Wednesday, May 27. 2009

Bentley Integrates Anoto Technology into ProjectWise

The solution is called ProjectWise Dynamic plot. The Bentley data is printed from data stored and managed in ProjectWise. The plot includes a printed grid used to track markup done with a special pen. When the pen in docked, the markup is made available as a layer to the appropriate design files. Bentley has licensed technology from Anoto to put the "dots" on the paper through its printing/publishing software. Bentley sells the Anoto pens directly.

I first saw this technology at a BE Event several years ago as part of Bentley's Applied Research Labs exhibit.

In a virtual press conference today Joe Croser, Global Marketing Director, Platform at Bentley referred to the solution as non-disruptive. John Simons, Director, Product Management explained that the big difference in this solution in comparison to Adapx solution (which works with ArcGIS, based on the same technology) is that this solution is distributed. The pen does not require synchonization - that is, just start drawing with the pen on the paper. Notification of changes is done via a separate notification system in ProjectWise. A 600 or 1200 DPI color printer is required, but it fairly common in engineering shops.

Details of pricing were not shared since they vary from country to country.

The product is available as of today.

- press release

Comments

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Huh. If this iteration of Anoto doesn't require the pen to rejoin the host map/design file for a local dock, and can operate remotely without regard for 'registration' back to the origin file...I would in fact call this very disruptive.

The biggest issue Adapx seems unable to overcome is the field pen has to work off the host file - i can't send a pen to the field office along with a PDF, and have them send 'the digits' back through the ether - which sharply limits the utility of the toolset for widely-dispersed teams.

I'd say Bentley has done exactly the right thing here. And it most certainly IS disruptive - a field GPS becomes marginally useful in comparison to a good map and the magic pen.

#1 Archie Belaney on 2009-05-27 15:14 (Reply)

i had to read archie's comment twice before i realized that i agree with him

When i said that the technology is non-disruptive i was referring to existing workflows. i.e. ProjectWise Dynamic plot is a painless new product to adopt as it fully supports existing paper-based workflows.

But on the second read i see archie is suggesting that ProjectWise Dynamic Plot is a "disruptive technology" i.e. (from wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disruptive_technology) "A disruptive technology or disruptive innovation is an innovation that improves a product or service in ways that the market does not expect, typically by being lower priced or designed for a different set of consumers."

In which case i totally agree. i think our ProjectWise Dynamic Plot solution is magic! To be able to plot any drawing using ProjectWise Dynamic Plot from any computer anywhere in the world and then markup the paper plot and sync the comments back to the same ProjectWise system from any computer anywhere in the world is a liberating and hugely empowering technology.

jc

#2 joe croser (Link) on 2009-05-28 12:14 (Reply)

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In reply to	[ Top level ]#1: Archie Belaney on 2009-05-27 15:14 #2: joe croser on 2009-05-28 12:14
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