MicroStation is the instrument professionals rely on to design, model, and manage infrastructure.

It’s more sophisticated than a tool, it’s an accessible instrument that offers power, control, efficiency, and security. It enables users to deliver innovative designs and creative visualizations and consolidates critical project elements in a single environment for effective, secure project deliverables.

With MicroStation, you can:

  • Model anything, anywhere with geospatial context
  • Create conceptual and detailed drafting, drawing, and modeling for any industry
  • Design, communicate, and deliver your infrastructure projects in a single platform

Integrate any data type

MicroStation supports and integrates more than 7x the number of file formats than our competitors. Incorporate legacy client data and a variety of file formats like DWG, SHP, and point-cloud data without the need for data conversions. And easily integrate models, drawings, documents, and data from other disciplines.

GeoSpatial_Desktop_Monitor

Localize and add geospatial context

Integrate geospatial information from thousands of supported coordinate systems into your designs. Access data from Esri ArcGIS™ REST Feature and Map Services, OGC Web Map Servers, use real-time GPS data, Microsoft Bing maps, and create and reference geospatial PDFs.

Complex Projects MicroStation

Produce all deliverables with one application

Automate drawing sheets, models, visualizations, multi-discipline documentation sets, and embedded BIM data. Generate high-quality deliverables such as paper plots, 2D/3D PDFs, i-models, and 3D physical models.  Reduce the risk of project delays and errors, adapt to project changes, and save time with MicroStation.

Testimonial_Quote_Marks
“The reliability of Bentley's modeling environment, and ease of interoperability with other platforms allowed the Emerson Los Angeles team to work collaboratively and collectively throughout the project's lifecycle. The shared access to BIM data allowed all stakeholders to effectively and efficiently work in an open platform to deliver this innovative building on budget and on schedule.”
Testimonial_Quote_Marks
“Virtuosity's practitioner license offered my small engineering firm a simple, cost-effective solution to utilize the latest structural analysis software to provide quality project deliverables as efficiently as possible. As added bonuses, there are expert services available to keep me informed about new technologies as well as online training opportunities to help me further maximize my software investment.”
Virtuosity Testimonial
“In addition to the advantage of Virtuosity's Virtuoso Subscription, which includes expert services and training, having the ability to purchase practitioner licenses also enables us unlimited usage and access to the software products in our national and international offices. As a result, we can support projects with an international team more effectively and by constantly applying the latest developments of Virtuosity's products, we ensure our competitiveness in the market and the best results for our customers.”

Technical Capabilities

Develop better design, faster

Draft in 2D: Develop precise drawings using a comprehensive set of drafting tools to efficiently create 2D geometry. Rapidly progress your designs from concept to completion using persistent constraints to maintain your design intent.

Model in 3D: Develop models in real context with a wide range of 3D modeling tools. Build and edit curve, surface, mesh, feature, and solids models. Build functional and parametric components with predefined variations to simplify managing and finding many similar components.

Develop Comprehensive Model Documentation: Present documentation and related design information within the spatial context of the 3D model to significantly improve their clarity. Embed links to related Microsoft Office documents and websites. Easily navigate from content in one file or model to others.

Analyze and Visualize Models: Analyze and visualize models based on their geometry or attributes. Detect and resolve clashes; perform analysis of real-world solar exposure and shading. Apply real-time display styles to visualize models based on each object’s height, slope, aspect angle, and other embedded properties.

Accelerate Workflows: Speed design tasks and related workflows with intelligent interactive snapping. Improve productivity with the AccuDraw tool for dynamic data entry with heads-up display. Customize and group tools and tasks and reduce keystrokes with keyboard position mapping and the ability to customize cursor menus.

Secure your Data: Ensure that only certain individuals can view and/or edit files. You can ensure the integrity of your documents using digital signatures and control the digital rights to view, edit, print, and copy file contents, including a pre-defined expiration date when the file can be accessed

Better Inform Teams

Create Animations Produce realistic movies and simulations from design, construction, and operational models with the built-in VUE rendering engine. Choose from keyframe and time-based animation. Get the results you want, faster, using live on-screen animation previews and distributed network processing.

