Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenRoads Designer VS SolveSpace

Compare OpenRoads Designer VS SolveSpace and see what are their differences

OpenRoads Designer logo OpenRoads Designer

A detailed design application for roadway, surveying, drainage, and subsurface utilities that supersede capabilities previously delivered by InRoads and GEOPAK

SolveSpace logo SolveSpace

SOLVESPACE is a parametric 3D CAD program with extrude, revolve, union and difference functions.
  • OpenRoads Designer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-17
  • SolveSpace Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-20

OpenRoads Designer features and specs

  • Comprehensive Toolset
    OpenRoads Designer provides a complete set of tools for surveying, drainage, utilities, and roadway design. This makes the software versatile and useful for various civil infrastructure projects.
  • Integration Capabilities
    The software can easily integrate with Bentley's ProjectWise and other platforms, which facilitates collaboration and data management across different project teams.
  • High Quality Visualizations
    OpenRoads Designer offers advanced visualization features including 3D modeling and rendering, helping engineers and stakeholders better understand the project and make informed decisions.
  • Geospatial Intelligence
    The platform supports the use of geographic information systems (GIS), allowing for terrain and location data to be incorporated into the design process, which is crucial for civil projects.
  • Automated Workflows
    OpenRoads Designer includes automation features that can streamline repetitive tasks and improve efficiency, allowing engineers to focus on more complex design aspects.

Possible disadvantages of OpenRoads Designer

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to the comprehensive and feature-rich nature of OpenRoads Designer, new users may find it complex and challenging to learn initially, requiring substantial training and time investment.
  • Cost
    The software can be expensive, especially for small firms or individual engineers. The licensing costs can add up, making it a significant investment.
  • System Requirements
    OpenRoads Designer has high system requirements for optimal performance, necessitating investment in powerful hardware which can be an additional cost burden.
  • Interoperability Issues
    While the software integrates well with Bentley products, users may face difficulties when trying to work with files and data from other software platforms, leading to potential workflow disruptions.
  • Overwhelming Features
    The extensive features and tools can be overwhelming and may lead to feature fatigue, where the users have difficulty navigating and utilizing the software to its full potential.

SolveSpace features and specs

  • Open Source
    SolveSpace is open-source software, which means it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This encourages community contributions and allows users to customize the software to their needs.
  • Lightweight
    The software is relatively lightweight compared to other CAD programs, making it suitable for older systems or for users who prefer a minimal footprint.
  • Parametric Modeling
    SolveSpace offers parametric modeling, allowing users to define geometric constraints and dimensions that can easily be adjusted to alter the design.
  • Cross-Platform
    SolveSpace is available on multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, and macOS, enhancing accessibility for users on different operating systems.
  • 2D and 3D Design
    The software supports both 2D and 3D design capabilities, making it versatile for various design projects ranging from basic sketches to complex 3D models.

Possible disadvantages of SolveSpace

  • Limited Features
    Compared to more advanced and commercial CAD software, SolveSpace has limited features that might be insufficient for complex engineering projects.
  • User Interface
    The user interface of SolveSpace might seem outdated or less intuitive to users accustomed to more modern design environments.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may face a steep learning curve due to the program's unconventional approach and lack of comprehensive documentation or tutorials.
  • Performance
    While lightweight, SolveSpace can struggle with performance issues when handling complex or large 3D models, which may affect users working on detailed projects.
  • Limited Community Support
    As a lesser-known tool, the community around SolveSpace is smaller, which could lead to challenges in finding help or resources for troubleshooting.

Analysis of OpenRoads Designer

Overall verdict

  • OpenRoads Designer is considered a strong choice for infrastructure design projects, particularly in the transportation sector. Its robust feature set and integration capabilities make it a valuable tool for professionals in the field. However, like any software, it may have a learning curve and requires appropriate training for optimal use.

