Lt. Gen. Carl Strock Lays Out New Vision for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Latest Issue of BE Magazine

EXTON, Pa.--Feb. 15, 2006--

This Digital Publication Also Includes 3D Laser Scanner Selection Checklist, Firsthand Look at Distance Learning, Bentley User Success Stories, More

The new issue of BE Magazine (www.be.org), published by Bentley Systems, Incorporated, provides in-depth coverage of important changes taking place at one of Bentley's largest, perhaps best-known user organizations - the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

The USACE's ranks, which consist of biologists, engineers, geologists, hydrologists, natural resource managers, and other professionals, include 34,600 civilians and 650 military members. Its mission is about as broad in scope as they come: to provide quality, responsive engineering services to the nation in the areas of water resources, environment, infrastructure, homeland security, and military conflict.

In the interview appearing in BE Magazine, Lt. Gen. Carl Strock, USACE's chief of engineers, reveals his new vision for the Corps - a vision that focuses on missions rather than internal processes. Said Strock, "We've spent a lot of time talking about doing things right. We didn't talk much about doing the right things. That's what I'm attempting to do with our mission focus."

But accomplishing these missions will require the streamlined workflows and increased collaboration that are all part of the Corps' 2012 transformation program for the 21st century. In the companion article "USACE teams with Bentley on path to 'one Corps,'" Joe Croser, global marketing director, Bentley platform products, discusses the role that Bentley solutions will play in supporting the Corps' current goals, including that of becoming a team of teams.

Bentley's 21 years of providing innovative software and exemplary service to organizations such as the USACE were recently honored by the Eastern Technology Council at its Enterprise Awards ceremony. All the details, including CEO Greg Bentley's acceptance speech, can be found in the article "Bentley Named Technology Company of the Year."

Readers interested in purchasing a 3D laser scanner won't want to miss Tom Greaves' top 10 checklist of buying criteria. Greaves, a senior analyst with Spar Point Research LLC, covers all the bases: work process, accuracy, dynamic range, speed, field of view, operating environment, ease of use, safety, supplier stability, and cost. Recommendations for each criterion are included.

In the first article of the "Tips and Tech Notes" department, readers get a good feel for the instructor-led distance learning experience offered by Bentley Institute. This firsthand account of the four-day Standardizing with MicroStation V8 course takes readers through the personal interaction and feedback between instructor and students in this over-the-Web classroom environment.

As the article explains, distance learning technology enables and encourages active participation by all students in a way that classroom learning does not. With distance learning, students respond to an instructor's question simultaneously using messaging or icons. Feedback to the instructor is immediate and comprehensive. Commented Tom Dywanski, the Bentley Institute instructor featured in the article, "I recently taught in a traditional classroom environment and found I missed not having the green check boxes that let me know the students have completed an exercise or understood the materials."

Readers who have been following the legislative path of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) will find Dennis Martenson's article "Six more years of 'patch and pray'" of particular interest. Though Martenson, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, sees the act as a "step in the right direction," he's quick to point out that it "falls critically short of meeting the needs of the nation's crumbling infrastructure." Concludes Martenson, "We must all remember that a sound infrastructure is the basis for a sound economy."

Finally, in his column "The Last Word," Greg Bentley discusses the power of engineering analysis now applied throughout the workflows of building, civil, and plant lifecycles. This includes integrating design and analysis, eliminating the information loss within engineering workflows, and embedding interactive, front-end analysis into design decisions.

As always, readers of BE Magazine will also find a variety of inspiring user success stories; how-to articles that help architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals and owner-operators become better connected and more productive; a global roundup of AEC news; a comprehensive calendar of user events; practical technical notes and tips; commentary on issues critical to the AEC community; and much more.

To experience BE Magazine's latest digital issue and become a subscriber, go to www.be.org. To contribute to the editorial content of future issues, submit success stories, feature articles, news items, commentary, or letters to BEmagazine@be.org.

About BE Magazine

BE Magazine, which is electronically distributed to nearly 200,000 readers, is dedicated to Bentley users and their work improving the world's infrastructure and increasing quality of life. It is part of a program that also includes the BE Conference, BE Newsletter, BE Awards of Excellence, and BE Meetings. BE, which stands for "Bentley Empowered," represents the achievements of Bentley users, how Bentley can help them reach their goals, and the common vision and causes Bentley and users share.

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

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 verticals 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.

To receive Bentley press releases as they are issued, visit www.bentley.com/bentleywire. For more information, visit www.bentley.com. To view a copy of Bentley's June 2005 Annual Report online, go to www.bentley.com/june2005annualreport.

Bentley, the "B" logo, BE, BE Awards of Excellence, MicroStation, and Bentley Institute 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.