Bridge Modeler

[Anonymous]

The Bridge modeler has always seemed lacking to me in range of design. For instance:

1) Cast in place Bridge

2) Integrated bent cap designs

3) issues and limitations to abutment designs

4) difficulty in establishing Beginning and end of Bridge per abutment design. They are different.

5) providing a modular approach in design with Abutments, Bents, Superstructure, foundations, decks, etc.

6) would love to see a better interface for multiple barriers and have an easier time with modified barriers for sidewalks, luminaires, fencing, signs, etc

7) Varying widths of a bridge seems impossible to develop in IW

8) Pictograms seem off in its labeling

Many attributes seem to get "Locked in" and grayed out, based on other data, like the program thinks it knows what I want, but it doesn't. I just want to be able to define the parameters of an abutment and it does what I tell it to do. Example, Abutment height, seat width, foundation depth, and how many piles are in my foundation and their specific pattern and locations. If I could get my IW to work atm, I'd provide better examples. I do however have a prior post on this over a year ago. Located HERE. It has notes within the pictures I provided that explains more.  It's kept me from using IW much as I can't truly design what is needed.

I know you guys are working on Bridge, but I haven't seen what has been done yet. Can anyone elaborate on the above or what's in my prior post?

Thanks!

[elliott.rosenfeld]

Thanks for sharing your feedback here, this is valuable stuff. I am going to wait for the bridge team to address some of your questions, and have pinged them with the link to this thread.

Thanks,

Elliott

[Anonymous]

Thanks, that would be greatly appreciated! I exchanged a few e-mails with Ara Ashikian in the past about this, but haven't heard much back lately. I really want this to work and be functional for Caltrans projects, especially given the expect 1 trillion in Infrastructure coming!

[ara.ashikian · Accepted solution]

Hi David

I believe that you are referring to the C3D/Revit bridge extensions when you refer to "Bridge Modeler" as opposed to InfraWorks' bridge modeling capabilities?  Correct if I am wrong.

Many of the bridge modeling requirements that you have been referring to in your latest and previous posts have or are being addressed in the InfraWorks workflow.  For instance, in the attached video, which dates a few months back to an earlier version of the software, you can see how variable depth, cast-in-place style of bridges can be modeled.  Users can also create their own powerful and fully parametric bridge components to address unique project requirements.  

The parameters that define the deck or girder sections can vary at any point along the length of the bridge.  This allows for the modeling of variable width bridges, variable deck girders, or say, the flaring of webs or bottom flanges near piers or abutments etc.

In the attached image, the recently added enhanced abutment is shown, along with the parametric dimensions that one can modify to achieve the desired layout, including splayed wing walls etc.

I hope this provides for a better understanding of the capabilities.

Thanks,

-Ara

Product Manager

InfraWorks 360 Civil Structures

[Anonymous]

Hi Ara,

     Yes, you're right on that it was C3D, my apologies. I know the IW Bridge modeler had some similarities to C3D. Currently my IW isn't working so I couldn't reference my experience like I wanted. I'll have a look at C3D, but one of the issues is that I can't go to 2017 version (if this is where your example stems from), due to the fact that it's not backwards compatible and I have to remain on par with other staff and projects, thus having to remain with the 2016 version. This is unfortunate. And since our Projects can run from 2-4 years, who knows when I'll get my hands on the latest and greatest for Bridge modeler.

[ara.ashikian]

Hi David

The video and the image attached to my previous post are from InfraWorks 360 2017 and not from the C3D bridge modeler.  For new and enhanced bridge modeling capabilities, you should really be looking at IW.  We are also focusing on ongoing refinements for the integration with C3D and Revit.

Thanks,

-Ara

Product Manager

InfraWorks 360 Civil Structures

[Anonymous]

Oh, I didn't even see the video link! That looks great thank you! Now I just need to get it to work on my machine!

Edit: Just noticed that I'll need inventor to create unique models? Can this also be done in standard AutoCAD?

[ara.ashikian]

Hi David

Inventor is required to author new parametric bridge content.  The key is to be able to model complex geometry that is driven by parameters and thus, completely reusable.  This is the strength of Inventor.  We are starting to post a number of tutorial videos in the rolling sandbox bridge forum to provide guidance.  

Thanks,

-Ara

Product Manager

InfraWorks 360 Civil Structures

[Anonymous]

Why can't we use Revit family creator to create parametric bridge components.

Inventor is not part of AEC collection, and someone who is using Revit, it would be probably easier to continue to use Revit for creating bridge components.

[ara.ashikian]

The use of Inventor to model the parametric bridge/tunnel components provides the benefits of full featured solid modeling capabilities.  The modeling is not only simpler but also, the parametric models can be made to be more robust.  In recent releases, we have added support for Inventor Assemblies, which allows for even more comprehensive modeling options.

-Ara

PM InfraWorks / Bridges
Autodesk

[Anonymous]

Maybe, but this is all new program in workflow. And it's not included in AEC collection. It's extra cost.

[Anonymous]

Bonjour Monsieur, pourrai-je avoir un lien des model parametric bridge (decks, foundations, piers, etc) for infraworks 2019. Je suis vraiment dans le besoin.

Cordialement