The MIDAS Expert Influencer was very helpful in resolving many modeling issues on several bridge evaluation projects. Their responses were quick, clear and helpful. Thank you for the help.
Sergiy Morozevych, P.Eng. l Sr. Structural Engineer at Ministry of Transportation Ontario
The MIDASoft network gives me and Associated Engineering a unique opportunity to connect with not only fellow consultants but also clients that may not be possible in other settings. I find it very rewards to work through troubleshooting any issues they may have and helping them find the answers that they need.
Mark Torrie, P.Eng, M.Eng l Manager, MTO Group at Associated Engineering
Being connected to an expert user of MIDAS FEA, like Daniel [Mariscal], has given me more confidence to start learning this new program. Especially since Daniel is also part of the same company[, AECOM], it will make it a lot easier for us to communicate. It also gives me comfort to know that I will be able to learn and use the correct modeling processes and methods, which will give me more confidence in the results of the models. If I didn’t have a connection like Daniel, I would be limited to learning the program by using the learning page in Midas or by using youtube tutorials, because there are no other engineers in my office that use this tool. Any troubleshooting would have to be done by contacting the MIDAS support team, which is very helpful, but it would take longer to resolve, especially for smaller issues. In the end, I would not feel as comfortable with my knowledge or use of the program overall.
Jaime Cohen l EIT at Bridge Department, AECOM
With this added complexity comes the challenge of keeping up on the latest software and developing understanding of very specific and specialized analysis methods and design criteria. For many, the discussion of these topics have been limited to personal networks, review of academic literature, and the use of online forums. The MIDASoft Expert Network provides a great space for collaboration and connecting to the exact expertise that is needed for complex and specialized analysis in addition to introductory training and guidance. More than ever, this service is important to get the right information in the hands of engineers and ensure accurate and appropriate applications of analysis methods and codes.
Tom Less PE, SE, ENV SP l Sr Associate at Woolpert (OH)
Siefert Associate did a consultation regarding the software for detailed and flexible construction staged analysis as well as curved steel bridge modeling and design check with our expert influencer Tom Less from Woolpert (OH) and Jose Calisto da Silva from Biggs Cardosa Associates (CA).
Siefert Associates is in pursuit of a higher level bridge engineering software and midas Civil quickly became a top contender. In addition to the software's impressive graphics and modeling capabilities, the MIDASoft team and the Expert Network are second to none. I requested a demonstration and within days an online meeting was arranged that included a midas Civil overview and a presentation by Tom Less of the Expert Network. The information that Tom presented was relevant to our projects at Siefert and it was clear that the MIDASoft team had chosen a great pairing. I also received unsolicited feedback from Jose Calisto da Silva of the Expert Network regarding one of our other software contenders. It's clear that the MIDASoft community believes in their products and each other.
Andrew Ritter, PE l Vice President at Siefert Associates
Carl Duan from Caltrans did a consultation about the seismic design guidelines and policies for underground structures with our expert influencer Haze Rodgers from Langan Engineering & Environmental Services (Sacramento, CA)
I am working on establishing the seismic design guidelines and policies for underground structures such as culverts, tunnels, and wildlife path tunnels. I am trying to use MIDASoft Geotechnical software to conduct analysis. The goal is to conduct tunnel analysis in the simple geotechnical environment with seismic conditions. MIDASoft helped me get connected with one of the MIDASoft Experts, Haze from Langan Services with 5 years of experience in midas GTS NX software. Through an 1-hour web session, I was able to gain thorough overview of seismic analysis of underground structures and get answers to my questions.
Carl M. Duan l Specialist of Underground Structures at The California Department of Transportation
We discussed the use of the section stiffness scale factor and its use in considering creep effects as well as some things concerning load rating results. I found this expert interaction extremely helpful. I'll go so far as to say this was the most helpful interaction with any technical support or expert assistance I have ever received with respect to any software provider. He answered all my questions and more providing additional tips, caveats, and further advise. This assistance is unmatched by anything I have experienced in my 10 years in the Structural Engineering industry.
