FAQs for Bentley’s Integrated Structural Modeling Launch  

1. What is Integrated Structural Modeling?
2. What does Bentley’s Structural Synchronizer V8i app provide?
3. What does the Structural Dashboard V8i app enable structural professionals to do?
4. Is there a list of ISM-enabled structural tools?
5. When will other Bentley structural products support ISM?
6. Is ISM limited to Bentley or are other software companies adopting this methodology as well? Does this compare to Autodesk’s *.ADSK files?
7. Does Structural Synchronizer V8i interoperate with other applications?
8. Other software vendors are also providing an exchange file format between their compatible software. How is ISM different from these offerings?
9. Does the Integrated Structural Modeling repository replace the RAM/Revit link?
10. How does the ISM workflow support fabrication of steel? For example, can the steel detailer work on and exchange models with the engineer during the design phase?
11. What about round trip? Once the ISM is updated, how does it update in these other files? Does it fully replace the existing model or will it modify members, levels, and grids?
12. Where can we get documentation for the API?
13. Would I need ISM to export/import from other Bentley products? Like Bentley Structural to STAAD.
14. When are bar joists and decking diaphragms going to be able to come in to RAM Elements from Revit?
15. Is there a list of programs that communicate w/ ISM (non-Bentley products)?
16. When will the Bentley and Revit links be available?
17. What happens to the load in the structural model after you make a change like the opening that was made?
18. When the Bentley ISM tools are installed, does it automatically install the proper tool bar in Revit?
19. Does synchronizer work with Structural Modeler & STAAD Pro? Is Canadian steel section database included?
20. Is Revit made by Bentley? Or Autodesk?
21. Is the Synchronizer API ready immediately? If not, when will that be available?
22. Are rebar and column schedules transferred into the ISM?
23. Are we able to take a model that is built in Bentley Structural (Structural Modeler) and through the ISM, get a model that is native Revit Structure?
24. When will API be available to us? Will you make other ways of importing/exporting to/from ISM available, for example via excel/access database input? Timeframe?
25. How well do concrete sections (beams and columns) translate when naming conventions are highly variable?
26. Does ISM have structure for tapered metal building frames?
27. What are the capabilities to be included in the next release of the Synchronizer (ISM)?

1. What is Integrated Structural Modeling?
Facilitated by Bentley’s integration platform for open infrastructure information exchange, Integrated Structural Modeling (ISM) is the first methodology to maximize the predictable interoperability of structural information among different specialized applications, CAD and Building Information Modeling (BIM) platforms, and design review environments for creators and consumers of a project’s structural information. Bentley’s ISM works behind the scenes to provide engineers with a shared and dynamic repository for all structural content, including visualization and revision history for increased coordination. ISM offers a new and improved way to manage the multiple software applications that are required for structural projects.

To begin to take advantage of ISM’s many advantages, users simply download, at no charge, the Structural Synchronizer V8i software app at www.Bentley.com/ISM. To support and optimize ISM, users can also download at no charge the Structural Dashboard V8i software app at this same website.

2. What does Bentley’s Structural Synchronizer V8i app provide?

• A shared repository of common structural model data;
• Coordination through the synchronization of data across products;
• Review facilitated by a structural model and drawings viewer with data interrogation capabilities;
• The ability to track revisions and compare differences between versions;
• Integrated applications and data for:
• Structural modeling;
• Structural analysis and design;
• Structural documentation and drafting;
• Structural detailing and fabrication;
• Industry neutral formats.

ISM-enabled structural tools currently include Bentley’s Structural Modeler (formerly known as Bentley Structural), RAM Concept, and RAM Elements, as well as Autodesk Revit. The Structural Synchronizer V8i is a free download.

3. What does the Structural Dashboard V8i app enable structural professionals to do?

• Manage workflows for common project types;
• Launch, from a unified interface, all structural applications;
• Create customized workflows specific to individual projects;
• Receive structural news from customizable RSS feeds;
• Join a structural online community and access blogs, wikis, and forums;
• Download product upgrades from the Bentley SELECTserver;
• Manage project files and links within project workflows.

The current Structural Dashboard V8i includes a Plant Structure Dashboard and a Building Structure Dashboard as well as a customizable dashboard. The Structural Dashboard V8i is a free download.

