Bentley Expert DesignerTM:
A New Paradigm in Ease of Use
Vonnie Smith
®
What makes the typical designer's job especially difficult is having to bridge
gaps between multiple task domains to assemble information that satisfies cus-
tomers and construction crews as well as other business requirements.
Consequently, designers are often obliged to learn and interact with multiple
enterprise applications to complete the tasks essential in performing their job.
This paper describes the features and benefits of the Design Worksheet, the user
interface paradigm that forms the foundation of Bentley's infrastructure design
solution, Expert Designer. The Design Worksheet paradigm integrates tabular
and spatial data with leading-edge system integration technologies to bring mul-
tiple systems together into an intuitive and efficient environment for the designer.
The paradigm allows users to learn the design application quickly and use it pro-
ductively. With its familiar Windows look and feel, the interface allows users to
perform all their design work in a single environment, structured around design
tasks that users perform on a daily basis.
For the utility company, this ease of use means lower training costs, more
staffing flexibility (due to less reliance on highly skilled technicians), and a faster
time frame for achieving results and benefits.
1
Bentley Expert Designer: A New Paradigm in Ease of Use
Introduction
Over the past several decades, geospatial technologies have been widely
adopted for planning and managing utility infrastructure. What began as a
computer-based tool for eliminating the inefficiencies of paper maps has
assumed an increasingly critical role in problem solving and decision-mak-
ing. Due to numerous factors-the intricacies of spatially representing the
relationships and behaviors of real-world things; the vast quantity of data
processed by utilities; the inherently complicated functionality of a system
that must accommodate data from a variety of sources and diverse industries;
and the trend towa