bentley

Back in the mid '90s I got in bed with Microstation. One of the worst business decisions I ever made.

But I was just small shop, solo operation, and hoping for more. A couple CAD guys I knew who worked with me, and one good client used it, so I went that route. As opposed to about a gazillion other surveying software options.

I'd advise against getting in bed with that she-devil. She will suck the life blood from your soul ($$$$) unless you do go big time and get DOT or international contracts. In which case you will be In Like Flint.

Read the fine print.

We use PowerGeopak for our DOT work. Microstation...well it is different. If you are a AutoCAD user forget everything. But, it does have its advantages, and not many firms out there have it and can use it.

I would give it a go.

800-236-8539 Bentley Tech Support. If you get Australia just hang up and try again the next day

Go ahead and store it.

J.

Those without proper like and are loyal to other brands often struggle with it. There are other Bentley survey users on this board like myself that enjoy using the software.

The good part of this software that DOT agency's often use in InRoads is the cadd standards can be customized to their liking. The bad part of Bentley software is you must setup these customized cadd standards. So be sure to get them from your client.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

See my website.

LeeGreen.com

I used Mstation with InRoads for some 12 years at a NJDOT consulting firm. I would trade Civil 3D for Mstation anytime.
Got some training from Lee Green, who really knows the program.

I grew up on AutoDesk products, from Softdesk 8 on through to Land Desktop and just barely into C3D. Nearly a couple decades covered. Then I got a new job that required occasional use of Microstation/InRoads. As was stated, take all your AutoCad knowledge and throw it out the window. It's a whole different world with Bentley. I won't say its worse or better... Just different. I don't care for it but I'm very biased due to my background.

And here I thought you were talking about a new field vehicle, a Bentley would work well in Chatham and I bet you could fabricate a mount for your scanner!!!

Dtp

We have it as a company because we do DOT work. I know one guy that is good with AutoCAD and Bentley both. He likes the Bentley product the best but that's also what he started using first.

I would agree with others that Bentley is a different animal than AutoCAD. I like to compare it to algebraic vs. RPN calculators. AutoCAD does things one way and Microstation does the same thing in a different order. The one thing that I dislike the most about Microstation is that it doesn't have an active key-in for commands. Microstation is all point and click, I am used to keying in a lot of commands with AutoCAD. Also, it seems more DOTs are moving to Civil3D. Wisconsin has and that is what I work with.

-G

I have been using Microstation and InRoads for 24 years now. Just remember that if you can do it in Autocad you can do it in Microstation but the command name is different. For example the key in to draw a line is "PLACE LINE". Microstation has Levels rather then Layers and Cells rather then Blocks. Both packages are very powerful and we as surveyors only use a small part of the power. Just learn how to do a few basic things at first, then add one new feature every day. After a short period of time you will know a lot about it. Also look at the online training videos. I sat through a 4 hour class on working with LIDAR data the other day. It was a very compressed class but we got lots of good reference material. I was amazed at what we can do with LIDAR data and just basic Microstation. In that one 4 hour class, we built a 3d model of a bridge all with just bare bones Microstation.

Thanks All,
I have been running through the training on TopoDOT which runs on something Bentley (PowerSurvey being the least expensive option). I just plan to get in and get out to AutoCAD w/ Carlson, but if I have it I might as well learn it. I have a prospective client looking for clouds and images to import into TopoDOT, so it makes sense to have my own to ensure the deliverable is working. Plus the program looks slick.

> I just plan to get in and get out to AutoCAD w/ Carlson, but if I have it I might as well learn it.

If you're going to get into mobile mapping then you're going to eventually go after DOT work.

If you're going to go after DOT work then you're going to have to become proficient in Bentley products.

Some of our DOT contracts require work to be performed in native .dgn format. I'm no CAD guru, so I can't tell you how they do it, but they will check to make sure the deliverables weren't prepared in .dwg and then converted to .dgn

Whew

Finally, a sense of common sense pops up. I like ME, especially Jimmy Howard who is still sporting my favorite winged wheel. I think he set records at your university.

I have a buddy who collects Hudson's. Is that like a Bentley? Do they make trucks we can morph into surveyicles? Has to be sturdy, takes a likin', and keeps on tickin'.

On theme with the original post though, be careful what you wish for. You may just get it. As others have pointed out - think outside whatever box you learned CAD in and be ready for a new adventure. Very powerful and smarter than most of us (kinda like my smart phone). Bentleyese is like legalese is like trimbleese, and Mr Cow's clintonese. Learn the secret codes and you will be stylin'

😉

edit: opps Don. I thought you were in Maine. Silly me, but hope your Brady Bunch pulls off another one so Tom can retire. News at 11 on Sun.

If you throw everything you have into it you can make it work. After a few years you'll turn into one of those people that "love" it. They "love" it because they are blissfully unaware how bad and limiting it is. 😉

Hopefully I just provide clouds to firms going after the DOT work. I have enough headaches.

Run, run far, run fast. When you get to what you think is the end...keep on running and don't look back. The software is made for governmental agencies and the software licensing practices they employ are even more ridiculous than their software. It's borderline criminally negligent.

Don't worry though, they will send you a convenience bill each quarter for all your software licensing overuse for which you have NO way to efficiently control.

Good advice:

Steal a company credit card and buy several seats of Carlson.

Bad advise:

Learn the usless software.

>Any advice?

Oh yeah, forgot about this

That's cool:-)