Bentley reports on growing industry momentum for GeoEngineering and MicroStation GeoGraphics; Daimler Benz purchases product, Alexander Engineering to release new applications, and over 45 VARs enter market.

ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 19, 1996--A/E/C SYSTEMS '96--Bentley Systems, Inc. (Exton, PA) reported on the industry momentum for its integrated computer-aided design (CAD) and geographic information system (GIS) product. MicroStation GeoGraphics(TM), which shipped in February, has been purchased in volume by several large companies and organizations, most recently Daimler Benz of Germany. The product has become the basis of new application development by over 55 third party developers, including Alexander Engineering, Inc. of Texas. Also, over 45 VARs with primary expertise in GIS have now entered GeoEngineering.

MicroStation GeoGraphics is the center of Bentley's multi-faceted initiative for this expanding market of unified engineering and planning, termed GeoEngineering. Daimler Benz, at its headquarters in Berlin, will use MicroStation GeoGraphics in a strategic GeoEngineering application. A core team is developing the division's traffic management systems, which demand the accuracy of CAD and analysis capabilities of GIS.

Jean-Baptiste Monnier, vice president of GeoEngineering at Bentley, comments, "The industry momentum that has developed in less than four months supports our claim that MicroStation GeoGraphics is the lead product in GeoEngineering. This new unified world is full of opportunity for users, consultants, and value-added resellers." He adds, "We will continue to execute a complete business plan to maintain our lead and ensure maximum long-term value for users worldwide."

Companies and organizations that have purchased the product and are implementing large-scale projects include Telecom Eireann of Ireland, the Hawaii Department of Water, as well as the aforementioned Daimler Benz.

Alexander Engineering is integrating its entire line of SpatialData(R) products with MicroStation GeoGraphics. The company, the software product division of full-service Alexander Utility Engineering, Inc., is a leader in end-user GIS solutions for electrical utility, tax assessment, and emergency 911 mapping and addressing applications. The new line of products will be available later this year.

Jeff Bielefeld, manager of software development at Alexander Engineering, comments, "We are committed to Bentley's GeoEngineering initiative. We see firsthand the need to bring together the world of traditional CAD and the world of GIS. MicroStation GeoGraphics is the enabling technology that is making this possible." He adds, "For us, it provides a comprehensive set of tools to address the detailed graphics and the broad analysis needs of the GIS/AM/FM market."

To meet the demand for information, Bentley has held four GeoEngineering VAR training "SpaceCamps" during the past two months. Over 100 sales and technical personnel have attended these sessions in Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. That event followed the February Executive GeoEngineering Summit, where over 60 analysts, editors, professors, and executives from the engineering and GIS industries gathered at Copper Mountain, Colorado to hear about and discuss GeoEngineering. SpaceCamps are planned over the coming months in Europe, Asia, South America, as well as several more in North America. A GeoEngineering User Summit is planned for the fall.

To receive Bentley's white paper on GeoEngineering or for more information on MicroStation GeoGraphics or Bentley, please contact the company at 1-800-BENTLEY, [phone] (US), [phone] (Europe), [phone] (Asia), via e-mail at [e-mail], or through the World Wide Web at http://www.bentley.com/.

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Bentley Systems, Inc. is a worldwide leader in engineering software products and user services. The company now serves over 220,000 professionals in building/plant engineering, GeoEngineering, and mechanical engineering. Its MicroStation(R) products are proven at over 70% of the largest U.S. engineering firms and are the software foundation behind the engineering of well-known buildings, airports, hospitals, highways, machines, bridges and industrial plants throughout the world. With annual revenues of over $95 million in 1995, Bentley has risen to number three in the AEC software segment and become one of the world's fastest growing software companies. -0-

MicroStation is a registered trademark; Bentley and MicroStation GeoGraphics are trademarks of Bentley Systems, Inc. SpatialData is a registered trademark of Alexander Engineering, Inc. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

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