Bentley Systems Army Training Program Focuses on CAD GIS Integration

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1 Bentley Systems Army Training Program Focuses on CAD GIS Integration Tom Brown, Army Account Manager, Bentley Systems, Inc. Installations face serious challenges managing, analyzing and publishing geospatial information needed to support Directorate of Public Works (DPW) missions. Beyond basic geospatial tools, Army installations are seeking ways to make better use of United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) provided as built content and to apply Architect Engineer Construction/Computer Aided Design (AEC/CAD) standards to geospatial data. Adding even further complexity, managers must also make sure all geospatial data conforms to the SDSFIE Army Adaptation. In response to a growing demand across the Army to better integrate geospatial data and CAD content, Bentley s Army account team reached out to installation DPW staffs to better understand requirements and constraints. Bentley recently unveiled a training program tailored to satisfying this demand. Through close coordination with DPW staffs, the team was able to demonstrate that the tools needed to tackle these challenges are already available under the Army s Enterprise License Subscription (ELS) with Bentley. The problem was that in many cases DPW staffs lacked the training needed to use the tools effectively. The Bentley team faced an internal hurdle standardized product training had not adapted to the rapidly changing needs of the Army. In order to help Army users become more effective in their mission areas, Bentley had to develop a program that specifically addressed Army needs. The foundation for the entire effort is managing geospatial information. The team designed the training and implementation program around the successful IMAP strategy. IMAP (Input, Management, Analysis and Publishing of geospatial information) prompts organizations to consider the entire life cycle of geospatial information and move CAD, Mapping, Civil and GIS content out of their silos and into an integrated single authoritative geospatial database.

2 Bentley s new training program is built on a fully integrated geospatial environment using either Oracle Spatial or SQL Server databases. The geospatial database is a fully open data structure using the SDSFIE as a generic schema (no proprietary spatial data objects are stored in the database). Bentley designed its common workspace to fully integrate the USACE AEC/CAD specifications, which gives installations a better way to view geospatial data and for the first time integrate survey/civil content in the installation geospatial database. The training program focuses on three elements: 1) the SDSFIE data model, 2) AEC/CAD specifications and 3) a common workspace to merge the GIS and Engineering disciplines. Ultimately, GIS and engineering content are fully integrated, and the entire DPW operates in the same data environment. The central element is a single Installation Geospatial Information and Services (IGI&S) database. Each individual contributes content where they he/she is the responsible data steward, and every stakeholder can use the tools and model their data according to their own needs. Fort Bragg expressed a keen interest in validating this approach. The Bragg Bentley team kicked off the process with a review of current operations and development of workflow business process models. The team then developed detailed integration definition (IDEF) diagrams and defined the IGI&S requirements. Sample from the Fort Bragg Site Assessment and IDEF Modeling

3 This diagram depicts the environment utilized during the new Army Training courses at Fort Bragg. By reaching out to installations, Bentley s was able to identify several challenges and incorporate solution strategies into the training workshops: Incorporating the current AEC/CAD (USACE) standards to allow the integration of the Mapping and Civil Engineering surveying and as built workflows Migration and consolidation of DPW engineering servers to the NEC Creation of an open SQL Spatial database and migration of geometry to the database Planning the migration to the emerging SDSFIE Army Adaptation in late 2013 and early 2014 Establishment of procedures to blend highly accurate survey content with traditional GIS content in the single geospatial repository of record Improving the accuracy and usability of the installation s spatial data Reconciliation of geospatial data with real property records to improve accuracy Capturing critical metadata associated with each feature in accordance with the Army IGI&S Metadata Profile Roll out of this new Army training involved more than simply building new courses and revising course content. The team kept focus on the primary objective helping Army installations create and integrate spatial data using a single authoritative geospatial database.

4 In addition to the training itself, Bentley s approach to meeting this objective included several important elements: Pre visit site assessments to determine each installation s existing data structure and to evaluate the knowledge level of key staff. This allowed the team to identify the right mix of training and coaching needed to address each installation s specific needs. Special training for the Bentley instructors to provide a working knowledge of Armyspecific standards and production environments. Coordination with IMCOM G4 and G6 and the OACSIM IGI&S Program to align with the Army IGI&S Program s long term installation management goals. Installations completing the courses listed below will now be able to integrate CAD and GIS data that is fully compatible with both SDSFIE and AEC/CAD standards, to support engineering activities and incorporate engineering data into the geospatial repository of record. DPW activities which benefit from this new capability include: site surveys, site selections, civil design projects, transportation engineering, etc. Bentley Map for Army Geospatial Data Administrators. Stand up the installation s integrated geospatial database. Bentley Map for Geospatial Users. Create, manage, and analyze installation geospatial data. Civil training for Army Surveyors and Engineering staff. Create accurate survey content and incorporate survey and other civil content into the geospatial database. Recognizing that students can get overwhelmed by full immersion training and may have follow up questions once back in the post training environment, Bentley plans to introduce new Ask the Instructor sessions after completion of initial training. Bentley will also incorporate lessons learned during on site and follow up training events to tailor its products to address Army specific needs. Bentley s Government support team will continue developing and incorporating Easy Button macros as defined by the users to streamline operational workflows. What s Next Bentley s team will build on the progress made in 2013 and expand the program to more Army installations during The team will also expand the course offering to include additional, advanced user training: SDSFIE Army Adaptation migration to keep pace with the Army Adaptation Incorporating the SDSFIE Army Adaptation Advanced integration of IGI&S compliant metadata and linear segmentation requirements in the data model Advanced Utility integration in the geospatial data model including subsurface 3D utility modeling

5 Bentley s goal is to give users the tools they need to more effectively accomplish their missions; the ultimate goal is an independent, self sufficient user community. Bentley stands ready to help all Army installations develop and operate a compliant, fully integrated geospatial and engineering data environment. Please contact Tom Brown (Tom.Brown@Bentley.com) to learn more about Bentley s Army ELS and the new Army Training Program.