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iModels

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iModels

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iModels

Easy Data Exchange

Information-rich models

Share information-rich models securely and in a relevant context for all stakeholders, providing a complete multidisciplinary view of projects. Project teams can capture and reuse information throughout design, construction and operations. You benefit from faster, relevant, accurate information access with all the details relevant for each stakeholder.

What is an imodel?

iModels help you share model and project information. Think of them as containers for exchanging infrastructure information. You can use iModels to exchange information for projects associated with the lifecycle of infrastructure assets. You can ensure that information flows easily, completely, and accurately between and within design, construction, and operations environments. Share all component information, including business properties, geometry, graphics, and relationships in a format that is open, providing standard interfaces for business, engineering, construction, and operations applications from multiple vendors.

Share any model

Publish models so that they can be visualized and interrogated with maximum precision by all participants, regardless of the authoring application.

The Right STuff

Customize models to provide the information each participant needs. iModels support unique workflows and standards with the level of detail that you decide.

WorkFlows

Enable workflows for capturing information about models, including information provided by model consumers, while preventing changes to the original.

Three people looking at computer

Why Use iModels?

Effective and efficient sharing and distribution of information is critical to the success of every project and when done well, this can reduce errors, compress the project schedule, and reduce project costs. iModels help.

Sharing and distributing information across a distributed project enterprise is difficult, given the diverse data sources and formats that are required to complete a project. iModels help.

self-describing

You don’t need the authoring application to accurately display graphics and query embedded information.

Smart

iModels remember their origin. They retain knowledge about their source and the state of the information when they were published.

SEcure

iModels are secure. They are read-only and support concepts like password and certificate protection as well as expiration dates.

Precise

iModels are geometrically precise and retain all business information.

Open

iModels are open. A variety of applications, plug-ins, and interfaces are available for viewing, query, and integration.

Make it Easy with iModels

Software Developers

Join Bentley Developer Network to develop products and applications that integrate with Bentley software.
  • Create

  • How iModels are created

    You can produce iModels on the desktop from your preferred design environment, including Bentley desktop and server products, non-Bentley software, or plug-ins for third party applications. iModels can be created using a variety of applications and plug-ins; depending on the source data, here are several examples.

    • PDS using ProjectWise PDx Dynamic Review Service – convert models for review for use in OpenPlant Modeler
    • Smart 3D using iModel Com
    • position Service for S3D – convert models for review (file-based or on the iModelHub) and use in OpenPlant for isometrics, orthographics, and modeling
    • PDMS and E3D using Bentley iModel Composition Service for PDMx – convert models for review (file-based or on the iModelHub) and use in OpenPlant for isometrics, orthographics, and modeling
    • IFC, JT and other industry neutral formats using MicroStation
    • ArchiCAD using MicroStation or OpenBuildings Designer
    • Rhino using MicroStation
    • AutoCAD using MicroStation
    • Revit using the iModel plug-in for Revit

    In addition, the iModel SDK is available through the Bentley Developer Network to help enable the creation of iModels from third-party and proprietary applications.

  • Customize

  • Make your iModel fit-for-Purpose

    In order to ensure iModels have just the right information required for each stakeholder and for each unique purpose, iModels enable you to:

    Filter
    You can filter data included in the model to provide the appropriate scope and level of detail needed to support downstream uses of the information, for example, filtering the design data in the iModels so that only the information required for estimation and procurement of the material for the curtain walls of a building is included.

    Augment
    Enhance iModels with other project data required to improve decisions throughout the project and to enhance its subsequent value. For example, you could augment a design model with the equipment damage status data in order to allow the visualization of this information within the context of the model.

    Validate
    Validate design and other project data for compliance with project standards to ensure that the required information is handed over from one project team to another. For example, you can validate that process lines, equipment, and other components in a plant model are tagged while ensuring that their values are unique and that they follow project tagging standards.

    iModel Transformer
    The iModel Transformer add-in for Bentley products which support this functionality is available to SELECT Subscribers on the Software Center of your Personal Portal.

  • Use

  • Use iModels for many purposes

    You can use iModels to simply and reliably access models and their rich embedded information for a variety of common purposes including mobile workflows, scheduling, quantity take-off, design analysis, material estimating, clash resolution, mark-up and model review, and data visualization. Here are just a few use cases and applications that support iModel workflows.

    • Review and access design and related project data both on the desktop and in the field
    • Gain ODBC access to model information using the iModel ODBC Driver with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Visual Studio, Crystal Reports, or QlikView
    • Use Windows Explorer or Microsoft Outlook to preview iModels and search for embedded information using Bentley DGN Reader for Windows
    • Perform clash resolution using Navigator

    For organizations with unique deliverables requirements and for vendors with products or software applications for use throughout the infrastructure asset lifecycle, please get involved our Bentley Developer Network and learn more about the iModel software development kit, so we can support greater interoperability.

How iModels are created

You can produce iModels on the desktop from your preferred design environment, including Bentley desktop and server products, non-Bentley software, or plug-ins for third party applications. iModels can be created using a variety of applications and plug-ins; depending on the source data, here are several examples.

  • PDS using ProjectWise PDx Dynamic Review Service – convert models for review for use in OpenPlant Modeler
  • Smart 3D using iModel Com
  • position Service for S3D – convert models for review (file-based or on the iModelHub) and use in OpenPlant for isometrics, orthographics, and modeling
  • PDMS and E3D using Bentley iModel Composition Service for PDMx – convert models for review (file-based or on the iModelHub) and use in OpenPlant for isometrics, orthographics, and modeling
  • IFC, JT and other industry neutral formats using MicroStation
  • ArchiCAD using MicroStation or OpenBuildings Designer
  • Rhino using MicroStation
  • AutoCAD using MicroStation
  • Revit using the iModel plug-in for Revit

In addition, the iModel SDK is available through the Bentley Developer Network to help enable the creation of iModels from third-party and proprietary applications.

Make your iModel fit-for-Purpose

In order to ensure iModels have just the right information required for each stakeholder and for each unique purpose, iModels enable you to:

Filter
You can filter data included in the model to provide the appropriate scope and level of detail needed to support downstream uses of the information, for example, filtering the design data in the iModels so that only the information required for estimation and procurement of the material for the curtain walls of a building is included.

Augment
Enhance iModels with other project data required to improve decisions throughout the project and to enhance its subsequent value. For example, you could augment a design model with the equipment damage status data in order to allow the visualization of this information within the context of the model.

Validate
Validate design and other project data for compliance with project standards to ensure that the required information is handed over from one project team to another. For example, you can validate that process lines, equipment, and other components in a plant model are tagged while ensuring that their values are unique and that they follow project tagging standards.

iModel Transformer
The iModel Transformer add-in for Bentley products which support this functionality is available to SELECT Subscribers on the Software Center of your Personal Portal.

Use iModels for many purposes

You can use iModels to simply and reliably access models and their rich embedded information for a variety of common purposes including mobile workflows, scheduling, quantity take-off, design analysis, material estimating, clash resolution, mark-up and model review, and data visualization. Here are just a few use cases and applications that support iModel workflows.

  • Review and access design and related project data both on the desktop and in the field
  • Gain ODBC access to model information using the iModel ODBC Driver with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Visual Studio, Crystal Reports, or QlikView
  • Use Windows Explorer or Microsoft Outlook to preview iModels and search for embedded information using Bentley DGN Reader for Windows
  • Perform clash resolution using Navigator

For organizations with unique deliverables requirements and for vendors with products or software applications for use throughout the infrastructure asset lifecycle, please get involved our Bentley Developer Network and learn more about the iModel software development kit, so we can support greater interoperability.

Learn More
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