InRoads compatibility with AutoCad

[quehe]

My company like many others is making the switch to InRoads. We our curently using AutoCad. What are the issues with data transfer between the programs? Is file conversion neccesary?

 

[vsiccclubchamp]

About the only data that can be switched to InRoads is the TIN file. You would have to use LandXML to perform this task. Export out then import in to a InRoads DTM. There are more variables with InRoads DTM's such as features. Features are the 3d lines that comprise your DTM, only features are very powerful as they can be assigned levels, line weights, linestyles within the DTM. You can even annotate your cross-sections based on the feature. The feature can be assigned a cell (block) to be displayed in your cross-sections.

I am not familiar with LDD if that is what you are using for AutoCad as a Highway Design package. InRoads is a add-on to Microstation. They work in conjunction with each other. All Autocad files will have to be translated to Microstation. I think what you are up against the most is the translating between Autocad and Mircostation. After that, InRoads can be used to develop DTM's and linework.

Good Luck, I would suggest a class by Bentley to introduce you to InRoads. But first, you will need to know Microstation.

 

[SRWB]

InRoads can and does run on top of AutoCAD even though it is a Bentley product. There are some annoyances such as object snap icons not appearing graphically when performing an InRoads command that requires picking a point within AutoCAD, but on the whole it is definitely functional. Think of InRoads as LDD which has it's own seperate file structure and save routines and everything else with the exception that InRoads runs in a separate window whereas LDD runs in the same window. And since both LDD and InRoads are XML based, you can easily export and import surfaces, alignments, points, etc. between the two programs.

 

[vsiccclubchamp]

Sorry about my response. I was unclear as to the software of choice for InRoads. SRWB is correct with the response.