Why this product is good

  • OpenRoads Designer by Bentley is widely regarded as a good software for civil engineering projects due to its advanced capabilities in designing, analyzing, and modeling transportation infrastructure. It offers comprehensive tools for roadway design, drainage, subsurface utilities, and bridge modeling, supported by powerful data management and integrated visualization options. Its compatibility with various data formats and user-friendly interface further enhances its utility in complex projects.

Recommended for

  • Civil engineers working on transportation infrastructure projects
  • Designers and planners involved in roadway and highway design
  • Consulting firms that require advanced civil design capabilities
  • Departments of transportation and local government agencies
  • Educational institutions offering civil engineering and design courses

OpenRoads Designer videos

OpenRoads Designer Review Borehole Data from gINT

More videos:

  • Review - OpenRoads Designer Review 3D Borehole and Stratum Surface
  • Review - Curso de OpenRoads Designer

SolveSpace videos

Solvespace Tutorial 0: Basics and User Interface

More videos:

  • Demo - SOLVESPACE 2.0 demo
  • Tutorial - Solvespace Tutorial 1 - a Simple Plate

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenRoads Designer and SolveSpace)
3D
51 51%
49% 49
CAD
68 68%
32% 32
Architecture
0 0%
100% 100
Office & Productivity
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using OpenRoads Designer and SolveSpace. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SolveSpace seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 25 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

OpenRoads Designer mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of OpenRoads Designer yet. Tracking of OpenRoads Designer recommendations started around Mar 2021.

SolveSpace mentions (25)

  • Ask HN: What are your top open source apps/software?
    Love OBS and Blender. Recently started using Kdenlive and it is awesome. Big fan of OpenSCAD[1] and solvespace[2] for making functional 3D prints. I'm going to branch out a bit here and say GrapheneOS is my favorite thing going on right now. [1] https://openscad.org/ [2] https://solvespace.com/index.pl. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler
    Just checked it out [1] but it appears the last version released was in 2022? Makes me wonder if it is still active. [1] https://solvespace.com/index.pl. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Ink and Switch Constraint System (2023)
    The comment on constraints which still blows me away is the footnote on the readme for Dune 3D: https://github.com/dune3d/dune3d Probably a bit more approachable for folks is: https://www.cadsketcher.com/ which adds the Solvespace constraint solver to Blender. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Show HN: A playable game of Tetris inside a PDF
    >> I do wish I did pay some attention to CAD now. I want a 3D printer and have no idea how to design objects for it. Get Solvespace: https://solvespace.com/index.pl Do the tutorials. If/when you outgrow it, the concepts will carry over to FreeCAD which otherwise has a steeper learning curve but has more capabilities. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • I Revived 3-Axis CNC Mill G-Code Simulator
    > - Solvespace --- limited to 2D last I checked According to https://solvespace.com/index.pl "SOLVESPACE -- parametric 2d/3d CAD" "SOLVESPACE is a free (GPLv3) parametric 3d CAD tool. Applications include: - modeling 3d parts โ€” draw with extrudes, revolves, helixes and Boolean (union / difference / intersection) operations [...] - 3d-printed parts โ€” export the STL or other triangle mesh expected by most 3d printers". - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenRoads Designer and SolveSpace, you can also consider the following products

Civil 3D - Civil 3D supports BIM for civil engineering design and documentation for rail, roads, land development, airports, water and wastewater, and civil structures.

OpenSCAD - OpenSCAD is a software for creating solid 3D CAD objects.

AutoTURN - AutoTURN is used to confidently analyze road and site design projects including intersections, roundabouts, bus terminals, loading bays, parking lots or any on/off-street assignments involving vehicle access checks, clearances, and swept path maneuvโ€ฆ

FreeCAD - An open-source parametric 3D modeler

Site3D - Site3D is a fully featured software product for the engineering design of road systems, roundabouts, residential developments and earthworks.

LibreCAD - An open source 2D CAD application for Windows, Apple and Linux.