G2

Pedro M.

AECOsim / OpenBuildings CONNECT Trainer - Master in BIM Metodology & Management

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5/23/2022

"OpenBuildings is the most flexible BIM app for big multidisciplinary infrastructure projects"

4.5/5

What do you like best about OpenBuildings Designer?

OpenBuildings CAD core (MicroStation) is shared by most Bentley apps, which makes it very versatile for geometry demanding projects such as big infrastructure ones. It is easy to create generic 3D CAD geometry like the one in tunnels or roads, and add data at a later stage taking geometry models into true BIM ones.

The federated model system based on referenced DGNs is very flexible too and makes the work with OpenBuildings -as all the other Bentley tools- to be easily structured for large teams. It can be used without any problem not only on an EDMS system like the one offered by Bentley (ProjectWise) but even on local ones like a server-based company network.

In the same way, producing 2D drawings is easy due to the fact of having all the MicroStation tools available.

Regarding BIM interoperability, OpenBuildings not only has good IFC export options but is also well integrated with the market-dominant Autodesk tools. The possibility of using DWG as native makes it far more flexible, and even there is an option to use native Revit RFAs libraries.

OpenBuildings i-Model options are also a good way to handle the need for a signed and secured delivery model, an aspect that even though is essential when working with complex geometry full-of-data BIM models, is still not taken into consideration in most BIM & CAD apps. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about OpenBuildings Designer?

Since it is a BIM app that comes from the 90s, and even the CONNECT upgrade was a huge change, there are still some specific tools that should be updated like, say, creating compound walls or instance annotation tools. Every update, though, comes with an update in a specific tool (like Curtain Walls or Compound Slabs), so it will probably be updated soon.

It would be good also to review the data system to become more unified. I mean, it would be good to have the Family & Parts systems be just a "material" setting of the Datagroup system, and not as a whole separated system as is still now, in which there are settings that there are no longer in use.

As a plus, it would be fantastic to add an option to open Autodesk RVT files. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering OpenBuildings Designer:

In my opinion, OpenBuildings Designer is the most complete BIM tool to use in big multidisciplinary infrastructure projects. It can be used easily to handle complex geometry and turn them quickly into true BIM models. Even though it may look very "different" from the competitor's apps approach it is for me far more organized and adaptable to any kind of project than any other tool. The federated model system of its MicroStation CAD core makes it also perfect for big teams' work. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is OpenBuildings Designer solving and how is that benefiting you?

I have been using Bentley tools since the 90s, and OpenBuildings has been my only BIM tool since around 2014. What I value the most is that OpenBuildings doesn't necessarily ask you to start creating a project in "BIM" mode: The ability to start a project as a single 2D CAD one, then move to 3D for visualization and then a complete BIM one allows me to use it for preliminary projects, contests, full BIM projects or infrastructure ones in a flexible way. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.