OpenFlows Storm
Civil engineering design software
CAD software
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- Ease of management
- Quality of support
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What is OpenFlows Storm
OpenFlows Storm is a hydrologic and hydraulic modeling application used to analyze stormwater and drainage systems. Civil engineers and water resources teams use it to simulate runoff, pipe and channel hydraulics, detention/retention facilities, and system performance under design storms. It supports scenario comparison and design alternatives for municipal, transportation, and site drainage projects. The product is part of Bentley’s OpenFlows portfolio and integrates with other Bentley civil and water infrastructure tools.
Purpose-built stormwater modeling
The software focuses on rainfall-runoff and storm sewer/drainage network hydraulics rather than general drafting. It supports common stormwater workflows such as design storm simulation, capacity checks, and evaluation of detention/retention elements. This specialization can reduce the need for custom spreadsheets or general-purpose modeling approaches for drainage design.
Scenario and alternative management
OpenFlows Storm supports comparing multiple design alternatives and what-if conditions within a project. This helps teams evaluate impacts of changing rainfall events, land use assumptions, or network modifications. It is useful for iterating designs and documenting decision rationale during review cycles.
Part of OpenFlows ecosystem
As a component within Bentley’s OpenFlows suite, it aligns with related water and civil infrastructure products used for adjacent analyses. Organizations standardizing on Bentley tooling can streamline data exchange and governance across projects. This can be beneficial where stormwater analysis must connect to broader civil design and asset workflows.
Not a general CAD tool
Although used in civil engineering design contexts, OpenFlows Storm is primarily an analysis/modeling application rather than a full CAD drafting environment. Teams typically still require separate CAD/BIM tools for plan production and detailed geometry authoring. This can add integration and coordination steps in multidisciplinary projects.
Learning curve for model setup
Hydrologic and hydraulic modeling requires careful parameter selection, boundary conditions, and calibration considerations. New users may need training to build defensible models and interpret results appropriately. Review and QA processes are often necessary to avoid overreliance on default assumptions.
Licensing and packaging complexity
The product is commonly sold within broader suites and licensing programs, which can make cost and entitlement planning less straightforward. Organizations may need to align license types with user roles (occasional vs. power users) and project timelines. This can increase administrative overhead compared with simpler single-product licensing.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | Not listed on Bentley official product page (prices vary by region; purchase via Bentley eStore/Virtuoso) | Includes StormCAD (≤ 10 inlets); PondPack (≤ 1 pond). 12‑month Virtuoso subscription option described. |
| Standard | Not listed on Bentley official product page (prices vary by region; contact sales or eStore) | Includes StormCAD (≤ 50 inlets); CivilStorm (≤ 50 links); PondPack (≤ 3 ponds). |
| Advanced | Not listed on Bentley official product page (prices vary by region; contact sales or eStore) | Includes StormCAD (unlimited inlets); CivilStorm (≤ 250 links); PondPack (unlimited ponds). |
| Ultimate | Not listed on Bentley official product page (prices vary by region; contact sales or eStore) | Includes StormCAD (unlimited inlets); CivilStorm (unlimited links); PondPack (unlimited ponds). |
| Licensing options (note) | — | Bentley lists licensing options on the official product page: 12‑month Virtuoso subscriptions (Bentley eStore), Perpetual license with SELECT (one‑time purchase + annual SELECT maintenance), and enterprise/global pricing via contact sales. |
Seller details
Bentley Systems, Incorporated
Exton, Pennsylvania, USA
1984
Public
https://www.bentley.com/
https://x.com/bentleysystems
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bentley-systems/
