MicroStation

MicroStation is a 2D/3D CAD and visualization software. It can help you deliver your designs on time and on budget, even as project complexities and scale increase. With extensive interoperability and collaboration capabilities, and the flexibility to work with 2D or 3D in your BIM workflows, MicroStation gives you the confidence to know that your design intent will be clearly understood.

• Produce all deliverables with one application
  Reduce the risk of project delays and errors, adapt to project changes, and save time with MicroStation. Automate drawing sheets, models, visualizations, multi-discipline documentation sets, and embedded BIM data. Generate consistent, high-quality deliverables such as paper plots, reports, 2D/3D PDFs, i-models, and 3D physical models. Create annotation, display styles, and reports directly from the embedded properties of objects to ensure that they will always remain in sync with the design model during work-in-progress.

• Explore more design options
  Develop designs with a comprehensive set of mesh, solid, surface, and feature modeling tools. Build parametric functional components with predefined variations to easily find and manage similar components. Use drawing extraction tools to automatically immerse drawings within models for better clarity and to streamline the documentation workflow.  Ensure design intent is maintained with constraint capabilities, layout and annotate drawing tools. Speed drafting and annotate workflows with intelligent, interactive snapping and dynamic data entry.
  
  
• Integrate any data type
  Incorporate legacy client data and a variety of file formats like DWG, SHP, and point-cloud data without the need for data conversions. Easily integrate models, drawings, documents, and data from other disciplines.
           
• Ensure and enforce project-specific standards
  Manage design changes and drawing standards, and control and protect files. Apply templates to control geometry and data standards such as styles for dimensions, text, lines, and detail symbols. Use automated tools to check drawings for standards compliance once designs are completed.
  
  
• Model in a personalized environment
  Design in the right work environment for each project with required settings and standards automatically applied. Access a comprehensive library of learning content. Personalize and group tools and tasks and reduce keystrokes with customizable menus. Integrate enterprise systems using a wide range of available tools to customize the user interface including Microsoft (VBA), .NET, C++, C# and user-defined macros.
  
  
• Work collaboratively on designs of any size
  Generate a complete 3D model and maintain design intent of all sizes and complexities. Easily and reliably share common files across multiple teams and disciplines. View and work with design information from others in real-time using live referencing of 2D and 3D DGN, DWG, and large image files. Create and exchange digital markups of designs. Track and easily understand changes made to design files, even at the component-level, throughout their lifecycle. Improve enterprise-wide collaboration through integration with ProjectWise.

• Visualize and analyze designs
  Analyze and perform data visualizations on models based on their geometry or underlying attributes. Perform analysis of real-world solar exposure and shading. Apply real-time display styles to visualize models based on each object’s height, slope, aspect angle, and other embedded properties.
  
  
• Produce animations and renderings
  Produce realistic movies and simulations from design, construction, and operational models. Choose from keyframe and time-based animation. Get the results you want faster, using live on-screen animation previews and distributed network processing. Create lifelike visualizations and access online and delivered libraries of physically correct materials, lighting, and rich photorealistic content.
  
  
• Add reality data for real-world context      
  Integrate reality data to understand existing conditions with raster images, point clouds, and 3D reality meshes. Add geospatial information to visualize reality meshes based on associated spatial and attribute data. Make better decisions and create high impact visuals for stakeholders.

MicroStation PowerDraft gives you the power to design, document, and detail projects of any size or complexity. It is broadly used by architects, engineers, constructors, and GIS professionals as a companion to many modeling and CAD design applications to develop and produce precise deliverables.

• Bring project information and teams together
  Incorporate and exchange drawings, models, and design data in any format including vector geometry, raster data, point clouds, and more.
  
  
• Design and detail with precision
  Develop drawings within the spatial context of a 3D model using a comprehensive set of drafting tools. You can ensure the proper application of organizational and project-specific standards by applying templates to control geometry and data standards.
  
  
• Manage Design Changes
  Track and easily understand changes made to design files, even at the component level, throughout their lifecycle. View, plot, and selectively roll back any individual changes made throughout the history of a file.
  
