QuickStart for OpenSite Designer

This information is intended to provide OpenSite Designer users with quick steps to create and analyze information in DGNs for non-corridor design activities.

Create New DGNs

If your project is in ProjectWise - follow these instructions to use the ProjectWise Explorer to create new DGNs.

If your work is on a mapped drive or on a network server share - follow these instructions to use your CADD application to create new DGNs. Note - OpenSite Designer is used mostly by Survey, so the default seed file has been set to OpenSite_Seed3D.dgn for creating terrains. If you are creating a DGN for geometry, you will need to change the seed file using the [Browse] button.

"wrk" versus "pub" versus "bas_CF"

The recommended practice for naming and referencing civil design files is:

Begin your civil design in "pub" files - published files will contain the civil design that you will attach to container files for sharing with others and using for contract plans and quantity estimates.
As needed, use "wrk" or working files to hold civil data that should not be shared, examples are options that were not used and draft notes. "wrk" files may be attached as references to a "pub" file.
Use civil container files, "bas_CF" to share your civil design with others and with the contract plans production process. Do this by attaching "pub" files as references with No Nesting. When the hierarchy and referencing is performed this way, it does not allow access to the "wrk" files and prevents others from accessing your data that is not ready for prime time.

Preparing for Civil Work

The best practice for new civil DGN files is to begin with a 2D seed file for all civil work, except for terrains and survey fieldbook data begin with a 3D seed file.

TERR

DGN files that will hold terrain models should be created from a 3D seed file. Terrains may be imported from a legacy-type file, created new from features, or created from fieldbook data.

GEOM, CORR, CIVL, FEAT, OPNP, XSEC, and Container Files

All civil data, except terrains, should be created by beginning with a 2D seed file. An important step to prepare a civil DGN file for 3D design and for use by others is to attach a terrain as a reference and set the terrain active.

Set as Active Terrain Model is a critical final step in the creation of civil container files.

Setting a terrain active in a 2D DGN file causes the following:

Creates an ORD/OSD-managed 3D model
Attaches 3D models in current references to the new 3D model
Self-references the new 3D model into the 2D model of the active file with live nesting, and
When you make reference attachments in the future, it attaches their 3D models to the 3D model in the active file automatically

Opening a DGN from a ProjectWise project that has a 9_WorkSet folder will ensure that the OregonDOT WorkSpace and ODOT standards are loaded.

When you double-click on the desktop icon, make sure you select the OregonDOT WorkSpace and the ODOT WorkSet. Choose [Yes] when prompted to restart to load the configuration.

The first step after opening a new DGN file is to attach data from other sources as a reference to the Default model.

Civil Data that is ready for sharing is stored in the 6_Civil_Data folder. When attaching references to terrain or geometry container files, always attach the Default model using Live Nesting with a Depth = 1.

When attaching a reference to an OPNP file in the 2_Plan_Sheets folder, you will typically select a drawing-type model and will need to increase the nesting depth to 3 in order to see the published civil data.

Models, Container Files, Live Nesting: Slides | Webinar

The grid in a dynamic profile model may not be printed. The dynamic profile model is not available for reference attachment to other files. The dynamic profile model is for you to use to display the data against a grid to analyze the situation.

How to Open a Profile Window (47 seconds)

Elevation and Profile Information from Terrains (PDF) (1:01:32 Webinar)

To display a dynamic cross section view, open a second view window.

Use the view controls: Right-press in View 1 and select View Control>2 Views Plan/XS. Click [OK] to create a dynamic XS view, then respond to prompts by left-clicking. 1. select the alignment, 2. set the left offset, 3. set the right offset, 4. set the initial station, and 5. set the interval - then, 6. left-click in the second open view window.

Snip of View 8 displaying the dynamic cross sections with the controls on the title bar at the top

Permanent profiles are delivered to the design and plans production processes by using an OPNP file, saved in the 2_Plan_Sheets folder. The models in an OPNP file may be attached as references and may be printed. To cut a long profile, use the Profile Long Inch 100 drawing boundary.

Design Deliverables Webinar - Long Profile

Design Deliverables for Plans Production

Cross sections are delivered to the design processes by using a XSEC_bas file, saved in the 6_Civil_Data folder. Stacked cross sections may be viewed in the DGN or plotted to a roll plotter. Cross sections cut into 11x17 sheets are more suitable for PDFs.

Design Deliverables Webinar - Cross Sections

Design Deliverables for Plans Production

Below are webinars that explore key concepts that every designer and CAD technician using the ODOT standards and Bentley CAD software should understand about the design deliverables and plans production process.

Foundations: Models, Container Files, Live Nesting and Design Deliverables (Slides) - (56:35 Webinar)

Drawing Boundaries for the Plans Production Process (Slides) - (54:22 Webinar)

Civil Profile and Alternating Plan & Profile (Slides) - (57:16 Webinar)

Design Deliverables and Plan Sheet Production (Slides) - (56:58 Webinar)

OpenSite Lite Part 1: Annotations and Civil Container File (45:51)

OpenSite Lite Part 2: Plan Annotations, Station, Offset, and Elevation Information (41:31)

OpenSite Lite Part 3: Cross Sections For Construction Quantities (55:23)