Bentley's newly acquired InRoads and InRail software was launched in South Africa in June 2001. Chris Angus and Rob Nice from Bentley UK visited South Africa to launch the products.

The InRoads suite includes survey, site, road, bridge, sanitary and stormwater modules, tightly integrated with MicroStation. The tight integration with MicroStation appealed to the Mining Sector, whose primary drafting tool is indeed MicroStation.

Survey

The survey software allows direct downloading of field data from field books for reduction, input from GPS's, and the range of calculations available in the survey menu, including a COGO processor, a DTM, contours and surfaces.

A range of pre-defined descriptions are supplied, such as top-of-bank, kerb, etc, but the user may define as many of his own as required in order to ensure consistent standards within his organisation. Symbols may also be applied to these descriptions such as tree, pole, etc.

Site

The Site module addresses all site needs, including terraces, site roads, cadastral calculations, volumes, long and cross sections. This is more than adequate for the design of all earthworks associated with a plant, factory or mining site.

InRoads

A comprehensive module for the design of interstate highways covering road and corridor design, road widening, resurfacing, complex profiles and intersections, landfill sites and rehabilitation.

InRail

The rail module functionality is not only limited to the design of new horizontal and vertical alignments and earthworks, but offers comprehensive functionality for upgrading and maintenance on rail networks.

Features:

* Transition spirals that can easily be accommodated using a variety of methods, including clothoid, sinusoidal, bi-quadratic, Bloss and others.

* Regression analysis - least-squares regression analysis provides best-fit solutions for straight, spiral and circular track elements and simplifies design tasks under highly constrained conditions. The best-fit alignment can be modified to derive a best-redesigned alignment.

* Export-to-tamping option allows one's design to integrate with track maintenance and saves time and money.

* Slew diagrams are displayed graphically and in tabular form to help verify realignments. These diagrams clearly indicate the amount of shift to the existing track required to restore the track to its designed alignment.

* Track turnouts - Customised turnouts and crossovers allow one to select and place turnouts with ease. One can define individually tailored turnouts and save them to libraries for future use.

* Cant/Superelevation - InRail supports direct computation of the rail cant or super elevation and variable speed align-designers can achieve efficient design, reduce design time and improve rider comfort.

The software is suitable for national, urban and site rail, and may also be used for the design and realignment of underground rails used in the mining industry.

For more information contact Sonya Pieterse, Allyson Lawless, (021) 683 9012, e-mail alycape@iafrica.com