Create Lifelike Renderings Create lifelike visualizations using a built-in VUE Rendering engine. Use online and delivered libraries of physically correct materials, lighting, and rich photorealistic content (RPC). Get results faster with distributed network rendering.

Generate Intelligent Documentation Generate consistent, high-quality paper and digital deliverables such as paper plots, reports, 2D/3D PDFs, and 3D physical models. Automate and speed annotation, display styles, and reports by generating them directly from the embedded properties of objects. This automates and speeds annotation display styles, and visual reports, and gives you confidence that they will always remain in sync with the model during work in progress.

Create Your Digital Twin Easily start synchronizing your existing designs with an iModel to take advantage of a Digital Twin. Share the Digital Twin with your project team to see the latest revisions and changes to the project.

Review Designs Collaboratively Work in real-time with your project team members reviewing/tracking/ resolving with the Issue Resolution Service. Identify, assign, and review the progress of revisions and changes for any type of issue that arises in the model.

Maintain and Enforce Standards Ensure the proper application of organizational and project specific standards. Apply templates to control geometry and data standards such as styles for dimensions, text, lines, detail symbols, and more. Once designs are complete, use automated tools to check drawings for standards compliance.

Freedom to focus on design

Geospatially Locate Projects Integrate geospatial information from hundreds of supported coordinate systems into your designs. Access data from OGC Web Map Servers, use realtime GPS data, Microsoft Bing maps, and create and reference geospatial PDFs.

Incorporate Common Design Formats Easily read, share, and consume precise data in key industry formats such as Autodesk®’s RealDWG™ (share and consume), IFC (read), Esri SHP (read), and more. Aggregate and assemble multiple file formats including PDF, U3D, 3DS, Rhino 3DM, IGES, Parasolid, ACIS SAT, CGM, STEP AP203/AP214, STL, OBJ, VRMLWorld, SketchUp SKP, and Collada.

Incorporate Referenced Design Content View and work with design information from others in real-time using live referencing of 2D/3D DGN, DWG, and large image files, refreshed on demand. You can even natively reference PDF files into your designs.

Integrate Point Clouds Easily incorporate a wide range and scale of point-cloud data into the design environment. “Visualize, render, and measure point-cloud data to better understand existing conditions and speed dimensioning and modeling.

Integrate Raster Imagery Easily incorporate raster imagery of all types, including aerial and satellite imagery, and scanned documents. Choose from dozens of supported file formats including CALS, BMP, TIF, GeoTIFF, JPG, and many more.

Integrate Reality Meshes Incorporate realistic, photo-textured 3D models or reality meshes into your designs. These highly realistic models can be used directly in the design environment as the basis for your design and construction modeling for faster and better-quality models.

Manage Design Changes Track and easily understand changes made to design files, even at the component level, throughout their lifecycle. View, plot, and selectively roll back any individual changes made throughout the history of a file.

Work in a Personalized Environment Confidently work in the right context for each project because the required settings and standards are automatically applied. Take advantage of personalized recommendations to help you get the most from your use of the software.

Extend and Customize Workflows Streamline your workflow and integrate with enterprise systems using a wide range of available tools to customize the user interface. Develop solutions using Microsoft (VBA), .NET, C++, C# as well as user-defined macros.

better design, faster

Develop better design, faster

Draft in 2D: Develop precise drawings using a comprehensive set of drafting tools to efficiently create 2D geometry. Rapidly progress your designs from concept to completion using persistent constraints to maintain your design intent.

Model in 3D: Develop models in real context with a wide range of 3D modeling tools. Build and edit curve, surface, mesh, feature, and solids models. Build functional and parametric components with predefined variations to simplify managing and finding many similar components.

Develop Comprehensive Model Documentation: Present documentation and related design information within the spatial context of the 3D model to significantly improve their clarity. Embed links to related Microsoft Office documents and websites. Easily navigate from content in one file or model to others.

