2D Views Widget

The 2D Views widget is now available to all users within iTwin Design Review. This widget allows users to access 2D Sheets and Drawings which are stored in the iModel. Opening a 2D View will open a new frontstage within iTwin Design Review. 

The 2D Views widget can be accessed on the right side of the screen here:

This widget will automatically filter the list based on the selected elements within the 3D view. So if you want to open a 2D view for a selected element, simply select the element to see what 2D views include that element.

Hypermodeling

The 2D Views widget also gives access to hypermodeling within iTwin Design Review. If you're design includes hypermodeling it will be accessible from a toggle at the top right corner of the 2D Views widget:

When hypermodeling is toggled on the 3D model will display the location of all the available hypermodels which can be selected to display the 2D overlay on the 3D model:

Navigating to 3D View

When within the 2D frontstage users can easily navigate back to a specific area of the 3D model by selected an element and clicking the Navigate to 3D view button. This will take the user back to the 3D model and position the camera within the model at the selected element.

Spatial Containment Tree Visibility Controls

The spatial containment tree now includes visibility controls for turning on and off elements within the 3D view. The spatial containment tree is available from the dropdown within the visibility widget. 

This is a reminder of our upcoming regularly scheduled patch and maintenance weekend - April 16th thru 18th for Bentley ProjectWise Cloud Operations. We apologize for any disruption in service you may possibly see but the maintenance of your servers is pertinent for system health and security.

Microsoft releases its security patches on the second Tuesday of each month. Bentley Cloud Operations patches all hosted servers on the following weekend during non-business hours per the location of the hosted servers. Please view the Microsoft Security Updates site for the release notes for this month's patching. 

During each patch weekend, Bentley strives to keep the planned outage to 30 minutes or less per server farm (FQDN).

To see a schedule of all 2021 patch weekends, please see the Bentley patch calendar  located within the Bentley Communities ProjectWise Hosting Services web site.

At the upcoming AASHTO GIS-T conference, Washington State DOT will share how they use CUBE Access to evaluate mobility performance through measures of accessibility, predictability and efficiency.

Like many states, WSDOT is implementing a new approach to finding solutions for today’s challenges. They call this approach Practical Solutions which is a performance based approach, where multimodal performance outcomes guide investment choices. The Practical Solutions Performance Framework is one of WSDOT’s key strategies for achieving practical solutions by making sure the decision processes are pointed toward the right goals and objectives.

During the presentation we will hear from Chris McCahill, PhD from the State Smart Transportation Initiative at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Kyle Miller from the Washington State Department of Transport.

Chris will explain how well we measure how the transportation system connects people to places and will take us through the theory to practice and Kyle will then show how this looks in a practical application in the State of Washington. 

Join us on 21st April at , 08:30 PT, 10:30 CT, 11:30am ET using the link in the Agenda near the time. 

Download Outlook calendar reminder:

Saved View tags are now available as an additional way to organize, group and find the saved views on your project.

Each saved view can now have Tags associated with the saved view. Authorized users can access the Manage Tags feature through the Saved View options here:

Each saved view can have as many saved view as desired which are added on the Manage Tags screen:

After tags have been added, all users can search for saved views by tag within the saved views widget. This allows saved views with similar content to be effectively grouped together for easy discover by all project participants. 

OpenBridge Designer CONNECT Edition V10.09.01.15 contains the following analytical enhancements, user request enhancements, and bug fixes in its components (RM/LBC/LBS):

1. AASHTO LRFD 9th Edition update (LBC)

This enhancement aims to support the AASHTO LRFD 9th Edition for the design of concrete bridges.

2. Enhancement for Pennsylvania DOT (LBC)

This is part of the extended efforts to add custom configurations and settings to design concrete bridges per PennDOT’s practice.

3. Enhancement for Georgia DOT (LBC)

This enhancement adds the support of custom configurations and settings to design concrete bridges per GDOT’s practice.

4. AASHTO LRFD 9th Edition update (LBS)

This adds the support of the AASHTO LRFD 9th Edition for the design of steel bridges.

5. Enhancement of girder definition and layout (LBS)

This enhancement aims to remove the limitations of the girder layout, allowing definitions of beam end offsets and bearing line offsets more flexibly and consistently. It also addresses the gap in interoperability when physical models created in OpenBridge Modeler are transferred into LEAP Bridge Steel analytical for analysis and design.

6. Enhanced RM Standalone workflow in OBD (RM)
7. Export Modeler variables, load cases, and cable lengths into to excel (*.xls) and list file (*.lst) (RM)
8. Error Corrections

Telecom industry’s transition to fifth-generation technology (5G) along with digitization of its infrastructure for 3D representation, document management, and colocation analysis will lead to the creation of smart cities that will revolutionize everyday lives. To realize this monumental feat, telecom industry requires a trusted and experienced infrastructure software partner that can help deliver high-quality, resilient connectivity on an unrivaled scale and can guide them through a full digital transformation. A true 360-degree approach to the entire lifecycle of a physical tower site is key to enhancing the utilization of infrastructure assets. It also leads to significantly lower maintenance costs, reduced risks, and increased safety.

