Deliver rail and metro stations of any size, form, and complexity

Improve your design quality by optimizing the functional space layout of the station building and the path of travel for the pedestrian. With OpenBuildings Station Designer, you can design, analyze, visualize, and simulate rail and metro stations of any size, form, and complexity. Easily create pedestrian simulation scenarios to improve the quality of your station design and facility operations. Take advantage of building information modeling (BIM) advancements to deliver station design projects faster and with greater confidence in your design, workflow, capabilities, and deliverables. And effectively communicate design intent and eliminate barriers between building disciplines and geographically distributed teams.

Real-life designs for rail and metro stations using OpenBuildings Station Designer

Real-life design scenarios on all types of railway stations

OpenBuildings Station Designer provides you with the necessary workflows, toolsets, and flexibility to address real-life design scenarios on all types of railway stations, including high-speed, commuter, metro, and light rail. You can efficiently explore design alternatives by embedding design intent with expressions and constraint-driven geometry. This approach minimizes repetitive modeling work and improves quality so that your multidiscipline team can evaluate more design alternatives. Built-in visualization allows you to evaluate materials and communicate the design to project stakeholders with renderings and movies. Using ProjectWise, along with industry information exchange standards, enables collaboration and data sharing across all disciplines.

Design railway stations with component catalog and templates available in OpenBuildings Station Designer

Jump-start your designs with component catalog and GC templates

OpenBuildings Station Designer is a multidiscipline BIM application for railway station design and simulation. The application includes a work set with functional space definitions and a catalog of design components, and several GenerativeComponents templates for complex geometry, such as tunnels and platforms. You can improve team collaboration and work alongside OpenRail Designer and OpenRoads Designer through geographic coordinate systems, combining the linear alignment of rail or road design and the vertical construction of the station building. Create simulation scenarios by defining spaces, activities, passenger characteristics, and operational information—such as train timetables—to be used as input to LEGION Simulator, Bentley’s software for simulating and analyzing foot traffic.

Designing complex rail and metro stations with OpenBuildings Station Designer

Handle a wide variety of complex design tasks for rail and metro stations

With this single application, you can handle a wide variety of complex design tasks with capabilities for architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and pedestrian modeling disciplines. The available companion features, including Descartes, and companion applications, such as LumenRT and OpenSite Designer, deliver a collection of functionalities to work on various project types. These capabilities help to reduce the costs of application deployment, learning, and administration. You to collaborate efficiently in a project environment with a dataset that distributes a shared library of building components and production standards. With Bentley’s federated data approach, you can work on and share models and drawings across geographically distributed teams while retaining discipline and responsibility.

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“Using a combination featuring ContextCapture and OpenBuildings Designer, we delivered this design, fabrication, and install on time and under budget.”
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“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.”

Technical Capabilities

All Disciplines

  • Start designing in 3D to explore ideas with free-form modeling
  • Design in context with referenced reality models and point clouds
  • Perform in-product clash detection
  • Produce lifelike renderings and movies
  • Apply company and project standards to models and drawings
  • Exchange data in common formats (i.e. IFC, COBie, RealDWG™, Revit Family RFA, and Sketchup SKP)
  • Incorporate project documents, media, web links, and more with hypermodeling
  • Easily manage data with bidirectional editing in Microsoft Excel
  • Share project information with iModels
  • Enforce production standards within a ProjectWise managed environment
  • Accelerate skillset with access to personalized learning
  • Automate coordinated drawings by controlling drafting styles and annotations

Architectural

  • Accelerate station design with a workset of functional space definitions, design components, and several GenerativeComponents templates for the design of tunnel and platform geometry
  • Manage floor definitions for reference planes and floor groups
  • Define custom grid systems
  • Manage spaces to ensure compliance with owner’s requirements
  • Model custom design stairs and handrails
  • Interactively design configurations of curtain walls

 

