MicroDrainage Reviews & Product Details

1. Simple and Self Explained User unterface

2. Much useful AotoCAD Interface Drawnet

3.In built FSR date for UK

4. MD to 3D model conversion option in the latest update

5. the "F1" button help which covers almost everything you need

6. Have used source control module extensively to model SuDS Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

1. Expensive compared to peers

2. Lack of Self learning materials available online compared to Bentley counterparts

3. Network license some times crashes especially while working from home

4. Can not work online through Projectwise

5. The 3D view could be better

6. Not all modules are available in all licenses Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I have been using the Windes software from last 3years, It's an amazing experience. Interface is very much User-friendly and it's reduce alot of time in laying and analyzing the storm networks. Earlier I felt it would be great if there is a Civil 3D output, but in 2019 version it is incorporated. I am very much happy after seeing that option. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It would be very much helpful to the designers if the Network details tab can be of excel sheet, i.e If we want to change the IL of any pipe we need to calculate everything outside and need to provide the level and for subsequent pipes also. So, if it is of excel format we can perform copy and past operations. Which reduces alot of time for the users. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

MicroDrainage is a user-friendly and highly interactive platform which is essential for developing a wide range of drainage engineering solutions to meet the statutory requirements. The platform allows me to plug-in with Civil 3D software which helps me to use different levels of information from various disciplines and develop viable solutions in a short time. The software had various inbuilt tools which become one-stop solutions for varying levels of calculations. The software results are generally accepted by statutory authorities, which gives me the confidence for the accuracy of results produced by its engine. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

1. Although the software can generate results for crossing and conflicts between the network; however, the software cannot generate the combined long-sections for various networks located within a single file. For this, I rely on Civil 3D software or PDS software to generate combined long-sections say of foul and stormwater networks to assess whether the networks are proposed within the same plane or not.

2. The software cannot plot the curved pipes while importing model designs in Civil 3D. This led to manual work of remodelling of curved pipes in Civil 3D which is not only time consuming but also disconnects the 3D models from the designs. I believe, if the software could plot the curved pipes then it could potentially save the time of designers in producing BIM compatible models and checking of modelling work. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

-Calculations of drainage components made simple and easy to understand.

- Attenuation storage size calculation is simple.

- Importing Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) designed in Microdrainage SuDS to network on link or node locations.

- Simulation of network, pipes, manholes, online and offline controls to for design operations as expected.

-Drawnet (Addon option to Civil 3D) is very helpful in working simultaneously with Civil 3D software.

- Easy to make out where the error has been occurred.

- Various inbuilt sections viz Rectangular, trapezoidal, circular etc are easy to import and calculate. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

- Exporting pipe network into Autodesk Civil 3D is not easy.

- Importing 3D surface and 3 Dimensional checking is not easy.

- Drawing catchment areas for network is repetative and time consuming. Making changes to drawn area is not easy.

- After simulation it creates separate MDX files for results. if anyone is opens the model later again they need to run and simulate to see the results. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Replicates the actual scenario to a greater extend. Advantage is that the toolkits associated will make the modelling tasks more easier for you. User-friendly, well defined, and self explanatory. 3D visualisation helps us understand what is happening inside the pipes and chamber network for different events, which helps us take decisions easier during the further modelling stages. Efficient compared to other modelling softwares that used before. CAD compliance helps us build BIM models efficiency. MD Suds makes most of the modelling easier. Other modules are provided for calculating Greenfield flowrates using different methods, for volume calculations etc. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Providing a bit more description about providing flow control chambers in help will be better. Will be helpful if we can connect twin outgoing pipes from the same chamber to understand scenarios which shows filter drains above carrier drains Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

MicroDrainage lets the user to skip the hydrology calculations part as the rainfall is completely embedded in the software and its just the location within the UK that the user must know to proceed with the design. Also the design criteria pane helps the users to provide all the inputs in a single window without juggling around much. The help/user guide will provide a detailed overview of the tool and the search option is very dynamic as it lets the user to dive into the section directly and provide great understanding on how the tool behaves. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

There are couple of things I want to draw out here and hopes it reaches Innovyze

1. While modelling storage structures (eg; detention ponds) if the user selects the node as a Manhole instead of a junction, the tool assigns the dia of the manhole as 10m without any pop-up or warning (although a warning appears when we go for simulation), and during simulation MicroDrainage routes the flows through the 10m Dia manhole before they enter the basin, and as the manhole being 10m is dia has huge storage which is double counted by MicroDrainage during simulation and there is huge risk of underestimating the actual storage volume required or to be executed in site. So I feel the tool shouldn't allow the user to model the storage structures with a Manhole or should make amendment so that the tool pushes a warning about the dia of the manhole being assigned for the manhole in which storage is modelled. This will alarm the user and correct the inputs accordingly.

2. Once a catchment assigned to a node/manhole can't be reassigned to any other node, and it has to be removed and re delineated before one can assign it to another node. My feeling is that there should be flexibility to quickly assign a catchment from one node to another.

3. Also when a node is being removed, no warning pops up about the removal of the catchment assigned to the node (this becomes an issue when the areas are turned off) and user might end up deleting the area assigned to that particular node. It would be great if there is a pop-up that warns the user about the risk (deleting area) factor associated with it.

4. From my experience what I observed is that MicroDrainage has a bizarre way of modelling pumps. Upon simulation I have observed a great mathematical instability in the model (understood after checking the hydrographs) and the user guide doesn't have much on design of pumps neither does the website. So I feel Innovyze should provide some basic training videos in its website on MicroDrainage which would be really helpful for rookies to get a basic understanding of the tool. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The software is very easy to learn and almost all the tools are self explanatory. The interface with Aucad software, Drawnet makes it easy for the engineers to model it very easily and efficiently. The inbuilt FSR data available for UK makes the modelling further easier. The latest updation of the software added an easy way to convert the MD model directly to 3D model. Design audit option helps us to run an audit check on our design standards. Various online and offline control option make the software a complete package for network modelling. The "F1" help button is most helpful option of all. We will get all the details about the software from the help button. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The 3D visualising option could be better. The software is a bit costlier as compare with Bentley counterparts Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

MicroDrainage its an efficient drainage designing tool for the Engineers to easily design quality and accurate designs for the various construction projects.

The tool allows easy integration with other design product like AutoCAD etc, which helps on the design accuracy.

The tool design products are professionally 3d objects like Pipes, Manholes and others, and even the file importing and exporting through the tool its quite simple. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

MicroDrainage, has nothing which i remember as a usability problems. The installation its easy and functions are also simple. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The preliminary rainfall data and all other related constant values are taken by the software very easily by one click. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Not so user friendly when it comes to editing existing pipe network.

Also hardly any options given which can be used for editing the presentation of how the drawing and its labels look (i.e. cannot use it for printing ) Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Iteration between Autocad 2D where you can design in plan and import the design into MicroDrainage. Same for catchments.

It is also helpful to double check pump station requirements for a given design flow.

When the surface water discharges in a river or sea, it is great to obtain the Join Venture for the worst case scenario depending on the network return period and the outfall river/sea level water level return period. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Interaction with Autocad Civil 3D, is not straightforward and you still need to do the initial design in Autocad 2D. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.