SUDA and OpenRoads

OpenRoads is a family of tools which are all related. Although there are some other parts, the major functionality is Survey, Road/Site Design and Utilities.  

OpenRoads Survey - is used, obviously, for processing survey raw data. The tools overlap the road design tools set because the average surveyor is also interested in creating terrain models and performing geometric calculations for alignments and property or right of way.

Road/Site Design - this is what most people think of when they think "OpenRoads", perhaps in part because of the name.  These tools are used for ALL developing models of earth grading and paving, including site design.

Utilities (SUDA) - the Utilities tools are found in separate menu and separate area of tasks but they are still part of OpenRoads. It is important to note that "SUDA" is really a slang term and not a product name. Once upon a time it was the name used internal to Bentley during early development. IN the various discussions of the tools the term seemed to catch on and lodged in our minds so that virtually everyone knows the term. "SUDA" is used to model utilities of all sorts as well as drainage layout and design. It uses the same concepts and interface as the rest of OpenRoads, although there are some places where the StormCAD interface still shows. By the way, the hydraulic analysis is performed by the StormCAD engine.

So, what's the difference between OpenRoads and SUDA? The best way to think of it is OpenRoads is the product (although that is not technically true until CONNECT) and SUDA is just one portion of the total product.

OpenRoads is a family of tools which are all related. Although there are some other parts, the major functionality is Survey, Road/Site Design and Utilities.  

OpenRoads Survey - is used, obviously, for processing survey raw data. The tools overlap the road design tools set because the average surveyor is also interested in creating terrain models and performing geometric calculations for alignments and property or right of way.

Road/Site Design - this is what most people think of when they think "OpenRoads", perhaps in part because of the name.  These tools are used for ALL developing models of earth grading and paving, including site design.

Utilities (SUDA) - the Utilities tools are found in separate menu and separate area of tasks but they are still part of OpenRoads. It is important to note that "SUDA" is really a slang term and not a product name. Once upon a time it was the name used internal to Bentley during early development. IN the various discussions of the tools the term seemed to catch on and lodged in our minds so that virtually everyone knows the term. "SUDA" is used to model utilities of all sorts as well as drainage layout and design. It uses the same concepts and interface as the rest of OpenRoads, although there are some places where the StormCAD interface still shows. By the way, the hydraulic analysis is performed by the StormCAD engine.

So, what's the difference between OpenRoads and SUDA? The best way to think of it is OpenRoads is the product (although that is not technically true until CONNECT) and SUDA is just one portion of the total product.