in your GC model to any changes occurring anywhere in the dependency flow. 
 I suggest that we get you in touch with my colleagues who know our Bridge Design and Analysis Solution so you can explore what those tools could offer to your practice, definitely beyond MicroStations general modeling capabilities into expert-system level bridge design. 
 That conversation will most likely go beyond what can be achieved in this public forum. 
 I will contact you. Please let me know if you don't hear from me by your Tuesday noon, because then I found an incorrect e-mail address. 
 Regards, 
 Volker

Mueller · Answer

Hi Jaimin, 
 Thank you for your interest in using GenerativeComponents for bridge modeling. 
 Because GenerativeComponents is a powerful tool and can be used to design many infrastructure items, we do not have fully developed examples for every type of infrastructure item. 
 Best approach is to work through the available material and look at the available examples (Dominic pointed to a few). 
 My colleague Stuart Milne provided the following information: 
 GenerativeComponents Online Training . 
 Step by step introductory training. The training is focused around a building dataset however the principles can be adopted to other industries. 
 CONNECT - https://learn.bentley.com/app/Public/ViewLearningPathDetails?lpId=112178 
 V8i - https://learn.bentley.com/app/Public/ViewLearningPathDetails?lpId=109349 
 GenerativeComponents Special Interest Group 
 Recordings of the monthly Special Interest Group which cover in extended detail topics which are important to using GenerativeComponents. 
 https://learn.bentley.com/app/Public/ViewLearningPathDetails?lpId=111738 
 GenerativeComponents Forum - Wiki, Forum and Example files 
 The area allows users to seek resources ask questions, and look at example files. The product management is very active on this forum so it&rsquo;s a great place to work with the community. 
 https://communities.bentley.com/products/products_generativecomponents/ 
 Training Video: Setting up and Linking AECOsim/GenerativeComponents to Bentley RailTrack. 
 This video demonstrates how to use a Range node to link your GenerativeComponents scripts to geometry that is not part of a GC script. This permits linking nodes to alignments from our road and rail products as long as those alignments are in DGN format. 
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMl_N04ATdI&t=786s 
 
 He also provided the following example script: 
 ModelExampleU3.dgn 
 This is for AECOsim Building Designer CONNECT Edition Update 3 with GenerativeComponents as Companion Feature. 
 HTH, 
 Volker

Mueller · Answer

Hi Marry John, 
 GenerativeComponents V8i SELECTseries 6 was released in August 2015. 
 Current version of GenerativeComponents is as a companion feature to AECOsim Building Designer CONNECT Edition Update 4. GC versioning coincides with ABD's, so latest version of GC is CONNECT Edition Update 4. 
 Update 5 for ABD (including GC as companion feature) is planned in a few weeks. 
 HTH, 
 Volker