4. Is there a list of ISM-enabled structural tools?

ISM-enabled structural tools currently include Bentley’s Structural Modeler (formerly known as Bentley Structural), RAM Concept, Prostructures (AutoCAD), STAAD(X), and RAM Elements, as well as Autodesk Revit 2009, 2010, and 2011 - 32 bit versions, and 2010 and 2011 – 64 bit versions. In the case of Autodesk Revit, only Bentley’s Synchronizer plug-in is required to make it ISM-enabled, which can be downloaded for no cost at www.Bentley.com/GetISM. As the list grows, we will update our website, news feeds, and Be Communities site to reflect the additions.

5. When will other Bentley structural products support ISM?

Our goal is to implement the remainder of Bentley’s structural products in 2010. The schedule calls for Bentley’s STAAD, RAM Structural System, and ProStructures to become ISM-enabled in the first half of 2010.

6. Is ISM limited to Bentley or are other software companies adopting this methodology as well? Does this compare to Autodesk’s *.ADSK files?

ISM is a Bentley term, but this methodology can be used with other software applications besides those of Bentley. ADSK is an XML file format designed to facilitate data exchange between Autodesk products (such as Inventor and Civil3D). ISM is intended for use by structural applications inside and outside of the Bentley portfolio. The Structural Synchronizer V8i app that lets structural engineers immediately employ ISM in their integrated projects provides a shared repository of common structural model data, the ability to track revisions and compare differences between versions, synchronization of data across products, viewers, an API, and more. ISM will be supported by many more applications – all structural in nature.

7. Does Structural Synchronizer V8i interoperate with other applications?
Yes, it can interoperate with third-party applications. The ISM schema has an open API that enables third-party analysis providers to synchronize their data with the Integrated Structural Modeling repository. If the third-party vendor has an open format or is willing to tie into the IFC repository using its own proprietary methods, those products should have no problem talking to Bentley products.

Currently, Structural Synchronizer V8i is compatible with Autodesk Revit (through Bentley’s ISM plug-in). However, our goal is to have the list of third-party-vendor compatibility grow once the adoption of ISM proliferates.

8. Other software vendors are also providing an exchange file format between their compatible software. How is ISM different from these offerings?

ISM is different in many fundamental ways from common standards supported by individual products. No single common standard currently contains all the information and capabilities users need to communicate between most structural applications. The standards are often industry focused (steel, concrete), targeted to specific structure types (building, bridge, general purpose), and usually not defined for round-trip communication between products. These standards are also typically governed by a consortium of members and understandably cannot change quickly to adapt to changing needs.

Structural Synchronizer V8i, on the other hand, provides not just a standard but an enabling technology that allows users to visualize and control the exchange workflow between products. It also provides an environment for visualization and design collaboration that does not require any of the Structural-Synchronizer-enabled applications to be installed. Structural Synchronizer can also rapidly adapt to meet a future need to handle more structure, material, and analytical types.

The Structural Synchronizer will, however, be consuming and producing several open standard file formats in the future, including CIS and IFC.

9. Does the Integrated Structural Modeling repository replace the RAM/Revit link?

When RAM Structural System supports ISM in 2011, the ISM repository will replace the RAM/Revit link and all other 1-to-1 links with Revit. Structural Synchronizer is primarily an exchange technology (file, data synchronization, viewer, etc.) to allow a multitude of applications to share data pertinent to their application. The Structural Synchronizer file is an intermediary file that can be shared and passed around independent of any product. The RAM Revit link is a direct point-to-point link between the two applications. Furthermore, while users will be able to link the programs through either mechanism, Structural Synchronizer does not require both applications to be on the same machine and will allow users to interoperate with upstream and downstream applications (and gain revision history, independent viewer, etc.). The direct link, however, requires all or some major part of each linking product to be installed on the same computer.

10. How does the ISM workflow support fabrication of steel? For example, can the steel detailer work on and exchange models with the engineer during the design phase?

Yes. ISM can facilitate bringing the fabricator on board much earlier in the process, which should also benefit the owner-operator. Rather than exchanging static neutral files or rebuilding the model from printed documents, the fabricator can import the model from the ISM repository and track revisions and compare differences between versions through the interface.

11. What about round trip? Once the ISM is updated, how does it update in these other files? Does it fully replace the existing model or will it modify members, levels, and grids?

ISM works in a bidirectional manner and will modify only the parts that have been intended to be modified. Notification is done once an application tries to work on data from the ISM repository. The user can see what changes have occurred since the last time the data was accessed. Remember, the ISM repository does not replace the local file store of the native application. It synchronizes the local file store with the ISM repository. Not all of the data native to an application is necessarily stored in the ISM repository, keeping the footprint small. As long as the application synchronizes with the ISM repository, the entire history of the model can be seen.

