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Tag: Bentley OpenRoads

  • Projecting Vertical Geometry Between Alignments

    Projecting Vertical Geometry Between Alignments

    On most road and rail jobs, we’re never dealing with a single alignment. There’s usually a mainline plus ramps, offsets, adjacent tracks, service roads, or platform lines that all need to behave together vertically.

    That’s where problems often creep in.

    Horizontal relationships are usually under control, but vertical geometry between parallel alignments is harder to keep consistent as designs evolve. A small change to one profile can quietly introduce grade breaks, clearance issues, or mismatched transitions elsewhere—often without being obvious in plan or long section.

    Bentley’s Project Vertical Geometry Between Alignments workflow is designed to manage exactly this scenario.

    Instead of manually re‑creating profiles, this approach allows vertical intent to be projected from one alignment to another in a controlled, repeatable way. When used properly, it helps keep parallel profiles aligned with the same logic-rather than relying on visual checks or manual edits.

    The real value isn’t just speed. It’s about:

    • Reducing rework when changes inevitably happen
    • Avoiding subtle inconsistencies that only show up late
    • Making authority reviews easier to defend
    • Letting engineers focus on design decisions instead of redrafting

    The video linked below walks through the workflow step by step and shows how Bentley handles this natively within its alignment and profile tools.

    If you regularly work with multiple parallel alignments in MicroStation, OpenRoads, or OpenRail, this is one of those features that’s worth understanding properly. It can save hours-and avoid some painful surprises later in a project.

    ▶ Watch the video:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cs7UcNMXMc

  • Dynamic Contour Labelling in Bentley OpenRoads: Faster, More Controlled Annotation

    Dynamic Contour Labelling in Bentley OpenRoads: Faster, More Controlled Annotation

    Contour labelling in OpenRoads can feel constrained when you want more control over placement, rotation, and consistency-especially on large or complex models.

    This video introduces a new dynamic approach to contour labelling that’s designed to be quick to use and flexible in how annotations are placed and managed. It works with contours dropped from an OpenRoads terrain, but it’s not limited to that-contours from other sources can be labelled the same way.

    The strength of this workflow is the level of annotation control it gives the user. You can define exactly what gets labelled, how accurate the labels need to be, and which levels are used for both contours and text. That separation makes it easier to produce clear, readable drawings without fighting the settings.

    Label placement is intentionally simple. You can use a dynamic two‑point method with different rotation options, or just select a contour line directly. Both approaches are fast and predictable, which matters when you’re working through multiple design iterations.

    The same dynamic behaviour also applies to corridor contours, so the workflow stays consistent whether you’re working with existing terrain or corridor outputs.

    If you’re producing contour‑heavy documentation in OpenRoads and want more speed and control in your annotation, this is a workflow worth understanding.

    ▶️ Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rR9eX8W4fg

  • Practical Terrain Model Tips for Cleaner, Faster Surface Editing in Bentley OpenRoads & MicroStation

    Practical Terrain Model Tips for Cleaner, Faster Surface Editing in Bentley OpenRoads & MicroStation

    Terrain models are a core part of civil design, and even small improvements in how they’re managed can save meaningful time across a project. This video explores three practical techniques for working more efficiently with terrains in Bentley OpenRoads and MicroStation.
    Watch the video: https://youtu.be/RpTPMpMiLLg

    The first technique covers updating a terrain model using the graphical filter. This approach avoids unnecessary recreation of data and provides a clean way to rebuild a surface directly from selected geometry. It’s particularly useful in workflows where terrain updates are frequent or iterative.

    The video then outlines two methods for modifying terrain settings. Adjusting attributes through the Properties dialog allows quick, direct edits, while using element templates ensures consistent presentation and standards compliance across a project. Knowing when to use each method helps maintain both accuracy and visual clarity.

    Finally, the video demonstrates how to remove unwanted triangles-such as swipes-using the Delete Triangles by Line tool. It also shows what occurs when new data is added in the same location and how to restore a clean model using the delete option. This helps avoid irregular contours or unexpected triangulation patterns.

    These techniques focus on reliability and simplicity, supporting smoother day‑to‑day modelling and helping users produce more predictable, professional terrain results