As a global provider of digital twin software and services to organizations that are responsible for the delivery and operational performance of infrastructure assets, Bentley Systems (Bentley) is uniquely qualified to partner with to achieve its digitalization goals. We are the only provider of a true lifecycle management solution for the telecom industry positioning Digital-Twin at the center of its universe.

Bentley’s OpenTower is a purpose-built one-stop solution that advances the industry practices of telecom towers by encompassing all the critical aspects of the lifecycle management, from structural analysis, to inspections, planning, change detection, and finally completing the loop of a tower digital twin. You will gain continuous access to near real-time information to make actionable insights and better monitor, predict, and react to any required changes by leveraging OpenTower iQ.

Figure 1: OpenTower Solution - Products 

OpenTower iQ is the only end-to-end solution provider comprising all the stages of a telecom tower’s lifecycle. The solution is built with the 5-pillars encompassing Digital-Twin as the center of its universe.

Figure 2: OpenTower – Tower Lifecycle Management

ANALYZE

OpenTower iQ captures tower engineers’ imagination for the most advanced analysis consisting of precision modeling, modification layers, multiple scenarios, foundation checks, and connection design. The program’s open architecture streamlines workflow enabling seamless integration with asset system and delivering tower analysis faster than ever.

VISUALIZE

Current engineering data for telecom assets are 2D, and the reality models captured through drones lack context. OpenTower iQ’s immersive 4D graphical experience empowered by the common-data-environment is the solution for the complete digitization of your telecom tower. It ensures precision graphics and visual validation to gain insights into your tower digital twin.

INSPECT

Telecom towers must be inspected periodically because of the regulatory requirements. The current process is time consuming, unsafe, and expensive. Bentley’s OpenTower iQ solution revolutionizes this workflow by applying machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) on high fidelity reality models. Automatic change detection and the visual comparisons between as-built and as-designed overlaid models enables engineers and planners to accurately assess their asset conditions, including occupancy, and update their inventory database ensuring accurate analysis.

COLLABORATE

Telecom tower owners and service providers are trying to digitize their asset information to help them make real-time decisions quickly and accurately. However, the industry finds it challenging as their data is sparse and file based. OpenTower iQ’s cloud innovation enables seamless intradisciplinary collaboration resulting in a single source of accurate information through data reconciliation. Also, OpenTower iQ is the only solution on the market that offers a true end-to-end workflow by combining an engineering model with a reality model, thereby providing deep insight into an organization’s assets. Plus, users will have the ability to share data securely and efficiently through OpenTower iQ’s cloud portal and promote a collaborative environment among clients and vendors to increase business efficiency.

PLAN

Planning is a critical step in tower lifecycle management — and space availability is one of the key information that tower owners must have at their fingertips. OpenTower iQ provides comprehensive tools to mimic telecom tower planning steps, including equipment swapping along with predictive analysis. Planners will be empowered to assess space availability in 3D and run numerous scenarios by adding or removing different equipment on the tower to optimize space management.

 Value Proposition:

Business always thrives to optimize the delicate balance of cost, quality, and efficiency. OpenTower offers the perfect set of tools and services to evolve, digitize, and respond to the market demand faster than ever.

Figure 3: Balancing Cost, Quality, and Efficiency 

OpenTower iQ is the only end-to-end solution for a complete lifecycle management of telecom towers. It offers a platform that brings together all the required components and synchronizes them via a data driven model to provide a highly efficient workflow and improved user experience.

Tower owners and operator often need to integrate their digital-twin portal with their asset management systems enabling their clients and vendors a seamless user experience. To facilitate such a seamless experience, OpenTower iQ can further be expanded and integrated through its API layer.

For example, a design change proposed by a carrier can be visualized and validated by Bentley’s OpenTower iQ, run a stability analysis, and then output construction drawings, custom reports, update asset data, etc.

Figure 1: OpenTower Solution Architecture

OpenTower iQ Features 

The Telecom industry is evolving to quickly adapt to the demand of 5G. One of the critical aspects of this evolution is going digital. Significant efforts and investments were made recently to digitize communication infrastructure assets. However, digitization efforts are still in their early stage as technology is catching up to help the industry digitize its asset portfolio. OpenTower iQ is a purpose-built solution to help accelerate this digitization effort reliably and quickly.

Attached is the default mapping for Export to IFC from an iModel.

AssetWise Enterprise Interoperability Server v1.2.17.0 is now available for general access from Bentley Software Downloads. All production hosted tenants have been upgraded.

Readme

Release Documentation

When you create a project, you have the option to create your project based on a template. You can select from a generic Bentley project template,  or a custom user-defined Organization project template. Choose your template from the Select Template step on the Project Registration wizard, and then you can customize the project by selecting which components to include, as shown below.

Tip: If you want your project to be used as an Organization project template for future projects, be sure to select Use this project as a template, on the Project Information step: 

When creating a project, you can allow external team members to be included in the project. You can also choose who is responsible for cloud service usage costs. 

