OpenBridge Modeler OpenBridge Modeler Tip: Trapezoidal Cap Option for Pile Bent Abutments and Piers In the release of OBM 2025, Bentley has added the option to have a trapezoid-shaped cap for abatements or piers with pile bents. To access this option: In the… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: 2D-3D Model Workflows in OBM 2026 Users have long questioned why OpenRoads Designer and OpenBridge Modeler had different workflows for 2D and 3D models. For consistency between Bentley… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: What’s New in OBD/OBM 2025 Launch OBM in Standalone Mode A big improvement for those who have OpenBridge Designer and wish to open OpenBridge Modeler: with the installation of OBD 2025,… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: Beam Spacing After Deck Widening When a deck’s width is changed, the beam spacing also changes. However, the beam spacing will likely not change to what you actually need it to be. When… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: Using Variable Constraints for Superstructure Component Control Controlling the deck width will be shown in this example by flaring out one end of the deck. For this workflow, you will need the following to be present or… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: Using a Point Control for Superstructure Component Control If you are familiar with roadway templates working with many of the bridge component templates (deck, barriers, etc) will be familiar to you. Constraints and… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: Creating/Editing Point Constraints for Bridge Templates When working with many of the OBM component templates, you’ll notice that the creation and editing of these specific OBM templates is similar to the… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: File Re-Alignment Workaround An OBM file will re-align itself and become an ORD file when an ORD file is attached, thus becoming ‘read-only’ in OBM. We have discovered a major bug… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: Adding “Extra” Deck Components Once a deck has been place, “extra” deck components can be added. To prepare for the new deck component, the existing deck component may need to be… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: Adding a Curb or Sidewalk to the Deck Once a Deck has been placed, “extra” components can be added via the Place Barrier tool such as a curb or sidewalk. These components are extruded… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: What’s New in OBM 2024 Steel Elevations OpenBridge Modeler version 2024 has added the ability to produce a static schematic elevation of a steel beam. Once the steel beams have been… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: What’s New in OBM 2023 There are a number of changes in the 2023 version of OpenBridge Modeler. In a previous article, we covered the 2D/3D separation. This article will be about the… OpenBridge Modeler: What’s New in OBM 2024 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… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: What’s New in OBM 2023 The 2023 version of OpenBridge Modeler brings a number of changes. We’ll discuss one specific feature in this tip due to its impact. 2D/3D Separation… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: Finding the Tool Settings Window and a Missing Toolbox One problem that has continued to plague users occurs when the Tool Settings window or a Toolbox goes missing. The possibility of this issue occurring… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: Bridge Report Tips A few simple tricks can help to make Bridge Reports more effective. Adding Deck Elevations to the Bridge Report If a deck template does not have a certain… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: Bringing Bridge Reports into Sheet Models There are a couple of options that make it possible to add a report generated in OpenBridge Modeler into the Sheet Models. First, create a report in OBM using… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: Moving the Bridge to a Different Alignment Using the Alignment Tool to Move to Another Alignment When creating a Bridge Model, one of the first steps is to assign an Alignment to the Bridge. Sometimes… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: Getting the Station, Offset, and Elevation of a Point on a Bridge Using the Analyze Point Tool in OpenBridge Modeler Finding the Station, Offset, and Elevation of a point on a bridge model in OBM uses two well-known civil… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: Updating Referenced Views in a Sheet Model Editing Sheet Model Referenced Views from Callouts The following workflow is an answer to a specific question but it can be used anytime the reference view in… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: Add Bridge Dialog Toggles When to Use Bridge Alignment vs Roadway Alignment When using the Add Bridge tool, the dialog offers two toggle options: Requires Road Alignment and Use Road… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: Creating a Corbel Once an abutment has been created, a corbel can be added. In this example, a corbel will be added for the approach slab. OpenBridge Modeler Tip: How to Have the Corbel Follow the Approach Slab Slope When you create a corbel for the approach slab, OpenBridge Modeler will automatically assign the slope of the deck to the corbel. It is possible to make the… OpenBridge Modeler Tip: Modify the Deck for Superelevation Adding a Superelevation to a bridge deck can be done manually, and even varying the slope is possible. The following steps will address both of these options… OpenBridge Tip: OpenBridge Designer or OpenBridge Modeler? When organizations are investigating the use of an OpenBridge program, inevitably the question arises: “Should we use OpenBridge Designer or OpenBridge…