Joshua Turley, P.E l Structures Design Engineer II at Florida Department of Transportation
When I reached out to the MIDAS Expert Network, I was not sure what response I would get. I was pleasantly surprised, however, shortly after submitting my inquiry, when Angela Kim, Client Relations Manager, reached out to identify my technical needs and directed my student and me to a few experts based on what we were trying to do. As new users of MIDAS, the student needed to understand a few critical steps for the model development when verifying stresses computed on our 1-span bridge with composite girders. Based on 1 email sent where Angela connected us to several expert influencers, I was provided with quick troubleshooting tips and screenshots that were spot on towards addressing our issues. Not only were we profoundly influenced by experts, but we were provided with customized technical knowledge within 24 hours that could have taken the students weeks to figure out on his own. In addition to the information provided by the MIDAS technical support team from a ticket we submitted, we now had 2 new insights to verify our model and have confidence in the modeling efforts based on what we were expecting from basic principles of engineering mechanics. Having this connection with the experts helped to advance our modeling progress for the research project. Moreover, we are continuing to communicate with the experts, which may lead to other collaborative efforts with structural engineers with vast knowledge and expertise in the field. Thank you, MIDAS experts, especially CY Yong and Daniel Baxter at Michael Baker International and Waleed A. Rashed at Parsons, and Angela, for your help and invaluable information to launch us forward as new users of MIDAS.
Monique Head, PhD; l Associate Professor at University of Delaware
The team at MIDASoft including the MIDAS expert influencer have been outstanding resources for Parametrix as we have been searching for a bridge analysis and design application that will best suit the growth and success of our bridge and structures team. We requested an hour presentation to provide our technical and IT staff an overview of what MIDAS has to offer. The presentation was very informative and well received by the whole team. We especially appreciated the candid perspective and comments from the expert influencer who offered insights that generally are not offered but the software developer. It is very clear that MIDASoft develops their products with the end user in mind.
Matt Deml, PE, SE; l Bridge and Structures Practice Lead at Parametrix
What we like the most about the presentation was the various possibilities to execute a design in the program, the user friendly interface (ease of use) and the demonstration of a complete design as per the CAN-CSA S6-14.
Marc Olivier Chamberland l Engineer at Tetra Tech (QC)
(On the presentation by expert engineer, Alex Stuart, McIntosh Perry).
midas Civil is the kind of software that you can always discover new functionalities as your progress. Our bridge engineers from Gresham Smith will be happy to answer questions related to your refined bridge analysis models.
I found Midas Expert Network session very helpful. I would be more than happy to join a session again and will invite my peer engineers to join the session. It is a great opportunity to discuss technical questions with other MIDAS users in North America. Overall, MIDAS Expert Network is a very helpful service to all MIDAS engineers to exchange idea and solve questions. Straightforward and efficient. I strongly recommend it to other MIDAS users
Yiming Lan l Michael Baker, and Alfred Benesch & Company
With this added complexity comes the challenge of keeping up on the latest software and developing understanding of very specific and specialized analysis methods and design criteria. For many, the discussion of these topics has been limited to personal networks, review of academic literature, and the use of online forums. The MIDASoft Expert Network provides a great space for collaboration and connecting to the exact expertise that is needed for complex and specialized analysis in addition to introductory training and guidance. More than ever, this service is important to get the right information in the hands of engineers and ensure accurate and appropriate applications of analysis methods and codes.
Tom Less PE, SE, ENV SP l Sr Associate at Woolpert (OH)
The team at MIDASoft including the MIDAS expert influencer have been outstanding resources for Parametrix as we have been searching for a bridge analysis and design application that will best suit the growth and success of our bridge and structures team. We requested an hour presentation to provide our technical and IT staff an overview of what MIDAS has to offer. The presentation was very informative and well received by the whole team. We especially appreciated the candid perspective and comments from the expert influencer who offered insights that generally are not offered but the software developer. It is very clear that MIDASoft develops their products with the end user in mind.
