Learning objectives
This course isn't a tour of buttons. It teaches the reasoning behind an OBD model, so you know why it's set up the way it is and what each change affects.
Who it's for
You already know MicroStation. OBD uses the same toolset and adds BIM on top, so this course fills in the parts that are new to you.
Architecture, structural or MEP modelers joining an OBD project who want correct habits from the start, not ones they have to unlearn.
You already think in BIM, but your new project requires Bentley. This course covers how OBD organizes buildings, floors and data, without re-teaching what you already know.
You manage the datasets and ProjectWise setup the rest of the team works within. We'll teach you how to create the workflow and setup so your team can work efficiently.
Prerequisites
You don't need any previous OpenBuildings experience.
Syllabus
What OBD is and why it's more than “3D MicroStation”: intelligent BIM objects that carry geometry and data and interact with each other, and how a BIM project's files are organized so design, coordination and documentation stay connected.
The OBD interface and the display and precision tools you'll use on every model, including how to work accurately on planes that aren't aligned with the main axes.
How floors and project grids organize a building model, how the Floor Manager defines the floors, and how saved views make plans, sections, elevations and references quick and consistent.
How every BIM object is classified with a Family and a Part, and how the project's shared datasets supply the standards and content every user works with.
The core modeling tools that let you build almost anything, even when no ready-made BIM element exists, and how to edit and convert geometry when you need to.
Bringing point clouds into the correct position and coordinate system, modeling what's already there, and keeping existing and proposed geometry clearly separate.
The habits that keep models accurate, light and easy to draw from, so files don't slow the whole team down.
How discipline models come together through references, master models and composite models, ready for clash checks and coordination reviews.
Turning the 3D model into drawings that stay connected to it and update when the design changes.
Getting information back out of the model for reports, schedules, quantities and exchange with other software.
Putting it all together on real tasks, from starting a new BIM model to producing a full set of drawings.
Recognizing and fixing the problems that stall OBD users most often.
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About BIM Global
BIM Global is a Bentley-focused firm offering training, support, consulting, and modeling services for OpenBuildings Designer, MicroStation, and ProjectWise, for teams delivering large infrastructure projects.
Our training is led by an industry expert who has trained multiple teams and uses these exact tools on live projects every day. Most experienced users already know how to navigate the software. What makes the difference is knowing why people get stuck, spotting the mistakes teams keep repeating, and delivering training in a way that makes skills actually stick.
Our approach is deeply interactive. We connect new skills to the tools and workflows you already know, continuously check for understanding, and stay on a topic until it’s truly mastered, not just demonstrated.
Book it on its own, or combine it with other courses.
Invest in your team's training now and avoid costly mistakes later.