Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SierraSoft Hydro VS OpenRoads Designer

Compare SierraSoft Hydro VS OpenRoads Designer and see what are their differences

SierraSoft Hydro logo SierraSoft Hydro

BIM software for hydraulic design

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
  • SierraSoft Hydro Hydraulic BIM design of a pipe
    Hydraulic BIM design of a pipe //
    2025-08-28
  • SierraSoft Hydro Pipes networks
    Pipes networks //
    2025-08-28
  • SierraSoft Hydro BIM design of canals
    BIM design of canals //
    2025-08-28
  • SierraSoft Hydro Canals and intersections customizations
    Canals and intersections customizations //
    2025-08-28
  • SierraSoft Hydro Quantities calculation in BIM
    Quantities calculation in BIM //
    2025-08-28
  • SierraSoft Hydro Final drawings in BIM
    Final drawings in BIM //
    2025-08-28

SierraSoft Hydro is a BIM software for hydraulic design of waterways, canals, ditches, pipes, pipe networks and manholes.

The BIM functions of SierraSoft Hydro allow you to produce, modify, share, and analyze hydraulic information models.

Design and information modeling occur simultaneously with a strong optimization of activities and cost containment.

In one product you have all the tools for design, information modeling and quantities calculation.

SierraSoft Hydro is a powerful software that allows you to integrate land surveying work, infrastructure design and construction within the processes, guidelines and tools used for BIM. Information exchange, information modeling, information analysis, and information verification occur through the functionality of BIM software extensions (SierraSoft BIM Modeling, SierraSoft BIM Exchange an SierraSoft BIM Checking)

With SierraSoft Hydro you can manage big quantities of data. Your projects will have no limits.

SierraSoft Hydro is international by nature and manages different languages (English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French) and several units of measure. You can choose different languages among interface, project data and printouts. So you can work in your favourite language and deliver your work in the language that your client wants.

  • OpenRoads Designer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-17

SierraSoft Hydro

$ Details
paid Free Trial โ‚ฌ870.0 / Annually
Platforms
Windows
Release Date
2022 February

OpenRoads Designer

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

SierraSoft Hydro features and specs

  • User Interface: Beautiful and functional
    The ergonomic and refined User Interface of SierraSoft Hydro is focused on the userโ€™s experience. The result is a simple and effective Interface with a wider graphic area and the access to functionalities is natural and more intuitive.
  • Graphic engine: Extraordinarily fast
    Based on the special flexible and very high-performance 3D graphic engine, the CAD of SierraSoft Hydro is extremely fast and convenient, even with huge quantities of vector data and images.
  • Database: A stable base for your projects
    SierraSoft Hydro includes a powerful, stable and high-performance database, with an excellent level of data compression, in order to minimize the used space. The security data is ensured by the backup function and SmartSave, which avoid the loss of information in case of unexpected stop of the software (for example a blackout).
  • Memory manager: Everything you need without waste
    SierraSoft Hydro can use all the memory made available by the Windows 64-bit operating system (64GB). It has an optimized management, which uses just the necessary memory and free memory as soon as possible. The memory management is automatic and smart, in order to make the most of the resources of the computer.
  • Data exchange: Fast and accurate data access
    Through the data exchange functionalities SierraSoft Hydro can directly read and write CAD data (DXG and DXF) and data of other formats such as GIS, TXT without any dependence on other software. Data exchange recognizes the entities present in various files and transforms them into its internal entities by reproducing their information.
  • International: Work without boundaries
    SierraSoft Hydro is international by nature and manages different languages (English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French) and several units of measure. You can choose different languages among interface, project data and printouts. So you can work in your favourite language and deliver your work in the language that your client wants.
  • Parametric engine: Automate the impossible
    SierraSoft Hydro allows you to parameterize complex calculation flows in order to make the management of complex processing operations simple and intuitive.
  • Modification and check in real time
    It is possible to control the design like never before, drastically reduce designing time thanks to 3D real time cross-section on planimetry. By changing a parameter everything is updated automatically. The result can be immediately checked even before creating the final project. Maximum control over the entire design and over every detail.
  • Dynamic engine - The results in real time
    SierraSoft Hydro is equipped with a dynamic processing engine, which combined with the parametric engine allows you to obtain complex results in real time and facilitate all design and modeling activities
  • Stereoscopic engine: Improve accuracy with stereoscopic viewing
    Stereoscopy visualization is integrated into the SierraSoft Hydro CAD system. Hardware interfaces are managed such as: NVIDIA Quadro graphics cards, NVIDIA 3D Vision Steroscopic Glasses, or 3DpluraView stereoscopic stations.
  • Point clouds: Upload and manage point clouds in a very simple way
    SierraSoft Hydro easy handle one or more point clouds of any size. Loading and display are really fast, drawing and extraction functions occur in real time. A special tool โ€œSierraSoft Mass Data Converterโ€ converts LAS, XYZ, PTS, XCF, E57 and DEM GeoTIFF files so that you can manage them with ease.
  • Help: Learning by doing
    SierraSoft Hydro is a powerful software that allows you to integrate land surveying work, infrastructure design and construction within the processes, guidelines and tools used for BIM. Information exchange, information modeling, information analysis, and information verification occur through the functionality of BIM software extensions (SierraSoft BIM Modeling, SierraSoft BIM Exchange an SierraSoft BIM Checking)
  • BIM Software: Modeling, sharing, checking
    SierraSoft Hydro is a powerful software that allows you to integrate land surveying work, infrastructure design and construction within the processes, guidelines and tools used for BIM. Information exchange, information modeling, information analysis, and information verification occur through the functionality of BIM software extensions (SierraSoft BIM Modeling, SierraSoft BIM Exchange an SierraSoft BIM Checking)
  • Mega projects: When size matters
    With SierraSoft Hydro you can manage big quantities of data. Only necessary data are loaded into memory and the ones on the disk are automatically compressed in order to create small files. Your projects will have no limits.

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.

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

SierraSoft Hydro videos

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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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SierraSoft Hydro and OpenRoads Designer)
3D
12 12%
88% 88
CAD
13 13%
87% 87
Office & Productivity
14 14%
86% 86
BIM
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

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

SierraSoft Roads - BIM software for the design of roads and highways

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

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

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

AutoCAD MEP - AutoCAD MEP software helps you draft, design, and document building systems.

MicroStation - 3D CAD modelling software for architecture and engineering.