Interoperability

Access the Steel I-Girder Training Example

Follow the steps below to open the Steel I-Girder Training Example.

1. Log in to your account and locate Project in the top-right corner.

   
2. Click Project, then click NEW in the top-left corner.

   
3. Under Example Project, click New Project within Steel I-Girder Training Example.

   

   
4. Provide a name for your project and open the example.

   

   

The initial download of the library components takes approximately 2 minutes 30 seconds. Subsequent openings of the same project are noticeably faster because OpenBrIM library objects are cached in your browser; loading then takes less than 2–3 seconds.

Interoperability

The OpenBrIM platform can export 3D models, 2D drawings, and FEA models to various file formats and re-sync the exports whenever a parameter changes. The steps below walk through the export workflow.

1. Click DATA at the bottom-middle to slide up the spreadsheet. In the Girder Bridge section in the lower-left, open the Export tree-view item.

   

   
2. On the Export File tab, click the Type cell to choose the export type: i) Project Inputs, ii) 3D Model, iii) Finite Element Model, iv) 2D Drawings.

   
3. Choose the file format. The available formats update automatically based on the export type.

   
4. Set the destination folder for the export.

   1. Click the three-dot menu in any cell and choose Set Project Directory on Local Disk to specify the main folder on your machine.

   2. Click Select Folder and grant the permission requested by OpenBrIM.

   The path to the main folder varies per user, so it is saved in your browser cache rather than in the cloud. Pointing this at a ProjectWise folder lets exports re-sync automatically after each parameter change.

   

   

   

   
5. Name each export file.

   1. In the File Name column, click the three-dot menu and choose Set File Name on Local Disk.

   2. Type a name (and any sub-folder structure) and click Save.

   The relative path is saved in the cloud — sub-folders are typically the same for every user, even when the main directory differs.

   

   
6. The configured file name and partial path appear in the cells. The main directory is intentionally hidden so the same project can sync to different machines.

   
7. The final cell action in the three-dot menu is Sync to Local Disk — it writes (or rewrites) the export to disk using current parameters. Select multiple cells to sync several files at once.

   

   
8. The exported files are now on your local disk.

   

More on the Interoperability Features

The videos below illustrate how OpenBrIM's cloud-based parametric approach keeps exports and downstream tools in sync.

Change alignment and sync DGN files

Change alignment, sync DGN files, and re-sync reference files in MicroStation

The remaining sub-sections cover the export options for the three engineering model types:

i) 3D Model ii) Finite Element Model iii) 2D Drawings

Export 3D Model (.obj, .gltf, .ifc v4.3, .dxf, .dgn)

1. Open the spreadsheet with DATA. Set Type to 3D Model and pick one of: .obj, .gltf, .ifc v4.3, .dxf, .dgn.

   

   

   
2. For 3D DGN export, the DGN settings let you choose between mesh and smart-solid output. Then configure the file name and path as in step 4 above.

   

   

Export 2D Drawings (.dgn, .dxf)

1. Open the spreadsheet with DATA. Set Type to 2D Model and pick one of: .dxf, .dgn.

   

   

   
2. Projects often contain multiple 2D CAD drawings, so you must pick which to export. In the Object column, use the Select Drawings cell action. Then configure the file name and path as in step 4 above.

   

   
3. The project must contain at least one CAD drawing. Add drawings via the library objects in the CAD section.

   

Export FEA Model (.lar, .s2k, .b2k, .xls, .tcl, .mct)

1. Open the spreadsheet with DATA. Set Type to Finite Element Model and pick one of: .lar, .s2k, .b2k, .xls, .tcl, .mct.

   

   
2. OpenBrIM exports the full finite element model — including loads, not just nodes and shells — for CSI Bridge, LARSA 4D, and Midas Civil. If exported data is missing, contact OpenBrIM support. Then configure the file name and path as in step 4 above.

   

   

Import FEA Model (LARSA 4D .lar, CSI Bridge .b2k, Midas Civil .mct)

1. Switch to the FEA Workflow to import finite element models from LARSA 4D, CSI Bridge, or Midas Civil.

   
2. Click Import and select a .lar, .b2k, or .mct file.