Structural

  • Model detailed steel structures, trusses, bar joists, handrail, and ladder assemblies with ProSteel elements
  • Model concrete and timber structures
  • Reference a comprehensive library of international steel and concrete shapes
  • Produce quantity reports and volume and weight analyses
  • Share structural models and analysis using Bentley’s Integrated
  • Structural Modeling (ISM) technology
  • Exchange data with detailing applications using industry standards (i.e. CIS/2, and SDNF)

Mechanical

  • Route multiple pipes simultaneously with different diameters, spacing, end type, insulation, and with manufacturer catalog
  • Parametrically model HVAC, piping, and plumbing systems
  • Define components, paths, and angles to be modeled automatically when completing connections in HVAC and piping systems
  • Dynamically route pipe systems with slope applied or apply as a post process
  • Create and configure air handling units using standard modules
  • Size ductwork based on air flow, velocity, and friction rate
  • Export designs to Trimble’s FabShop for fabrication

 

Electrical

  • Streamline lighting design using smart symbol arrangement tools that are aligned with ceiling grid and wall-mounted components
  • Design electrical circuits and associate with lighting, power, or fire protection panels
  • Automatically label components with user-definable labeling formats for switch designation, circuit numbers, and device IDs
  • Model cable trays, baskets, conduits, and wireways
  • Evaluate lighting level with a bidirectional interface with Relux lighting analysis
  • Produce drawings and block diagrams, lighting, cable, and panel schedules based on user-definable templates

Computational Designs

  • Define objects, assembly relationships, and dimensional constraints to capture design intent to explore a broad range of what-if scenarios
  • Use visual programming techniques to create design solutions, manage dependencies, and orchestrate behaviors between design objects
  • Use mathematical statements to control geometry and define dependencies between design objects
  • Create reusable geometric assemblies extending the range of geometry with embedded intelligent behaviors
  • Define input controls (i.e. sliders and law curves) to dynamically manipulate design components and propagate change within the design
  • Play the design script forward and in reverse incrementally to visualize the design intent and behaviors of design relationships

Energy Simulation

  • Perform whole building energy analysis with analytical space models and conceptual mass models using industry-standard EnergyPlus
  • Calculate design and satisfy building regulation requirements using industry-standard building load calculation methods (i.e. ASHRAE, PartL, and CIBSE)
  • Reference a catalog of predefined standard HVAC system templates
  • Calculate daylight factors using industry-standard Radiance engine
  • Model surrounding buildings to simulate the effect of their shade on the design
  • Create reports and charts for all aspects of building simulation including heating and cooling loads, LEED compliance, annual energy use, equipment sizing requirements, and CO2 emissions

Pedestrian Modeling

  • Import architectural drawings (CAD) to define the physical spaces available for use by pedestrians
  • Specify the pedestrian demand anticipated for a space
  • Designate areas where interim activities, such as queuing or waiting, occur
  • Link operational data to the model
  • Plan routes and automatically lay out navigation maps
  • Export model files for simulation and analysis in LEGION Simulator
All Disciplines

All Disciplines

  • Start designing in 3D to explore ideas with free-form modeling
  • Design in context with referenced reality models and point clouds
  • Perform in-product clash detection
  • Produce lifelike renderings and movies
  • Apply company and project standards to models and drawings
  • Exchange data in common formats (i.e. IFC, COBie, RealDWG™, Revit Family RFA, and Sketchup SKP)
  • Incorporate project documents, media, web links, and more with hypermodeling
  • Easily manage data with bidirectional editing in Microsoft Excel
  • Share project information with iModels
  • Enforce production standards within a ProjectWise managed environment
  • Accelerate skillset with access to personalized learning
  • Automate coordinated drawings by controlling drafting styles and annotations
Architectural

Architectural

  • Accelerate station design with a workset of functional space definitions, design components, and several GenerativeComponents templates for the design of tunnel and platform geometry
  • Manage floor definitions for reference planes and floor groups
  • Define custom grid systems
  • Manage spaces to ensure compliance with owner’s requirements
  • Model custom design stairs and handrails
  • Interactively design configurations of curtain walls