Analyze and Visualize Models: Analyze and visualize models based on their geometry or attributes. Detect and resolve clashes; perform analysis of real-world solar exposure and shading. Apply real-time display styles to visualize models based on each object’s height, slope, aspect angle, and other embedded properties.

Accelerate Workflows: Speed design tasks and related workflows with intelligent interactive snapping. Improve productivity with the AccuDraw tool for dynamic data entry with heads-up display. Customize and group tools and tasks and reduce keystrokes with keyboard position mapping and the ability to customize cursor menus.

Secure your Data: Ensure that only certain individuals can view and/or edit files. You can ensure the integrity of your documents using digital signatures and control the digital rights to view, edit, print, and copy file contents, including a pre-defined expiration date when the file can be accessed

Inform teams

Better Inform Teams

Create Animations Produce realistic movies and simulations from design, construction, and operational models with the built-in VUE rendering engine. Choose from keyframe and time-based animation. Get the results you want, faster, using live on-screen animation previews and distributed network processing.

Create Lifelike Renderings Create lifelike visualizations using a built-in VUE Rendering engine. Use online and delivered libraries of physically correct materials, lighting, and rich photorealistic content (RPC). Get results faster with distributed network rendering.

Generate Intelligent Documentation Generate consistent, high-quality paper and digital deliverables such as paper plots, reports, 2D/3D PDFs, and 3D physical models. Automate and speed annotation, display styles, and reports by generating them directly from the embedded properties of objects. This automates and speeds annotation display styles, and visual reports, and gives you confidence that they will always remain in sync with the model during work in progress.

Create Your Digital Twin Easily start synchronizing your existing designs with an iModel to take advantage of a Digital Twin. Share the Digital Twin with your project team to see the latest revisions and changes to the project.

Review Designs Collaboratively Work in real-time with your project team members reviewing/tracking/ resolving with the Issue Resolution Service. Identify, assign, and review the progress of revisions and changes for any type of issue that arises in the model.

Maintain and Enforce Standards Ensure the proper application of organizational and project specific standards. Apply templates to control geometry and data standards such as styles for dimensions, text, lines, detail symbols, and more. Once designs are complete, use automated tools to check drawings for standards compliance.

Focus on design

Freedom to focus on design

Geospatially Locate Projects Integrate geospatial information from hundreds of supported coordinate systems into your designs. Access data from OGC Web Map Servers, use realtime GPS data, Microsoft Bing maps, and create and reference geospatial PDFs.

Incorporate Common Design Formats Easily read, share, and consume precise data in key industry formats such as Autodesk®’s RealDWG™ (share and consume), IFC (read), Esri SHP (read), and more. Aggregate and assemble multiple file formats including PDF, U3D, 3DS, Rhino 3DM, IGES, Parasolid, ACIS SAT, CGM, STEP AP203/AP214, STL, OBJ, VRMLWorld, SketchUp SKP, and Collada.

Incorporate Referenced Design Content View and work with design information from others in real-time using live referencing of 2D/3D DGN, DWG, and large image files, refreshed on demand. You can even natively reference PDF files into your designs.

Integrate Point Clouds Easily incorporate a wide range and scale of point-cloud data into the design environment. “Visualize, render, and measure point-cloud data to better understand existing conditions and speed dimensioning and modeling.

Integrate Raster Imagery Easily incorporate raster imagery of all types, including aerial and satellite imagery, and scanned documents. Choose from dozens of supported file formats including CALS, BMP, TIF, GeoTIFF, JPG, and many more.

Integrate Reality Meshes Incorporate realistic, photo-textured 3D models or reality meshes into your designs. These highly realistic models can be used directly in the design environment as the basis for your design and construction modeling for faster and better-quality models.

Manage Design Changes Track and easily understand changes made to design files, even at the component level, throughout their lifecycle. View, plot, and selectively roll back any individual changes made throughout the history of a file.

