Autodesk, Bentley Announce Interoperability Agreement
Will share data across AEC apps; Bentley gets to use RealDWG
 
SAN
RAFAEL, CA and EXTON,
PA, July 8, 2008 – At a joint press conference, Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK)
and Bentley Systems, Incorporated, two of the leading providers of design
and infrastructure software, today announced an agreement to expand
interoperability between their portfolios of architectural, engineering, and
construction (AEC) software. Autodesk and Bentley will exchange software
libraries, including Autodesk RealDWG, to improve the ability to read and
write the companies’ respective DWG and DGN formats in mixed environments
with greater fidelity. In addition, the two companies will facilitate work
process interoperability between their AEC applications through supporting
the reciprocal use of available Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
With this agreement, the companies aim to improve AEC workflows by enabling
broader reuse of information generated during the design, construction, and
operation of buildings and infrastructure, and by enhancing the ability of
project teams to choose among multiple software sources.
Interoperability has emerged as a critical issue for users of design and
engineering software. A 2004 study by the U.S. National Institute of
Standards and Technology found that users bear direct costs of almost $16
billion annually from time wasted due to inadequate AEC software
interoperability. By virtue of this agreement, and the interoperable
offerings that it will enable, AEC firms will be free to employ software
tools of choice from either Autodesk or Bentley to accept or submit either
DWG or DGN files. By improving fidelity of work shared between the two file
formats, users will be able to focus on being creative and getting work
done, rather than being constrained by file-compatibility considerations.
Through supporting the reciprocal use of their available APIs, Autodesk
and Bentley will enable AEC project teams to combine products from both
providers within integrated workflows. For instance, a design team could use
a mixture of Autodesk and Bentley software, such as Autodesk’s Revit
platform and Bentley’s STAAD and RAM structural products, and simulate and
analyze their designs or manage project information using Autodesk
NavisWorks software or Bentley’s ProjectWise.
Norbert Young, FAIA, president of McGraw-Hill Construction and former
chairman of the International Alliance for Interoperability in North
America, said, “This groundbreaking agreement directly addresses many of the
critical issues detailed in the October 2007 McGraw-Hill Construction study
on interoperability in the construction industry (http://construction.ecnext.com/mcgraw_hill/includes/SMRI.pdf).
I applaud both companies for their foresight and leadership.”
Added Patrick MacLeamy, FAIA, CEO of global architectural firm HOK and a
founder and current chairman of the International Alliance for
Interoperability (IAI), “As a longtime advocate of interoperability, I
welcome this agreement as an important step toward enabling AEC information
to be more broadly shared, increasing the value of BIM to our clients.”
“Autodesk recognizes that many customers use our products in mixed
environments, and this agreement will help to better support these firms,”
said Jay Bhatt, senior vice president, Autodesk AEC Solutions. “As part of
our commitment to provide technology that improves productivity and
efficiency across the AEC industry, we’re pleased to enter into this
agreement with Bentley Systems – Autodesk’s largest development partner –
and together help customers design, build, operate, and maintain the world’s
infrastructure.”
“Bentley and Autodesk share a goal of enabling the creation and
operations of better-performing infrastructure,” said Greg Bentley, CEO of
Bentley Systems. “Realizing that our mutual users bear unnecessary costs
resulting from lack of interoperability, we came together to finally make
information reuse the norm. By raising its sights beyond file format issues,
the resource-constrained AEC community can better serve us all.”
About Bentley Systems, Incorporated
Bentley is the global leader dedicated to providing comprehensive
software solutions for sustaining infrastructure. Architects, engineers,
constructors, and owner-operators are indispensable in improving our world
and our quality of life; the company’s mission is to improve the performance
of their projects and of the assets they design, build, and operate. Bentley
sustains the infrastructure professions by helping to leverage information
technology, learning, best practices, and global collaboration – and by
promoting careers devoted to this crucial work.
Founded in 1984, Bentley has more than 2,800 colleagues, offices in more
than 50 countries, annual revenues surpassing $500 million, and since 1993,
has invested more than $1 billion in research, development, and
acquisitions. Nearly 90 percent of the Engineering News-Record Top Design
Firms are Bentley subscribers, and a 2008 Daratech study ranked Bentley as
the world’s #2 provider of geospatial software solutions. For additional
information about Bentley, visit
www.bentley.com.
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the
manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment
markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has
developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art digital prototyping
solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are real.
Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate
and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time
and money, enhance quality and foster innovation. For additional information
about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.
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