 

Structural

Structural

  • Model detailed steel structures, trusses, bar joists, handrail, and ladder assemblies with ProSteel elements
  • Model concrete and timber structures
  • Reference a comprehensive library of international steel and concrete shapes
  • Produce quantity reports and volume and weight analyses
  • Share structural models and analysis using Bentley’s Integrated
  • Structural Modeling (ISM) technology
  • Exchange data with detailing applications using industry standards (i.e. CIS/2, and SDNF)
Mechanical

Mechanical

  • Route multiple pipes simultaneously with different diameters, spacing, end type, insulation, and with manufacturer catalog
  • Parametrically model HVAC, piping, and plumbing systems
  • Define components, paths, and angles to be modeled automatically when completing connections in HVAC and piping systems
  • Dynamically route pipe systems with slope applied or apply as a post process
  • Create and configure air handling units using standard modules
  • Size ductwork based on air flow, velocity, and friction rate
  • Export designs to Trimble’s FabShop for fabrication

 

Electrical

Electrical

  • Streamline lighting design using smart symbol arrangement tools that are aligned with ceiling grid and wall-mounted components
  • Design electrical circuits and associate with lighting, power, or fire protection panels
  • Automatically label components with user-definable labeling formats for switch designation, circuit numbers, and device IDs
  • Model cable trays, baskets, conduits, and wireways
  • Evaluate lighting level with a bidirectional interface with Relux lighting analysis
  • Produce drawings and block diagrams, lighting, cable, and panel schedules based on user-definable templates
Computational Design

Computational Designs

  • Define objects, assembly relationships, and dimensional constraints to capture design intent to explore a broad range of what-if scenarios
  • Use visual programming techniques to create design solutions, manage dependencies, and orchestrate behaviors between design objects
  • Use mathematical statements to control geometry and define dependencies between design objects
  • Create reusable geometric assemblies extending the range of geometry with embedded intelligent behaviors
  • Define input controls (i.e. sliders and law curves) to dynamically manipulate design components and propagate change within the design
  • Play the design script forward and in reverse incrementally to visualize the design intent and behaviors of design relationships

Energy Simulation

Energy Simulation

  • Perform whole building energy analysis with analytical space models and conceptual mass models using industry-standard EnergyPlus
  • Calculate design and satisfy building regulation requirements using industry-standard building load calculation methods (i.e. ASHRAE, PartL, and CIBSE)
  • Reference a catalog of predefined standard HVAC system templates
  • Calculate daylight factors using industry-standard Radiance engine
  • Model surrounding buildings to simulate the effect of their shade on the design
  • Create reports and charts for all aspects of building simulation including heating and cooling loads, LEED compliance, annual energy use, equipment sizing requirements, and CO2 emissions
Pedestrian Modeling

Pedestrian Modeling

  • Import architectural drawings (CAD) to define the physical spaces available for use by pedestrians
  • Specify the pedestrian demand anticipated for a space
  • Designate areas where interim activities, such as queuing or waiting, occur
  • Link operational data to the model
  • Plan routes and automatically lay out navigation maps
  • Export model files for simulation and analysis in LEGION Simulator
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is OpenBuildings Station Designer?

OpenBuildings Station Designer helps improve your design quality by optimizing the functional space layout of the station building and the path of travel for the pedestrian. With OpenBuildings Station Designer, you can design, analyze, visualize, and simulate rail and metro stations of any size, form, and complexity with building information modeling (BIM) advancements.

How much does OpenBuildings Designer and OpenBuildings Station Designer cost?

A practitioner license of OpenBuildings Designer costs $3,089 USD and OpenBuildings Station Designer costs $5,045 USD. Prices vary 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.

System Requirements

Processor

Intel® or AMD® processor 1.0 GHz or greater

Memory

16 GB minimum, 32 GB recommended

Hard Disk

24 GB free disk space

Video

512 MB of video RAM or higher is recommended

Screen Resolution

1024 x 768 or higher

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