While there are many interesting and useful enhancements made to the OpenBridge Modeler program, we’re going to focus on the addition of the ability to produce a Deck Terrain or Surface in the bridge model on OBM 2024. We use both “Terrain” and “Surface” terms because the detail is created with Terrain properties but is labeled and treated like a Surface.

When the Deck is placed using the Place Deck tool, it will automatically create the Deck Surface if the following Configuration Variable is turned on:

> OBM_GENERATE_TOP_SURFACE_MODEL = 1

This Configuration Variable can be found in the OpenBridgeModeler.cfg file, which is located here: C:\Program Files\Bentley\OpenBridge Modeler 2024.00\OpenBridgeModeler\config\appl\
(The installation may place the Program Files folder elsewhere, possibly on a network drive.)

Once this Configuration Variable has been uncommented and a new OBM session has been started, placing the Deck will provide a Top Surface feature automatically in the 3D Model. This will now be visible in the model of the bridge and Explorer, and can be edited in Properties.

This is where the “acting like a Terrain” comes in. How the Deck Surface is displayed in the 3D View can be controlled by the Calculated and Source Features Display in the Properties dialog, much like for a Terrain. Turning on or off the display of the Triangles, Contours, and other useful information can be accomplished here.

The Deck Surface is supposed to be placed on its own Level controlled through an Element Template, but this did not occur when we tested in version 24.0.0.263. As of this writing, this is the latest version and we have put in an inquiry to Bentley.

Currently, the Deck Surface is placed with the ‘Deck’ Feature Definition. Control of the display of the contours such as the contour spacing and text placement is supposed to be controlled via the Element Template associated with the Deck Surface, similar to how a Terrain’s display is controlled. As mentioned above, this too is not possible at the moment with the Element Template now connected to the Deck Feature Definition.

Another addition to OBM 2024 we would like to highlight is the International Foot WorkSpaces. In adding these WorkSpaces, Bentley has renamed the original WorkSpaces.cfg files and added some more. Here is the list:

• Renamed \WorkSpaces\Imperial Standards.cfg to Imperial (Survey Foot) Standards.cfg
• Renamed \WorkSpaces\Imperial Standards\ to Imperial (Survey Foot) Standards\
• Added \WorkSpaces\Imperial (Foot) Standards.cfg
• Added \WorkSpaces\Imperial (Foot) Standards\
• Added \Organization-Civil\_Bridge Default Standards – Imp_Foot.cfg
• Added \Organization-Civil\_Bridge Default Standards – Imp_Foot\

Other new enhancements in OBM 2024 include:

• Deck Contours
• Steel Beam Elevation Schematic
• Short Chord option in Beam Layout
• Controlling Deck
• Cheekwall Decorators
• Cheekwall option to keep top flat
• Cheekwall Top Slope – follows profile
• Vertical Offset for Cheekwall on inverted Tee Pier
• User-defined Name for Cheekwall
• Wing Wall Report
• Additional Civil Tools added – Point, Modify, Complex Geometry, Common Tools
• Field Splice Flip Bolts
• Field Splice – Helper Images
• Sleeper Slab – Faces now vertical
• Concrete Diaphragm for Steel Girders supports negative offset
• Bearing Transverse rotation
• Abutment Backwall Slope to follow profile
• Report Pier Cap Elevation at Reference Line
• Bearing Area reported as Surface Area
• Automatic cutting of overhanging or embedded Bearing Pedestals, Pads
• Transfer Concrete Diaphragm for Steel Girders to LBS
• Option to specify Staggered Bolts
• Bearing Name Prefix
• Stepped Cap – Width Setting
• Allow Import GVP file from PW
• Square Encased PIles
• Excavation Outlines as 2D Decorators
• Corbel with Horizontal offset on backwall
• Apply Superelevation for Approach Slabs
• Reports for Parametric cells placed as Piers or Abutments
• New Imperial (international foot) WorkSpace
• Item Types for Cross Frames in Concrete Bridges
• Project Explorer – shows profiles associated with Alignments
• Option to Rename Beam Groups
• Parametric Cell – Variables as Item Types
• OpenGround Cloud Integration
• Updated and new Item Types for several bridge elements
• Export to IFC – new option to specify schema mapping file
• New Support and Enhancement ideas icons on Help tab
• Ribbon Changes