Bentley Be Seminar 2009 A Big Draw

The most challenging task of sustaining global infrastructure has been made even tougher by the desperate and globally distributed nature of project teams coupled with the lack of interoperability among their software tools. In view of the growing demand for new and improved infrastructure and mounting global competition within the infrastructure community, project teams need new and innovative methods to gain edge in the emerging global market. Bentley has developed the V8i software portfolio to meet the emerging challenges as it helps engineers, architects, GIS professionals, constructors and operators to successfully complete projects by streamlining workflows among multiple disciplines across project teams, reports Jeet Singh.

Bentley Systems, an undisputed leader in providing varieties of infrastructure software solutions, organized a one-day event for registration for its Be Seminar 2009 in New Delhi recently. The seminar, which focused on sustaining growth through innovation in infrastructure, drew overwhelming response from designers, engineers, contractors, operators and other software users. During the day long deliberation, Bentley executives and experts from its designing and engineering arena presented keynotes on the subject. The event also marked discipline specific breakout sessions including the introduction of Bentley V8i software, the most comprehensive software portfolio with over 150 software products for infrastructure sector.

Delivering his inaugural address, Chief Operating Officer & Senior Vice President, Malcolm S Walter, said, "Infrastructure provides basic services and installations like roads, bridges, rail, communication and power for a community or a society to function. Likewise the sustainability of infrastructure is about creating new ways to live and prosper while ensuring an equitable healthy future for all people and the planet. In a way infrastructure is the interface between people and our planet."

Elaborating on the subject he said adding that the challenge we currently face is to provide all people a basic standard of living enabling them to look beyond surviving for another day while at the same time becoming good stewards of our planet by ensuring that we interact with the environment in a sustainable way. Along side infrastructure must play a leading role in managing our natural resources, improving the quality of air, soil and water by developing clean sources of energy minimizing environmental harm whether man made or natural.Infrastructure acts to maintain a balance between the demands of a global population and the capacity of the environment to meet demands for future generations.


On the sidelines of the seminar, to a poser from the NBMCW about the policy provisions his company expects from the new Indian Government, S Walter reiterated that continuity and consistency is the key to kick start the economy to its prior pace of development. So far the Indian Government has deftly handled the financial crisis by injecting a series of stimulus packages into the economy and the impacts of the earlier fiscal stimulus are already visible in certain sectors. Not just this, both domestic and multinational companies are announcing their expansion plans and blocked infrastructure projects are also getting speedy clearance indicating that the growth momentum is still intact and the Government must keep it up in the next couple of months, he suggested.

About the capabilities of the V8i software solution, he said, the products delivers the most comprehensive suit of software products by leveraging and extending core capabilities that are available to all applications in the portfolio. The V8i softwaregives users choices addressing multiple challenges confronting professionals from multiple disciplines while working on a wide range of infrastructure projects. The software includes intuitive design modeling, interactive dynamic views, Intrinsic: geo-coordination and incredible project performance, he said.

Technology Acquisitions

Addressing the participants, Christopher Liew, Vice President & Territory Executive, Asia South, explained that the software required for sustaining infrastructure projects are multifaceted and as a trusted and reliable software supplier to meet these requirements, Bentley continues to expand its portfolio both through internal development and acquisitions. Apart from the acquisition's incremental products and technologies, Bentley understands the long-term value of the talent and domain expertise of the new colleagues joining through these acquisitions. As the most of the world's infrastructure software applications already call for Bentley robust DGN for DWG platform and as a result of which the required time for integration of acquired applications is minimized.

Since the infrastructure projects are complex and no single application is adequate to address the multifaceted challenges.In view of this, Bentley is delivering solutions for the entire lifecycle of the infrastructure asset extending to the needs of various disciplines and professions. A set of integrated applications and services built around its open platform to enable interoperations and collaborations.Its solutions reflect the rich domain expertise of our development teams
–enhanced by strategic acquisitions
–as well as our active engagement with user organizations.

Solutions

Elaborating on the multiple usages of the software solutions he disclosed that transport authorities and engineering consultants around the glob depend on Bentley's road solutions. With growing focus on the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure, solving safety issues and traffic congestion, Bentley road solutions not only are the top choice but currently being put to test in developing countries where new building and transportation projects are being taken up on a massive scale.

Likewise Bentley's bridge solution is the most extensive software addressing bridge related problems by utilizing recent advancements in bridge engineering technology. The software provides solutions at every stage of the project delivery process. Similarly, for data collection, designing, maintenance and capital project planning, Bentley is a proven and trusted supplier of software to the world's rail community, besides, providing solutions to airports, factories, power plants, buildings, oil & gas, mining and metals, communication and land development.

The V8i Software Portfolio

He said that all infrastructure projects require collaboration between teams of varying sizes and all include inputs from multi-disciplinary profes- sionals. Bentley developed the V8i software portfolio with these challenges in mind. The software helps professionals to successfully complete projects by streamlining workflows among multiple disciplines and also across projects teams. The software portfolio features the breadth and depth of technology needed for fully integrated project delivery during the entire infrastructure lifecycle.

Bentley SELECT Subscription

Talking about the Bentley's SELECT subscription program he said, it helped users reduce cost and maximize software utilization through flexible licensing options for the site based license pooling with unrestricted license sharing. It updates software reducing disruption by upgrading software in accordance with project schedule. Bentley SELECT subscription means different things to different people. For senior executives motivated to increase their firm's competitive edge, reduce operational costs and improve service levels to clients, Bentley SELECT delivers superbly. All subscribing organiz- ations can save 100 percent of upgrade charges as software upgrades are included in the SELECT program for no additional fee. Similarly, SELECT programs are handy for project directors responsible for improving project quality, avoiding risk and meeting project deadlines. For IT + CAD Managers coordinating and streamlining IT systems, manage software license inventory and make available frontline software support, Bentley SELECT is the best bet, Christopher concluded.