A fellow Civil Engineer asked for Mark's advice when prepping for a business meeting:  

Hey Mark,

I got a question for you that might help me in an upcoming meeting.

If you had to give 3 or 4 tips on the FIRST things you should consider when trying to get up to speed/ set-up/ configured/ move forward with InRoads, what would they be?

For example, the first thing I thought of was naming conventions . . . from Styles, to Named Symbology, to Levels, to Cell names, etc.  Think about how you are going to use each of these and how you want them to "sort" for ease of finding them or grouping them.

Second maybe understand how Survey is using InRoads and how Civil is using it and try to communicate with each other to relay those ideas and workflows.  That way each discipline understands what each other needs and what they are handing over, and how they got the file (DGN, DTM, ALG, ETC) to where it is.

Any other insights you could provide would be great. 

Thanks,

-Dr. J

Here is the Zen Dude's response:

Hi Dr. J!!!

Hmmm . . .

As I was reading your email my focus shifted from configuration to use, especially when you brought in the Survey picture.

From a high altitude view . . . or the view from an engineer or surveyor:

1)      HAVE the software configured to do what you want . . . get an expert to set this up!!! How many people can really tune their own car? They mostly just need to DRIVE it!!!!

2)      Focus on highly accurate InRoads model files - DTMs, ALG

a.     Learn to find and fix errors in the DTM

b.     Display as much of the Plan / Profile / Cross Section info from the DTM or ALG . . .NOT by hand!!

3)      Check your work as you go . . . every little oddity should be hunted down and completely understood or it has a high probability of coming back to bite you in the future.

4)      Become a fanatical expert using the software!!!! . . .  Models are the future!!! Survey Models feed the Design, Design Models feed Construction, Construction Models feed As-builts . . . and then make their way full circle into the next design job.

a.     Use the correct Surface Design tools

b.     Don't use 10 templates when 5 will do

From a configuration perspective:

1)      Yes, naming conventions throughout the product . . . within it . . .  hard drive file names . . .  internal names . . .  XIN / ITLs tied together.

2)      InRoads total tie-in to MicroStation CAD Standards!!

3)      Key Preferences set up . . . and USED!

4)      Develop a common XIN as a "seed" . . .  don't "have your own". 

Be a team!!

That's what I have off the top of my head.

Enjoy!!

Civilly yours,  

-zen