What modeling software do you use?

We are just getting into machine control. We have been using Civil 3D for 2 years now (previously Land Desktop) and we are getting into machine control. We have one guy in the company with experience doing this type of work and is recomending Terramodel as being superior to Civil 3D in it's ability to create accurate models quickly. As a CAD manager I see the benefit of devolping modeling skills within the software that the rest of the firm is using. Is Terramodel better for machine control modeling? What are other people using?

He's also said that contractors are requesting Terramodel. My understanding is what they get is derived from a 3D TIN file and what it was created in is only relavent to the person generating the 3D model. Is this accurate?

Thanks, Doug

We have been modeling sites and roads for approximately 6 years, and have primarily used TerraModel.  However, the recent trend in modeling software is to use a dynamic based software package, which TerraModel is not.  We have used Civil 3D to model surfaces and corridors, but have found the corridor modeling to be somewhat cumbersome.  Trimble has released it's next generation of data preparation software (Trimble Business Center - Heavy Construction Edition), and it does a pretty nice job of modeling sites and basic corridors (but not complex corridors).  However, I have still found that nothing (as of right now) can match TerraModel in terms of flexibility.

As far as your second question ... contractors should be able to handle any type of tin file that you provide to them.  They may be requesting TerraModel files since that is the software package that they are running, but you can import LandXML, 3D Faces, Tin, etc. into TerraModel without losing any integrity of the design surface.  So I wouldn't let the contractors dictate which software package you purchase ... they should be able to deal with whatever you give them.

Thanks Dennis, Very helpful information. It sounds like TerraModel may be the way to go right now. It seems like Autodesk is pursuing the DOT market which would mean a lot of R&D invested in the corridor tools in Civil 3D in which case, we may see a lot of improvement in future releases.

Doug

Just be cautious with a TerraModel purchase ... I'm not sure if Trimble is going to update this software in the future.  They are really pushing the development of Trimble Business Center, which means TerraModel could go by the waste side.

For modeling "old" Terramodel is 10x better than Civil3D.

The contractor may request the Terramodel file so they can adjust areas when needed without having to send them out for minor revisions.

When a surface is imported into Terramodel that was created in another program, looses a lot of the capabilities to easily adjust the surface.

When editing a surface in TM you are not messing with the "links" between points if not part of a sloping 3d line.

See attached pics of the same surface with and without the "links".    Having the "links" as true sloping lines makes the surface larger and harder to manipulate.

Tin lines



 

I am the CAD Dept Manager for a small surveying company in NJ. We do a wide variety of surveying tasks. I have been using Terramodel since it was a DOS program. I have seen many changes over the years some for the better some not so much. But I have to say that the modeling functions of Terramodel are the best overall. I have done work on Landfills, Highway Construction, Environmental Surveys & Topo, all using Terramodel and it beats  the options hands down. It also has the best and easiest functions for doing volume calculations which would be the next step in using the modeling functions.

I also have my own business doing CAD work for small surveyors and use Terramodel as my main software package because of its abiity to import/export AutoCAD and Microstation files.

FYI - I saw Harry Ward has a timely article in Site Prep magazine this month reviewing the 3 main design firm solutions, Bentley Power/Geopak, Civil 3D and Carlson. We just switched to PowerGeo 2 months ago and are very happy with it. It NEVER crashes, has all of the tools we need and is actually quite easy to lay out complex solutions. The Microstation base alllows for read/write of DGN and DWG, and has formats for all of the major 3DMC providers. So we have no problems in 3D data prep at all.

The DOT's all provide us with digital files and they all use Microstation. in fact we are finding the Corps uses Microstation as well and routinely gives us digital 3D files. We switched from Civil 3D, then tried a seat of Carlson and ended up with Bentley. We are subs to Parsons and Bechtel and they both use Microstation and we share data daily with no hitches.

When we do trenching for utilities we find the Bentley data actually has valves, reducers and meters, etc. inside the 3D piping! Unbelievable! In fact wherever we look in the large project world we find Bentley. We will likely stay with Bentley for many years to come, the stuff just works. Life is good. jj

If you use SCS900 to machine control, the best way the Terramodel in office, because this software easily export files to SCS900.
This is the reason why your guy recommend this.
Terramodel is the best for surveyor, not overcomplicated, not huge hardware demanding user frendly software.
That was developed by practiced engineers to engineers.

Our company would like to check the possibilities whether we could be the local reseller of Terramodel software.
As we know the local distribution (in Hungary) of Terramodel is not solved yet so we would like to fill this gap.

Can anybody help me? Where I find a contact?  (on www.trimble.com I'dont find nothing)

 
Best regards,
Tóth Attila
Rackarto Kft.

12D Model is the software I use. It has fewer format problems than Terramodel and I have not found it wanting in any area.
http://www.12d.com

12D here as well. 

I use Carson Civil 11 and Autocad11. Build mdoels for the company I work for and the Topcon machines they run.