Enhancing Project Efficiency Using OpenRoads Software Tools

Can you speed up your civil engineering project timelines while delivering faster results?

The OpenRoads Designer software has transformed how engineering firms approach infrastructure project execution. The combination of robust modeling features together with an integrated workflow explains why OpenRoads Designer achieves exceptional results.

Project delivery times decrease significantly
Design accuracy improves dramatically
Cross-team collaboration becomes seamless

But here’s the problem…

Numerous engineering teams fail to utilize OpenRoads software to its complete potential. Teams that fail to leverage OpenRoads miss valuable productivity benefits that this powerful software provides.

In this article, I’ll break down exactly how you can enhance your project efficiency using OpenRoads and why proper OpenRoads training is essential to unlock your team’s full potential.

Let’s dive in!

What You’ll Learn:

What Makes OpenRoads Different from Traditional CAD
Key Features That Boost Project Efficiency
Real-World Efficiency Gains from OpenRoads Implementation
Essential Training Requirements for Team Success
Integration with Other Bentley Products

What Makes OpenRoads Different from Traditional CAD

OpenRoads Designer represents a revolutionary approach to civil infrastructure project design that goes beyond typical CAD functionalities.

The biggest difference? The parametric 3D modeling approach.

Traditional CAD systems do not generate intelligent connections between design parts whereas OpenRoads does. OpenRoads automatically updates several components when you change a road alignment.

Cross sections
Drainage structures
Quantity calculations
Plan production sheets

The automation provided by OpenRoads saves vast amounts of time typically spent on manual updates while significantly minimizing errors.

Industry statistics show that Bentley OpenRoads serves 81.51% of its customers in the United States which establishes its position as the leading software choice for civil engineering projects in America.

Key Features That Boost Project Efficiency

OpenRoads delivers multiple robust features which focus on increasing productivity and making workflow processes smoother. Let’s explore the most impactful ones:

1. Reality Modeling

The platform delivers impressive efficiency gains through its ability to integrate reality capture data straight into the design workspace. This allows you to:

Import drone imagery and LiDAR point clouds
Create accurate existing conditions models
Identify design conflicts early
Reduce field verification visits

The results? Site analysis becomes much faster while construction surprises significantly decrease.

2. Corridor Modeling

OpenRoads’ corridor modeling capabilities transform the traditional approach to road design development.

Template-driven design ensures consistency
Dynamic relationships between alignment, profile, and cross-sections
Automated earthwork calculations
Quick iteration of design alternatives

The new method accelerates the design process without sacrificing quality standards.

Want to know the best part? You can make design modifications in minutes rather than days whenever project requirements change which is inevitable.

3. Civil Cells

Civil cells function as ready-made design elements that you can integrate directly into your project.

Standard intersections
Drainage structures
Traffic islands
Other common design elements

Your organization’s design process time will shorten significantly if you develop a library of civil cells that follow your standards for repetitive elements.

The time savings are incredible. Standard intersection designs now take teams only 15 minutes to complete instead of the original 3-4 hour duration.

4. Automated Plan Production

The production of plan sheets serves as the primary time-consuming task in civil engineering projects. OpenRoads transforms this process through:

Drawing template automation
Dynamic sheet generation
Automated annotation
Sheet indexing and organization

This system achieves up to 70% reduction in plan production time when it is set up correctly.

And here’s the kicker…

Design modifications trigger automatic updates to your plan sheets. You can say goodbye to exhaustive manual updates for multiple sheets.

Real-World Efficiency Gains from OpenRoads Implementation

Engineering companies from different industries are seeing real benefits from using OpenRoads. OpenRoads Designer serves companies of varying sizes with small organizations representing 17%, medium companies making up 39%, and large enterprises accounting for 40%.

Here’s what real users are experiencing:

Time Savings

Engineering teams achieve substantial time reductions throughout different stages of their projects.

30-40% reduction in preliminary design time
50-60% faster revisions when changes occur
65% reduction in plan production time

Firms utilize these efficiencies to expand their project load or decrease overtime expenses.

But it gets better…

The most impressive improvements occur when clients submit design change requests. Revisions that once required days of rework can now be completed in just hours. The ability to quickly adapt to constant changes makes this capability particularly beneficial in modern fast-moving project settings.

Error Reduction

The parametric attributes of OpenRoads significantly decrease the number of design errors.

Fewer coordination issues between plan and profile
More accurate quantity takeoffs
Reduced RFIs during construction
Better clash detection with utilities

Clients experience cost savings along with increased satisfaction as a direct result of these improvements.

Think about this:

Construction projects face thousands of dollars in delay costs and rework expenses for each RFI issued. The software pays for itself through the first project by catching design issues early on.

Better Visualization

Users can create 3D visualizations effortlessly which leads to:

Clearer communication with stakeholders
Earlier identification of design issues
More effective public presentations
Enhanced coordination with other disciplines

Project success in today’s competitive business world now requires essential visualization capabilities.

Essential Training Requirements for Team Success

Powerful software alone does not guarantee success because your team must also master its effective use. Dedicated OpenRoads training becomes extremely valuable here.

Training Investment vs. Return

Numerous companies show reluctance to fund extensive training programs yet numerical evidence demonstrates a powerful narrative.

Trained teams reach full productivity 3-4x faster
Teams that receive proper training experience a reduction in support calls by 70%
Teams with formal training employ 65% more productivity features than their untrained counterparts.

Proper training delivers its return on investment during the execution of the first 2-3 projects.

Training Approaches

Different training approaches suit different organizational needs:

Structured classroom training
Project-specific mentoring
On-demand video resources
Custom workflow documentation

Successful implementations usually integrate multiple training approaches.

Continuous Learning

OpenRoads expands through new features and capabilities. A continuous learning culture keeps your team at the forefront of industry developments.

Regular skill-building sessions
Internal knowledge sharing
Participation in user groups
Following Bentley’s educational resources

Investing consistently in your team ensures they retain updated skills while keeping your organization ahead in the competitive field.

Integration with Other Bentley Products

OpenRoads excels in its seamless functionality with other Bentley products which together build a complete project delivery ecosystem.

ProjectWise Integration

ProjectWise integration provides:

Centralized data management
Version control
Workflow automation
Access control

The integration benefits large organizations that represent a substantial group within the OpenRoads user base. The use of OpenRoads Designer spans companies that typically have between 1000-5000 employees and generate annual revenues between $10M-$50M.

Managing complex projects benefits from the capability to allow multiple designers to work together simultaneously while avoiding version conflicts and workflow disruptions.

OpenBridge Integration

OpenRoads and OpenBridge integration enables:

Seamless roadway-to-bridge transitions
Shared terrain models
Coordinated drainage systems
Unified visualization

This approach removes the historical separation between road and bridge design teams.

Key Insights

OpenRoads Designer brings groundbreaking improvements to civil engineering technology through enhanced efficiency and coordination capabilities. The data proves Bentley OpenRoads success because 81.51% of its users are from the United States and the platform draws customers of various business scales.

To maximize your return on investment:

Provide your team with thorough openroads training to ensure they maximize their skills.
Develop standardized templates and workflows
Build a library of reusable design components
Integrate with complementary Bentley products
Stay current with new features and capabilities

When you implement OpenRoads strategically you unlock its full potential while gaining substantial competitive leadership in civil engineering.

OpenRoads transforms infrastructure projects throughout their lifecycle by changing how they are designed, delivered and managed rather than simply doing work faster.