This month's SIG was very interesting.
Echoing this post, I wonder OpenSite Designer might not pave the way for a landscape architecture BIM app. A lot of the elements are there for a unique offering, especially as Vue Render is being integrated into Mstn which should allow PlantFactory to be leveraged. ContextCapture should be a huge selling point for landscape architects, where capturing context has always been difficult due to the 'non-geometrical' nature of planting and landscaping.
1. OSD has some good tools for vehicular paths via OpenRoads. It would be good to leverage these tools (based on Civil Cells and Templates) to provide tools for pedestrian footpaths. None of the available landscaping apps on the market does this very well. This feature would need to cater to stepped segments along the footpath.
2. Can the Linear Templates (which are based on roadway alignments) be re-purposed to define falls in the landscape? The designer would define ridge and 'gutter' lines and the LT would treat the ridge line as a zero width roadway? Designing the landscaping to have the appropriate falls is always a pain and frankly almost always badly done. Mstn has already got a very useful and unique slope Display Style. The section profile would need to accommodate curved or irregular lines to provide the option soften the slopes. Roadway cambers are curved.
Not sure how all those cambers and car park drainage channels layouts are managed in OSD or SUDA?
3. Can retaining walls be added to the OSD Feature set? Terracing and berms will be standard landscaping tasks.
4. Features like lighting columns, seating, planting would need to follow the terrain elevations automatically. I see that the latest version of SUDA can slave manhole inverts to the a pre-set cover.
Linear features like fences, walls and barriers would need a smoothing tool.
5. OSD also has features for pads and ponds. Great for water features etc. Good combo with SUDA and OpenFlows?
6. ???
bump
I recall a product called Landscape Designware that was an add-on to a much earlier version of MicroStation.
It seems a missed opportunity for Bentley. We have an Environmental Product office that does a lot of highway beautification work and similar efforts for various other DOT site designs.
The "builds 3D from 2D" nature of the Open ... products scream for this type of capability.
Charles (Chuck) Rheault CADD Manager
MDOT State Highway Administration
Thanks, Chuck!
If this is the same app, it has been re-branded as Greenscapes.
The photo-based workflow is pretty much right up ContextCapture's (and Plantfactory) street.
No sign of a CAD interface in Greenscapes but, OSD has that covered.
Breaking news - Apple Ipad Pro to feature LIDAR sensor!
The 2d photo-based workflow above does seem a bit gimmicky and outdated but working-in-context will be more mainstream and very attractive for landscape designers and architects.
Working-in-context is something that Bentley is well positioned to support.
Looking back, I've discovered that there has been several landscaping addons for Mstn: Triforma for Landscape Architecture (MS95), Landscape DesignWare (was apparently an Intergraph product), even Geopak has a landscaping addon (V8). Most recently, there was AEC CADCON's LandscapeDesign 1(V8i).
For starters, it would be great to look at incorporating the Geopak tools (and maybe the AEC CADCON stuff. Hopefully, they have a planting / paving database that can be re-used without too much trouble- they don't seem to be trading anymore?).
Business case: I think that there is a hidden demand that is pretty intriguing, but I guess we should start small. Ideally, a large Bentley user would step up and commit to a number of seats. Hint hint! Apparently, this was the way Bentley Substation started life.
There is an acknowledged disconnect in the market at the moment where BIM is concerned where building BIM apps are trying to fill the gap; resulting in some convoluted and expensive 'scripted' workflows between Rhino and R*vit. Great for BIM gurus self promoting at trade shows, not so great for anyone else. Bleeding edge is great but not for too long, right?
This disconnect is also belatedly playing itself out in the infrastructure sector as IFC5 develops and more governments start asking for BIM deliverables for road and rail projects. Transit streets / tram systems are also getting popular.
Looking at Keyscape, there has always been a lot of 'BIM' going on in the road sector. Large and steady scope, lots of compulsory standards etc has spawn quite a bit of automation. Looking at Keysoft Solutions, I like the way they have provided automation for all those ancillary areas associated with roadway design, including signage, linemarking, lighting and yes hard and soft landscaping design. They have even tackled pedestrain crossings. I look at OpenSite Designer and think how incomplete it is from a project delivery standpoint. Worth noting that these ancillary areas entail quite a bit of cost and are also important for getting stakeholder consent.
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What can OSD and Mstn CE offer?
As mentioned, I think that Bentley is well positioned to step in with a compelling offer.