You can now select your preferred unit of measurement for PlantSight Visualizer. From your User icon, select User Settings, and then choose your preferred unit of measurement. Your options are: Metric, Imperial, or US Survey. Once your selection has been made, your changes take effect immediately.

In MicroStation CONNECT Edition Update 16, we have added some APIs for TextTable.

New features:

1. “Summary Row” is for the user to know which row is for a summary.
2. Table’s name is for the user to differentiate tables from each other; it is unique for tables in a dgn file.
3. Table’s Description is for the user to describe a table.

Native APIs:

In “struct TextTable”:

DGNPLATFORM_EXPORT  UInt32  GetSummaryRowCount ()   const;  //!<    Get the number of summary rows in this table.

//! Get the name of this table.
DGNPLATFORM_EXPORT WString GetTableName () const;

//! Set the name of this table.
DGNPLATFORM_EXPORT void    SetTableName ( WString val );

//! Get the description of this table.
DGNPLATFORM_EXPORT WString GetTableDescription () const;

//! Set the description of this table.
DGNPLATFORM_EXPORT void    SetTableDescription ( WString val );

Managed APIs:

In “public ref struct TextTable”:

    /// <summary> Get the number of summary rows in this table. </summary>
    property System::UInt32                 SummaryRowCount
        {
        System::UInt32 get () { return m_native->GetSummaryRowCount (); }
        }

    /// <summary> Get or set the name of this table</summary>
    property System::String^ TableName
        {
        System::String^ get () { return gcnew System::String ( m_native->GetTableName ().GetWCharCP () ); }
        void set ( System::String^ v );
        }

    /// <summary> Get or set the description of this table</summary>
    property System::String^ TableDescription
        {
        System::String^ get () { return gcnew System::String ( m_native->GetTableDescription ().GetWCharCP () ); }
        void set ( System::String^ v );
        }

Skybox Color Pickers

The Presentation widget controls have been updated to all users to choose their own skybox colors. The new color pickers are available within the Presentation Widget when the skybox is toggled on.

The default skybox colors have also been updated for all users. Existing Saved Views which included the skybox will also be updated to reflect the new default skybox. Any changes made to the default colors can be saved in new Saved Views.

Map Layers Controls

A new widget has been added to the right hand side of iTwin Design Review specifically for Map Layers. This widget provides access to the default map layers like Bing but also allows users to add maps from external map servers as additional Background or Overlay layers.

Select the Default Base layer using the Base dropdown selection. To add a new Map Layer simply click the '+' icon in the desired area and enter the required map server information. ArcGIS, WMS and WMST types are all supported and can be stored on the project for future use. The widget allows users to easily toggle on/off each of the included map layers to achieve the desired view or the user can turn off all map layers using the master toggle at the top right of the widget.

Issue Resolution Markup Workflow Update

The issues resolution panel has been updated to enable improved markup interaction. 

When creating a markup a new toolbar is now available which allows the user to more easily update the color, size and opacity of the markup being added. This will automatically appear in the view when the markup tool is used.

After a markup has been added to an issue, users can now click on the markup to open the markup directly within the viewer instead of as an image download. This automatically enters an edit mode where the user has the option to make an additional markup and add it to the issue or the markup edit mode can be closed. 

The markup image can still be downloaded from the Issue Summary tab if desired.

Improve the accuracy of your reality meshes, optimize your workflow, and save time with ContextInsights detection capabilities!

Improve the accuracy of your 3d reality meshes and enjoy an improved user experience

• Leverage the new aerotriangulation engine offering a single aerotriangulation engine for all your projects and get better aerotriangulation results for critical configurations such as telecom towers, corridors, etc.
  
  
• Better manage your projects with the job priority management tool and prioritize your jobs using 5 different levels.
  
  
• Improve your workflow by directly importing your reality mesh in SuperMap GIS software using the new SuperMap S3M export format.
  
  
• Take advantage of several user interface improvements that allows to facilitate QA and survey points management.
  
  • Display in the 3D view of the survey points names and scan names
  • New icon to differentiate control points and tie points in the survey tab

optimize your workflow and save time with contextinsights detection capabilities*

ContextCapture takes advantage of AI-technology to aggregate intelligence to current deliverables. With ContextInsights, automate your process and cost-effectively replicate the analysis of your reality data as often as necessary.​

• Save time with detection capabilities and enjoy our detector library fitting various applications to locate objects or regions of interest in your scene.
• Speed-up digitization work by automatically generating classified point clouds and individual regular objects to serve asset inventory.
  
  
• Save time and money by generating thematic shapefile overlaying usual RGB orthophotos and representing ground occupation.

 
*Available for licenses under SELECT agreement and for all subscriptions

Watch tutorial videos
1)  ContextInsights: Annotations - Use appropriate detector
2) ContextInsights: Annotations - Object detection
3) ContextInsights: Annotations - Segmented orthophotos
4) ContextCapture: Changing job priority