Bentley's Integrated Structural Modeling Brings Structural Engineers Into Integrated Project Workflows

EXTON, Pa., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the leading company dedicated to providing comprehensive software solutions for the infrastructure that sustains our world, today announced the launch of its Integrated Structural Modeling (ISM) methodology for creators and consumers of structural project information. With ISM – and new no-cost software apps available for download from Bentley – structural engineers finally can fully participate in multidisciplinary, integrated project workflows. This means they also can take advantage of innovative Building Information Modeling (BIM) best practices to reap significant business benefits for their projects and organizations. ISM's flexible workflows support design review of various structural assets, such as buildings, bridges, towers, and industrial structures, by aggregating information-rich content, in both proprietary and interoperable formats, from multiple data sources. ISM results in intelligent structural designs, more successful projects, and better-performing buildings and structures of all types.

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The new apps – consisting of Structural Synchronizer V8i and Structural Dashboard V8i – let structural engineers immediately and quickly employ ISM in their integrated projects. Both can be downloaded for no charge at www.bentley.com/getISM.

Structural Synchronizer provides:

• A shared repository of common structural model data;
• The ability to track revisions and compare differences between versions;
• Enhanced coordination through the synchronization of data across products;
• Review facilitated by a structural model and drawing viewer with data interrogation capabilities;
• Integrated applications and data for structural modeling, structural analysis and design, structural documentation and drafting, structural detailing and fabrication, plus industry-neutral formats;
• An open API enabling third-party vendors to integrate with the ISM workflow.

Structural Dashboard enables structural engineering professionals to:

• Manage workflows for common project types;
• Launch all structural applications from a unified interface;
• Create customized workflows specific to individual projects;
• Receive structural news from customizable RSS feeds;
• Join a structural online community and access blogs, wikis, and forums;
• Download product upgrades from the Bentley SELECTserver;
• Manage project files and links within project workflows.

Up to now, a lack of interoperability among software applications has kept most engineers from sharing the maximum business value that can be derived from integrated projects and the BIM best practices required for their successful completion. According to McGraw-Hill Construction's SmartMarket Report 2009 "The Business Value of BIM," almost 50 percent of the AEC industry is now using BIM, and the vast majority of these users, including architects, contractors, and owners, are experiencing real business benefits directly attributable to BIM. Strikingly, however, the study also points out that less than half of the engineers employing BIM experience a positive return on their investment (ROI) – with one-third saying they are seeing a negative ROI. When asked for the top factors that would increase an engineering firm's ability to see business benefits from BIM, 83 percent of the engineers surveyed ranked improved interoperability among software as "highly important."

Bentley's long-standing prioritization of interoperability motivated the company to address this problem and, through its new ISM, bring structural engineers integrated-project benefits. Facilitated by Bentley's new i-model container for open infrastructure information exchange and Structural Synchronizer V8i and Structural Dashboard V8i apps, ISM maximizes the interoperability of structural information among different specialized applications, CAD and BIM platforms, and design review environments. The resulting integrated structural information workflows empower structural engineers to add value to, and now get value from, integrated projects.

Santanu Das, Bentley vice president, Integrated Engineering Group, said, "Integrating the structural project workflow – including modeling, analysis, design, documentation, and detailing – through ISM enables structural engineers, detailers, and fabricators to dramatically improve project efficiency and safety, reduce errors, and enhance quality control. Moreover, it enables engineers to investigate more design iterations and what-if scenarios, and brings downstream processes, such as fabrication, into consideration much earlier.

"Although those using Bentley's intra-operable structural products and dynamic collaboration software will gain the most advantages from ISM, every structural engineer and every project employing this new methodology will realize significant benefits. We've done this to ensure better-performing, more successful projects, and, thereby, help sustain the structural engineering professions."

Das continued, "The breadth and depth of Bentley software, combined with its industry-leading intra-operability, enable our users to analyze, design, document, and deliver structures in an integrated project workflow that maximizes the application intelligence at each step. But with the new ISM apps, project teams ultimately will be able to deploy a wide array of applications from multiple vendors and maintain interoperability throughout the structural project lifecycle. I think all structural engineers should download and start benefiting from our no-cost Structural Synchronizer V8i and Structural Dashboard V8i apps today."

ISM-enabled structural tools currently include Bentley's Structural Modeler (formerly known as Bentley Structural), RAM Concept, and RAM Elements, as well as Autodesk Revit. For additional information about ISM and these products, and to download Structural Synchronizer and Structural Dashboard, visit www.bentley.com/ISM.

Bentley's comprehensive portfolio of software is available through a number of innovative subscription offerings, including Bentley's Enterprise License Subscription, SELECT subscription, and new Passport Subscriptions that provide an affordable alternative to perpetual license purchases for architectural, engineering, and mapping professionals. For additional information, visit www.bentley.com/subscriptions.

About Bentley's Structural Software Portfolio

Bentley has the world's most extensive structural software portfolio. It includes an unrivaled breadth and depth of applications within RAM, STAAD, ProSteel, Structural Modeler, and Bentley AutoPIPE offering post-tensioned slab and mat design, reinforced concrete design, steel connection design, advanced analysis such as nonlinear and base isolators, fabrication detailing, pipe stress analysis, 3D modeling and 2D drawing production, and much more. For additional information about Bentley's structural software portfolio, visit www.bentley.com/structural.

About Bentley Systems, Incorporated

Bentley is the global leader dedicated to providing architects, engineers, constructors, and owner-operators with comprehensive software solutions for sustaining infrastructure. Founded in 1984, Bentley has more than 2,700 colleagues and offices in more than 45 countries, achieved in 2008 the milestone of $500 million in revenues, and, since 1995, has invested more than $1 billion in research, development, and acquisitions.

For additional information about Bentley, visit www.bentley.com. To subscribe to an RSS feed of Bentley press releases and news alerts, visit www.bentley.com/rss/news. To view a searchable collection of innovative infrastructure projects from the annual Be Inspired Awards, visit www.bentley.com/yearininfrastructure. For information about Be Communities, a professional networking site that enables members of the infrastructure community to connect, communicate, and learn from each other, visit http://communities.bentley.com.

Bentley, the "B" Bentley logo, Structural Synchronizer, Structural Dashboard, RAM, STAAD, ProSteel, AutoPIPE, Structural Modeler, Enterprise License Subscription, Passport Subscription, SELECT, SELECTserver, and MicroStation are either registered or unregistered trademarks or service marks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated or one of its direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Bentley Systems, Incorporated