Work in a Personalized Environment Confidently work in the right context for each project because the required settings and standards are automatically applied. Take advantage of personalized recommendations to help you get the most from your use of the software.

Extend and Customize Workflows Streamline your workflow and integrate with enterprise systems using a wide range of available tools to customize the user interface. Develop solutions using Microsoft (VBA), .NET, C++, C# as well as user-defined macros.

Virtuoso Subscription

Stay nimble and lower costs

We’ve bundled a 12-month license for trusted Bentley software with customizable training from experts and call it our Virtuoso Subscription. With lower upfront costs and flexible support options, businesses of all sizes can now compete with the industry’s heavy hitters.

LEARN MORE

 

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Explore our CAD and Visualization webinars for best practices and engage with Virtuosity and Bentley industry experts.

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Blogs

Read our Infrastructure Insights blog to find tips and tricks and CAD and Visualization user success stories from around the world.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bentley MicroStation?

MicroStation is the computer-aided design (CAD) software that users worldwide trust for creating precise 2D and 3D drawings for infrastructure projects. Engineers, architects, and construction professionals openly collaborate to deliver inspiring projects, utilizing the industry leading DGN file format.

  • Draft, annotate, and freely design 2D geometry and 3D models at any scale
  • Ensure project quality by enforcing CAD standards with robust configuration capabilities
  • Utilize data needed to deliver your projects, no matter when it was created
  • Produce consistent, high-quality deliverables, such as paper plots, reports, 2D/3D PDFs, iModels, and 3D models

MicroStation provide a comprehensive set of 3D CAD capabilities which include creating models and renderings, performing various analyses, animations, and more.

How much is a MicroStation license?

The price of MicroStation varies per region. While there are various types of licensing available, a common choice is the 12-month practitioner license offered through Virtuosity, Bentley’s eCommerce store. When you purchase through Virtuosity, you get a Virtuoso Subscription. This means you get the software and “Keys” (tokens) to redeem for customizable training, mentoring, and consulting services.

Is MicroStation hard to learn?

The average user reported three to six months with adequate training to become proficient in MicroStation. Every software purchase through Virtuosity comes as a bundle with “Keys” or training credits to ensure you get the training and expert services you need to get started right away. We call this bundle the Virtuoso Subscription.

Your purchase of MicroStation includes 3 Keys. You can redeem the Keys for expert services such as consulting, mentoring, customized instruction, one-to-one mentoring and/or on-demand learning.

How can I learn MicroStation for free?

You can learn about MicroStation for free by watching the tutorial videos. Additionally, you can request an evaluation license from our Virtuosity product sales engineer via the Chat Bot on this page.

What is the difference between AutoCAD and MicroStation?

The differences between AutoCAD and MicroStation can be found on our comprehensive list of over 100 MicroStation features and capabilities. Check out the feature-by-feature comparison between MicroStation and AutoCAD. Compare now

Where can I get support for MicroStation, in the event I run into an issue with the software?

You can post your question(s) and receive peer to peer help as well as Bentley colleague support at our MicroStation Communities Support.

Where can I find out about the latest capabilities of MicroStation CONNECT Edition?

Check out the latest release announcement on our Bentley Communities forum.

System Requirements

Processor

Intel Pentium-based or AMD Athlon based processor 2.0 GHz or greater

Operating System

Windows 10 (64-bit) – Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education
Windows 8 (64-bit) – Standard, Pro, and Enterprise
Windows 8.1 (64-bit) – Standard, Pro, and Enterprise
Windows 7 SP1 (64-bit) – Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 (64 bit) – Standard and Enterprise
Windows Server 2012 (64 bit)

Internet connectivity is required to use some of the features of the product and installation of software pre-requisites.

Microsoft Internet Explorer, minimum v8.0, recommended v9.0 or later, with 128-bit cipher strength is also required.

Also supports Citrix XenApp 6.5 64-bit on Windows Server 2008 R2

Memory

1 GB minimum, 2 GB recommended, (more memory typically results in better performance)

Disk Space

1.25 GB minimum free disk space

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