Japan Conservation Engineers Wins 2005 BE Award

Examples of Construction of Landslide GIS Named Top Project in �Geospatial: Geospatial Modeling� Category

Exton, Pa. � Nov. 30, 2005 � Japan Conservation Engineers Co., Ltd. has won a 2005 BE Award for its Examples of Construction of Landslide GIS project in the Akita, Yamagata, and Kanagawa prefectures in Japan. The award category was �Geospatial: Geospatial Modeling.�

The BE Awards of Excellence, which are selected by an independent jury of industry experts and presented at an evening ceremony during the annual BE Conference (www.be.org), honor the extraordinary work of Bentley users improving the world�s infrastructure. These projects set benchmarks for their industries, and showcase the imagination and technical mastery of the organizations that created them.

The Japan Conservation Engineers� Landslide GIS system lets engineers better evaluate, present to clients and the public, and manage projects designed to prevent landslides. The system does this by enabling engineers to:

Perform 3D analysis of the hydrogeological structures and landslide prevention projects in landslide areas Create a 3D simulation of landslide movements Store and manage 3D surface and sub-surface data

The Landslide GIS�s 3D analysis capability lets engineers easily produce an image of the landslide area�s geological structure. This image can then be used to perform a variety of analyses, such as slope stability evaluations, to provide a hazard risk assessment.

The 3D analysis can also model a landslide�s sliding mass to quickly design effective prevention measures. Three-dimensional drawings generated from the model can help the public better understand the landslide dangers in their community, as well as to appreciate the benefits of any landslide prevention projects being proposed.

An even more dramatic depiction of these dangers can be produced by using the new system to create a lifelike model that shows actual land mass movement during a landslide. Soil type maps are combined with highly accurate digital elevation models to show the before and after conditions of an area affected by the landslide. Survey data collected over the study period provides the basis for the animation. Orthophotos are then laid over the study area to create a realistic landslide movement simulation.

These animations reveal the extent of devastation that a landslide is likely to cause, including its impact on protected areas and the people living in and around them. Such information can speed approvals for prevention projects by making it easier for the public to visualize the dangers they face from this destructive force.

Creating and managing the large amounts of data associated with the modeling of 3D landslide sites is a huge undertaking. The database storage and indexing system must be capable of handling a variety of records depicting annual land surveys, topographic maps, technical drafts, orthorectified photographs, 2D and 3D drawings and models, and all landslide prevention projects.

Using the visualization capabilities of MicroStation and GEOPAK Site, the Landslide GIS enables this diverse collection of information to be easily accessed, integrated, and understood. As a result, engineers can, for example, manage the records of landslide prevention and forest conservation projects, perform searches of landslide prevention projects by type and year constructed, and view related drawings and photos � all without manually sifting through stacks of documents.

For more information on Japan Conservation Engineers� winning project and all of the other 2005 BE Award projects, visit www.be.org/2005beawardwinners. For more information on the geospatial software products used in this project, visit www.bentley.com/en-US/Markets/Geospatial.

About Japan Conservation Engineers

Japan Conservation Engineers, which was established in 1966, specializes in surveying, planning, designing, construction, and construction management specific to mountain hazard management and mitigation projects. Recently, the firm has expanded all of these services to slope revegetation, soil contamination prevention, and various GIS projects. The company�s corporate Web site can be found at www.jce.co.jp.

About the BE Conference

The BE Conference, which consistently scores a 99 percent attendee satisfaction rating, is a once-a-year learning opportunity for Bentley users and their managers offering professional training, technology updates, keynotes, and best practice sharing. At these sessions, attendees better themselves, better their organizations, and better the ways they can improve the world�s infrastructure.

To pre-register for BE Conference 2006, being held May 21-25 in Charlotte, N.C., go to www.be.org/preregister.

About Bentley

Bentley Systems, Incorporated provides software for the lifecycle of the world�s infrastructure. The company�s comprehensive portfolio for the building, plant, civil, and geospatial vertical markets spans architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) and operations. With 2004 revenues exceeding $300 million, Bentley is the leading provider of AEC software to the Engineering News-Record Design 500 and major owner-operators.

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