  
• Control and Protect Files
  Ensure that only certain individuals can view and/or edit files within a pre-defined time limit. You can ensure the integrity of your documents using digital signatures and control the digital rights to view, edit, print, and copy file contents, including a pre-defined expiration date when the file can be accessed.
  
  
• Produce high-quality deliverables
  Generate consistent, high-quality paper and digital deliverables such as paper plots, reports, and 2D/3D PDFs. Create and exchange digital markups of designs by easily marking up models and drawings with redlines and comments and manage them through a markup dashboard.

Expert services and tailored training, when and where you need it.

At Virtuosity, we understand how important it is to get the most out of every working moment. You need to limit downtime, and use each software application to its fullest potential.  There is just no time to spare. That's why every software purchase through Virtuosity comes as a bundle with “Keys” or credits that can be redeemed for expert services and training, so you can get started right away. Learn more about our training options.

Each practitioner license comes with a number of "Keys" and you can always purchase additional "Keys" as you go. 

There is a menu of expert services and training options that you can redeem your "Keys" for:

Develop better designs, faster
Develop better realized designs with unlimited design freedom made possible by MicroStation’s robust and extensive modeling capabilities, including the ability to:

• Design in 2D
• Design in 3D
• Develop hypermodels
• Analyze and visualize models
• Automate common tasks
• Control and protect files

Better inform teams
Ensure that all your stakeholders are better informed with clearer communication of designs made possible through intelligent deliverables production capabilities and the power of Bentley CONNECT collaboration services, including the capability to:

• Create animations
• Create lifelike renderings
• Generate intelligent documentation
• Publish i-models
• Review designs collaboratively
• Maintain and enforce standards

Freedom to focus on design
Enjoy the freedom to focus on design with better integration of information and teams made possible by MicroStation’s interoperable and scalable platform, including capabilities to:

• Geospatially locate projects
• Incorporate common design formats
• Incorporate referenced design content
• Integrate point clouds
• Integrate raster images
• Integrate reality meshes
• Manage design changes
• Work in a personalized environment
• Extend and customize workflows

Processor
Intel Pentium-based or AMD Athlon based processor 2.0 GHz or greater

Operating System
Windows 10 (64-bit) - Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education
Windows 8 (64-bit) - Standard, Pro, and Enterprise
Windows 8.1 (64-bit) - Standard,Pro, and Enterprise
Windows 7 SP1 (64-bit) – Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 (64 bit) - Standard and Enterprise
Windows Server 2012 (64 bit)

Internet connectivity is required to use some of the features of the product and installation of software pre-requisites.

Microsoft Internet Explorer, minimum v8.0, recommended v9.0 or later, with 128-bit cipher strength is also required.

Also supports Citrix XenApp 6.5 64-bit on Windows Server 2008 R2

Memory
1 GB minimum, 2 GB recommended, (more memory typically results in better performance)

Disk Space
1.25 GB minimum free disk space

Is MicroStation hard to learn? 

The average user reported three to six months with adequate training to become proficient in MicroStation. Every software purchase through Virtuosity comes as a bundle with “Keys” or training credits to ensure you get the training and expert services you need to get started right away. We call this bundle the Virtuoso Subscription. 

Your purchase of MicroStation or MicroStation PowerDraft includes 3 Keys. You can redeem the Keys for expert services such as consulting, mentoring, customized instruction, one-to-one mentoring and/or on-demand learning. To learn more about Keys, read our blog.  

How can I learn MicroStation for free? 

You can learn about MicroStation for free by watching the tutorial videos. Additionally, you can request an evaluation license from our Virtuosity product sales engineer via the Chat Bot on this page. 

What is the difference between AutoCAD and MicroStation? 

The differences between AutoCAD and MicroStation can be found on our comprehensive list of over 100 MicroStation features and capabilities.  Check out the feature-by-feature comparison between MicroStation, MicroStation PowerDraft, AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. Compare now