We currently utilize InRoads SS2 for our design work (about 15 years experience with various versions), and have investigated moving up to SS4. Our work consists almost entirely of site grading: yard grading, parking lots, stockpiles, basins and layered closure caps. We rarely design very simple roads, but often utilize the roadway tools to design drainage channels which occasionally have varying cross sections, nor do we utilize features very heavily.
In my (limited) investigation, the OpenRoads paradigm appears to be geared more to road design, and site work doesn't appear to be as straight forward as SS2. The one thing (I think) I really like about SS4 is the fact that data is stored in the design file.
I would appreciate opinions and discussion from those who have used both products to help in our decision process.
Thanks in advance.
Good Day Bill: Pardon me for jumping into your request from users, but as part of your research I want to make sure you are aware of an additional capability that will be coming in the next release (SS4 Maintenance Release 1). This release is now only a few weeks away.
In this release, we are adding the integration of StormCAD for hydraulic design as an alternative to InRoads Storm and Sanitary. Included in your InRoads licence will be capability to design storm drain systems with up to 100 inlets. These hydraulic tools are completely integrated with the rest of OpenRoads and provide high resolution 3D models which are integrated with the rest of the 3D models produced for your road and site design.
Below are some images to give you a sense of the toolset
This is an image of the site design and the drainage network
This is a closeup of one of the catch basins
An analysis profile of the drainage network
A profile view for editing
Robert GarrettSenior Product EngineerBentley Systems Inc.