Dynamically updating Software

[sde2006]

We are currently evaluating dynamically updating civil software. Ideally we would like a system that allows you to make modifications to loting, roads or utilities and having the changes update other each other or related components. This software should also have the capapbility to size utilities without using other add-on software that you have to jump in and out of. We have narrowed it down to the following combinations:

Autodesk's Civil 3D/LDT and Bentley's SewerGEMS
Knowledge Base's Civil Designer
Carlson's Civil Suite 2007

These shoftware options have their disadvantages and advantages. Please comment on using any of these modules and how they work together.

 

[francesca]

I have never used SewerGEMS, but I had a very bad experience with SewerCAD and its inability to model an ARV. In a long discussion with their tech guys, they pretty much admitted they weren't going to implement the ability to model an ARV into SewerGEMS, but you would have an easier way of dealing with that through their scripting. Without the scripting, you manually have to set the pressure pipe end point to the HGL at the control point, and then iterate the process until the system settles. With the scripting module in SewerGEMS, the iteration can be programmed.

Why the software can't just model an ARV is beyond me, and it was a very frustrating experience trying to model a pressure/gravity system of 1000 pipes and 80 lift stations where the control point on the main trunk forcemain was near the beginning of the line. This was the pre-SewerGEMS days, but SewerGEMS would only have reduced the annoyance a little. What kind of Sewer modeling system that purports to be a pressure/gravity modeling system can't model an ARV?

I find it ironic that you're proposing to use a (now) Bentley product with AutoDesk instead of with Bentley's Microstation. Have they not integrated the two yet?

 

[BelspringKen]

Even though you may be able to size the pipes in the design/CAD program - how will you generate your written reports for the reviewers?

I have been using LDT and C3D. If you are looking at those, I would go with LDT rather than C3D. LDT is not dynamic like C3D, but it has more tools and less bugs.