12. Where can we get documentation for the API?

Contact Us

13. Would I need ISM to export/import from other Bentley products? Like Bentley Structural to STAAD.

You don’t need to have ISM for every link between Bentleys’ analytical products. Direct links will still exist where a direct link makes more sense, such as RAM Structural System – Concept/Connection, STAAD – Bentley Structural/ProSteel etc ISM however will provide interoperability to a lot more applications than the direct links will.

14. When are bar joists and decking diaphragms going to be able to come in to RAM Elements from Revit?

Bar joists are part of the next ISM release (EOY) along with RAM Structural System that will require bar joists obviously, Elements is already integrated so it will reap the benefit of an ISM update with joists.

15. Is there a list of programs that communicate w/ ISM (non-Bentley products)?

Besides RAM Elements, Concept, Structural Modeler from Bentley, Autodesk Revit is also ISM enabled. However there are a few other third parties that have started implementation of a link to the Structural Synchronizer that will be announced when available.

16. When will the Bentley and Revit links be available?

The links are currently available through Integrated Structural Modeling. Revit 2009 (32bit), 2010 (32/64bit), and 2011 (32/64bit) are all supported and are installed from single installation available from this link: www.bentley.com/GetISM

17. What happens to the load in the structural model after you make a change like adding an opening through which some loads are applied?

It completely depends on how the loads are handled in the application itself. That is, if loads are deleted by the application it will also show as being deleted in the Synchronizer. The user of course could choose not to accept these changes and retain loads in the synchronizer if they so choose.

18. When the Bentley ISM tools are installed, does it automatically install the proper tool bar in Revit?

Depending on the version of Revit, you will get a different toolbar appearing yes. You will need to download the Revit plugin from the same site that the Bentley link is downloaded. See
www.bentley.com/GetISM.

19. Does synchronizer work with Structural Modeler and STAAD Pro? Is Canadian steel section database included?

Structural Modeler V8i is ISM enabled. STAAD(X) is also ISM enabled and does provide a one-way link to STAAD.Pro. Canadian (or any other countries) sections, even if not explicitly in the synchronizer, will still be able to be used through ISM. The only difference between sections that are "explicitly" implemented in the Synchronizer and those not will be a small change in the size of the ISM file size.

20. Is Revit made by Bentley? Or Autodesk?

Revit is Autodesk product, Integrated Structural Modeling is Bentley technology.

21. Is the Synchronizer API ready immediately? If not, when will that be available?

It is available, if you are a Bentley SELECT client looking to implement a link to an in-house application you can get the information by contacting us through this link:

Contact Us

If you are a software vendor who is interested in distributing an ISM link, please contact us for further information.

22. Are rebar and column schedules transferred into the ISM?

Column schedules are not transferred through but are generated by the end applications that require them. The desire is to keep the file size to a minimum with ISM, this means information that only one application in a workflow will utilize (in this case a documentation product) will stay the responsibility of that product to produce. Integrated Structural Modeling will provide the raw data (the columns in this case) that will be processed to create schedules.

Reinforcing data is not part of the Synchronizer V8i release, but will be part of the SelectSeries2 release due in first half of 2011.

23. Are we able to take a model that is built in Bentley Structural (Structural Modeler) and, through the ISM, get a model that is native Revit Structure?

Yes.

24. When will API be available to us? Will you make other ways of importing/exporting to/from ISM available, for example via excel/access database input? Timeframe?

We have a programmer’s interface documentation with some samples but no Excel link. Please contact us if you have examples of in-house links; we may showcase them.

25. How well do concrete sections (beams and columns) translate when naming conventions are highly variable?

Concrete sections (rectangles, circles, tees, els, etc) are typically modeled (by the application) as “parametric sections”, where the section name is of less importance than the other properties (width, height, etc) ISM provides numerous techniques to the application developers to ensure that round-trip mapping of sections works.

The Revit Plugin provides a mapping tool that can be used for custom (non-standard) Revit families. Each family only requires a single mapping (one per family, not one per section). Typically, the mapping is set up once for a firm and then works for every project.
If you are only using Revit families “out-of-the-box”, there is no need for concrete section mapping at all.

26. Does ISM have structure for tapered metal building frames?

Yes.

27.  What are the capabilities to be included in the next release of the Synchronizer (ISM)?

The next release of the Synchronizer is planned for around the start of Q2 in 2011. The current focus of development is for the inclusion of Joists, Metal Deck, Composite Decks, Composite Design Information (camber, studs…), Reactions, and Concrete Reinforcing information.

Back to top

Want to know more?
Contact us to request additional information and speak with a Bentley sales specialist.