Built on OpenRoads, New Software Brings Together Data From Multiple Sources and Geo-coordinates it for Subsurface 3D Modeling, Interactive Inspection, and Clash Resolution
Exton, Pa., U.S.A. – June 25, 2014 – Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the leading company dedicated to providing comprehensive software solutions for sustaining infrastructure, today announced the availability of Bentley’s Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE). This breakthrough technology for the integrated engineering management of underground utility networks for water, storm water, gas, and electric services is built on OpenRoads, Bentley’s collaborative BIM advancement for multi-discipline civil engineering projects. Bentley’s SUE brings together data from multiple sources and geo-coordinates it for 3D modeling, interactive inspection, and utility conflict detection and clash resolution.
By providing a framework of powerful software tools and rich content to quickly and easily generate high-fidelity, intelligent 3D feature-based models of the buried construction zone, SUE mitigates the risks of building in utility-congested, “call-before-you-dig” underground environments. These risks can range from project delays to damaged subsurface utilities to explosions that threaten below- and above-ground infrastructure as well as human life.
Commenting on the new offering, Bentley Systems CEO Greg Bentley said, “In cities around the world, the area that I believe poses the biggest risk to those designing, building, and operating infrastructure is found by looking down. It’s also the area for which it seems there’s been the least advancement of information modeling and information mobility to improve construction throughput and enhance the reliability, safety, and resilience of infrastructure assets. And for Bentley Systems, with our portfolio spanning building, civil, geospatial, and plant domains, it’s a particular priority – as all infrastructure projects are impacted by subsurface conditions, restrictions, and requirements.”
He continued, “Our Subsurface Utility Engineering software uniquely provides across disciplines a powerful new information modeling application. Its use will empower project teams to comprehensively understand, and more effectively and efficiently resolve, underground infrastructure conflicts.”
SUE automatically creates 3D models from survey information, CAD data, GIS, Excel spreadsheets, Oracle databases, and other industry standard sources of information. In addition, it maintains a relationship between CAD and GIS utility sources and tracks civil features to ensure that data is always synchronized and up to date.
Using the visualization and clash detection capabilities of SUE, users can readily identify and resolve conflicts between new construction features and existing utilities during the design phase. This helps mitigate risk during construction, lowers costs, and sustains asset performance.
SUE further enables immersive modeling by empowering users to combine active plan, profile, and cross-section views with innovative 3D modeling technology, providing additional context for decision making. SUE’s additional provision of parametric design features includes fully dynamic rules, relationships, and constraints built into the modeling workflow. The net result of these advancements is improved design quality with unique “optioneering” capabilities that allow users to readily create and compare design alternatives. Moreover, the intelligent 3D modeling capabilities deliver against the U.S. Federal Highway Administration’s “MAP-21” recommendations for 3D modeling/virtual construction and visualization technology.
SUE also conforms to essential elements of the Standard Guideline for the Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data (38-02) that govern subsurface utility information quality. This standard assists engineers, project and utility owners, and constructors in developing strategies to reduce risk by improving the reliability of information on existing subsurface utilities in a defined manner.
SUE provides indispensable insight for contractors employing alternative delivery approaches such as design-build, and taking on the risks associated with identifying and resolving subsurface utility conflicts. Most significantly, those substantially benefitting from SUE’s powerful capabilities include cities and other owners of infrastructure – and all whose quality of life is sustained by underground utilities.
For additional information about Bentley’s Subsurface Utility Engineering, visit www.bentley.com/SUE.
About Bentley’s OpenRoads
OpenRoads, Bentley’s collaborative BIM advancement for multi-discipline civil engineering projects, is the successor to Bentley’s InRoads, GEOPAK, and MX offerings. OpenRoads continues to advance what’s possible in road design, construction, and operations. Its industry-leading innovations empower users to achieve BIM Level 2 through immersive modeling, design-time visualization, design intent capture and persistence, hypermodeling, construction-driven engineering, and information mobility across engineering disciplines and the infrastructure lifecycle. For additional information about OpenRoads, visit www.bentley.com/OpenRoads.
About Bentley Systems
Bentley Systems is the global leader dedicated to providing architects, engineers, geospatial professionals, constructors, and owner-operators with comprehensive software solutions for advancing the design, construction, and operations of infrastructure. Bentley users leverage information mobility across disciplines and throughout the infrastructure lifecycle to deliver better-performing projects and assets. Bentley solutions encompass MicroStation applications for information modeling, ProjectWise collaboration services to deliver integrated projects, and AssetWise operations services to achieve intelligent infrastructure – complemented by worldwide professional services and comprehensive managed services. Founded in 1984, Bentley has more than 3,000 colleagues in over 50 countries, more than $600 million in annual revenues, and since 2006 has invested more than $1 billion in research, development, and acquisitions. Additional information about Bentley is available at www.bentley.com and in Bentley’s annual report. For Bentley news as it happens, subscribe to an RSS feed of Bentley press releases and news alerts. Visit The Year in Infrastructure 2014 Conference for highlights of Bentley’s premier thought-leadership event. To view a searchable collection of innovative infrastructure projects from the annual Be Inspired Awards, access Bentley’s Infrastructure Yearbooks. To access a professional networking site that enables members of the infrastructure community to connect, communicate, and learn from each other, visit Be Communities. To download the Bentley Infrastructure 500 Top Owners ranking, a unique global compendium of the top public- and private-sector owners of infrastructure based on the value of their cumulative infrastructure investments, visit www.bentley.com/500.