MicroStation vs. Studio 5000

MicroStation is THE program to use for roadway and corridor modeling. Most departments of transportation and municipalities in my region require that the models be delivered in the dgn format, so it is MicroStation or bust. It is an absolute pain to use some of the add-in features though. Things that are easy in other programs like making smart tables that update with the latest information usually necessitate the use of Axiom or similar outside programs/add-ins. I design storm sewer systems, and it takes us 6 months to train up new hires on this software, because it is NOT intuitive. You need to know which buttons to press, since it is not designed to be easily command-based like AutoCAD Civil 3D.

Incentivized

As I said before, it's the only tool known to man capable of programming Rockwell PLC's, so if any colleague needed to program one I 100% would recommend it. So, this software is appropiate only when using Rockwell PLC's. As far as I know it would program any other brand.

Incentivized

• Plethora of design alternatives to choose from right from design to completed models
• Detailed approach towards parametric, mesh and surface modelling
• Well integrated modelling workflows
• Intelligent parametric components with 2D and 3D designs

Incentivized

• The tag system it uses for programming makes it easier than other softwares
• Programming Rockwell PLC's
• The management of the ladder code is easier

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• Some of the more complex models have had a few issues exporting.
• We've struggled with external consultants using the custom Autocad engineering tools, and it plays nicely with MicroStation.

Incentivized

• Price, it's realy expensive
• Sometimes configuring communication with other devices can be hard
• I'd like the ability to programm with languages such as C or Python

Incentivized

MicroStation is very hard to use for our newest employees. It is not intuitive, and you need to know where to find the buttons to perform the commands you would like to perform instead of typing in the commands like other similar modeling programs. Also, it has no good traffic turning add-ins. We continue to run ALL our turning in Autoturn, since this is not a usable feature with MicroStation.

Incentivized

We haven't had to use it for many years, so not able to comment.

Incentivized

The only general purpose CAD program that you can compare MicroStation with would be AutoCAD. MicroStation, in my opinion, is a superior product in every way but one. That one issue is that there are just more people who have and know how to use AutoCAD than there are ones who know MicroStation. This makes AutoCAD easier to get up and running for most firms.

Incentivized

Studio 5000 is a good product. Compared to Omrom's CX-Programmer feels more advanced and with more functions, altough that depends on the PLC being programmed. I choose Studio 5000 because there are no other options when programming Rockwell PLC's

Incentivized

• MicroStation usage is primarily necessitated by our major client who also uses the program.
• Without using MicroStation there would be many times where we would not be able to provide our clients with what they need.
• Therefore, MicroStation has had an incredibly positive impact on the business I work for as its usage has continued to secure contracts.

Incentivized

• Well, there is one customer that only uses Rockwells PLC's, so I could say that Studio 5000 is a must have and a good percent of the bussiness depends on it.

Incentivized