Michigan DOT Chooses Bentley’s Power GEOPAK as New Statewide Survey Software

EXTON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the leading company dedicated to providing comprehensive software solutions for the infrastructure that sustains our world, today announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has chosen Bentley’s Power GEOPAK all-in-one civil engineering design software to replace CAiCE as its standard statewide survey software. MDOT made this decision after Bentley’s successful benchmark in mid-April 2011 against Autodesk’s AutoCAD Civil 3D application. Power GEOPAK provides civil transportation professionals with a complete spectrum of capabilities for surveying data reduction and analysis, civil-specific drafting tools, powerful map analysis and production, and transportation design automation in a total-project context.

“Quality software based on proven technology made the difference”

MDOT’s selection of Power GEOPAK is the culmination of intense research and product assessments by the department. All of this was prompted by Autodesk’s 2003 announcement that it was discontinuing development of CAiCE software, which it had acquired in August 2002.

“The Michigan DOT has been assessing various survey solutions to replace CAiCE for four years,” said Daniel Belcher, P.E., P.S., manager of MDOT’s Design Surveys and Engineering Support units. “When Bentley stepped into the field with its new data acquisition tools, they hit a home run that left the competition behind and won the game.”

Looking to identify software that would complement agency processes and exceed the existing capabilities provided in CAiCE, MDOT invited Bentley and Autodesk to participate in an April 13 benchmark and provided each with MDOT process-related data sets to review in advance. At the time of the product demonstration, MDOT gave the participants a second, similar data set to be used to execute 113 tasks relevant to agency workflows and methodologies. Bentley’s Power GEOPAK clearly excelled, easily performing all the requested tasks efficiently and in fewer steps than the competition.

Power GEOPAK will enable MDOT to streamline methods used to create survey deliverables for the agency design team, which has long used Bentley’s layered, MicroStation-based GEOPAK software for civil engineering and transportation design projects. Going forward, survey data will be created and delivered within the GEOPAK environment, affording designers an ease of data access that wasn’t possible with CAiCE. Moreover, Power GEOPAK’s ability to operate seamlessly with the ProjectWise project team collaboration platform, which is already an integral part of MDOT’s workflows, will further streamline data management processes.

“Quality software based on proven technology made the difference,” said Ron Gant, Bentley global marketing director, regarding the company’s successful MDOT benchmark. “Bentley and Autodesk were on a level playing field, with each offering the upgrade from CAiCE through existing contracts. The selection of Power GEOPAK was based solely on software capability and performance. In the coming days, Bentley welcomes this opportunity to assist MDOT and agency consultants as they transition to Power GEOPAK.”

The benefits of Power GEOPAK to MDOT range from ease of installation to civil engineering functionality that works automatically with survey, GPS, LiDAR, and other forms of field data, bridging the gap to geo-coordinated files and custom projections. With the software’s one download/one installation, integrated product-centric support, and ability to use all existing workspace settings, MDOT and its consultants will gain an immediate increase in both functionality and flexibility. Its teams will be able to work with more types of data and produce more diverse deliverables than ever before, all while continuing to use preferred methodologies and workflows. Moreover, MDOT will be able to employ leading data acquisition devices and formats, and handle a broad array of new and existing topographic information.

For additional information about Bentley’s civil engineering/transportation solutions, visit www.bentley.com/Solutions/Roads.

About Michigan Department of Transportation

The Michigan Department of Transportation has direct jurisdiction over Michigan’s 9,655-mile state highway system, comprising all the Interstate, U.S.-, and M-numbered routes. It is the backbone of Michigan’s 120,000-mile highway, road, and street network. The state also owns 4,641 highway, railroad and pedestrian bridges; 530 miles of railroad track (which is managed by private operators); 103 miles of nonmotorized trails; and four airports.

MDOT also administers other state and federal transportation programs for aviation, intercity passenger services, rail freight, local public transit services, the Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF), the Transportation Enhancement (TE) program, and others. In addition, the department is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive transportation plan for the entire state that includes all modes of transportation. For additional information about MDOT, visit http://www.michigan.gov/mdot.

About Bentley Systems, Incorporated

Bentley is the global leader dedicated to providing architects, engineers, geospatial professionals, constructors, and owner-operators with comprehensive software solutions for sustaining infrastructure. Bentley’s mission is to empower its users to leverage information modeling through integrated projects for high-performing intelligent infrastructure. Its solutions encompass the MicroStation platform for infrastructure design and modeling, the ProjectWise platform for infrastructure project team collaboration and work sharing, and the AssetWise platform for infrastructure asset operations – all supporting a broad portfolio of interoperable applications and complemented by worldwide professional services. Founded in 1984, Bentley has grown to nearly 3,000 colleagues in more than 45 countries and $500 million in annual revenues. Since 2001, the company 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. To view a searchable collection of innovative infrastructure projects from the annual Be Inspired Awards, access Bentley’s Year in Infrastructure publications. 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.

Bentley, the “B” Bentley logo, Be, GEOPAK, Power GEOPAK, MicroStation, and ProjectWise are either registered or unregistered trademarks or service marks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated or one of its direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.