Yun Lin, Ph D., P.E. l Senior Bridge Engineer at Virginia Department of Transportation
Having these types of open interactions with Midas Experts are very helpful...I've only been using MIDAS for 2 months and there's so much to learn.
Ryan Whelchel l Bridge Engineer at BEAM, LONGEST and NEFF
Today’s Midas Expert Network session was very helpful, and I appreciate your time. I would love to discuss the GSD module sometime next week. I should be available most afternoons next week.
Chris Hilbig l Parsons Corporation
The Midas Expert Network session was great. Thanks for facilitating the forum discussion and Q&A.
Sri Kotha l PGH Wong
Through Midas Expert Network, I had a chance to get to know bridge engineers from other firms and ask my technical questions. I found this network very useful and believe it can help engineers learn from each other.
Reza Meisamian l LEA Consulting
We discussed the use of the section stiffness scale factor and its use in considering creep effects as well as some things concerning load rating results. I found this expert interaction extremely helpful. I'll go so far as to say this was the most helpful interaction with any technical support or expert assistance, I have ever received with respect to any software provider. He answered all my questions and more providing additional tips, caveats, and further advise. This assistance is unmatched by anything I have experienced in my 10 years in the Structural Engineering industry.
I am working on establishing the seismic design guidelines and policies for underground structures such as culverts, tunnels, and wildlife path tunnels. I am trying to use MIDASoft Geotechnical software to conduct analysis. The goal is to conduct tunnel analysis in the simple geotechnical environment with seismic conditions. MIDASoft helped me get connected with one of the MIDASoft Experts, Haze from Langan Services with 5 years of experience in midas GTS NX software. Through a 1-hour web session, I was able to gain thorough overview of seismic analysis of underground structures and get answers to my questions.
Being connected to an expert user of MIDAS FEA, like Daniel Mariscal, has given me more confidence to start learning this new program. Especially since Daniel is also part of the same company [AECOM], it will make it a lot easier for us to communicate. It also gives me comfort to know that I will be able to learn and use the correct modeling processes and methods, which will give me more confidence in the results of the models. If I didn’t have a connection like Daniel, I would be limited to learning the program by using the learning page in Midas or by using YouTube tutorials, because there are no other engineers in my office that use this tool. Any troubleshooting would have to be done by contacting the MIDAS support team, which is very helpful, but it would take longer to resolve, especially for smaller issues. In the end, I would not feel as comfortable with my knowledge or use of the program overall.
When I reached out to the MIDAS Expert Network, I was not sure what response I would get. I was pleasantly surprised, however, shortly after submitting my inquiry, when Angela Kim, Client Relations Manager, reached out to identify my technical needs and directed my student and me to a few experts based on what we were trying to do. As new users of MIDAS, the student needed to understand a few critical steps for the model development when verifying stresses computed on our 1-span bridge with composite girders. Based on 1 email sent where Angela connected us to several expert influencers, I was provided with quick troubleshooting tips and screenshots that were spot on towards addressing our issues. Not only were we profoundly influenced by experts, but we were provided with customized technical knowledge within 24 hours that could have taken the students weeks to figure out on his own. In addition to the information provided by the MIDAS technical support team from a ticket we submitted, we now had 2 new insights to verify our model and have confidence in the modeling efforts based on what we were expecting from basic principles of engineering mechanics. Having this connection with the experts helped to advance our modeling progress for the research project. Moreover, we are continuing to communicate with the experts, which may lead to other collaborative efforts with structural engineers with vast knowledge and expertise in the field. Thank you, MIDAS experts, especially CY Yong and Daniel Baxter at Michael Baker International and Waleed A. Rashed at Parsons, and Angela, for your help and invaluable information to launch us forward as new users of MIDAS.
I found the session to be very helpful, and the Midas team and the expert seemed to know right away exactly what I was talking about and were able to steer me in the right direction.
