This article was first published in the March 2023 edition of Geotechnik Magazine, Germany
A Partnership to Empower and Support Geotechnical Engineers
Geotechnical engineering is a critical aspect of infrastructure projects, yet it is often the unsung hero of the industry. From roads to bridges, airports to tunnels, buildings to dams and levees, the subsurface plays a vital role in the design, construction, and long-term performance of these structures.
Geotechnical engineers are responsible for understanding the earth beneath our feet and ensuring that the infrastructure we build is safe, resilient, and sustainable. However, the importance of geotechnical engineering goes beyond just building new roads and bridges.
In the world of transportation, there is a duality of every tale – the excitement of building new infrastructure, and the ongoing relationship with that infrastructure, to make sure it performs day-in and day-out for many years to come.
One of the better-kept secrets of the industry is how significant the impact of unforeseen ground conditions can be in terms of costs, claims, and delays on transportation projects.
Lack of certainty about the subsurface is a major headache for civil infrastructure projects. In the recent CRUXInsight report 2022: Battling the Headwinds, unknown physical conditions were one of the top ten causes of insurance disputes and claims faced by capital and infrastructure projects in Europe. This global report looked at 1,600 projects worldwide including 431 projects in Europe where the average claim value was USD $111 million.
To address these challenges, in June 2021, Bentley Systems formally acquired Seequent, industry leader in earth modelling, geo-data management, and team collaboration software. Seequent is now The Bentley Subsurface Company, and together we are working to empower and support geotechnical engineers with the tools they need to succeed.
Seequent’s World-Leading Subsurface Software for Infrastructure Projects
At Seequent we specialise in creating world-leading subsurface software for infrastructure projects. Our software is used by engineers and scientists around the world to understand and manage the subsurface environment and to design and build safe and sustainable structures.
Our products are designed to make it easy for geotechnical engineers to access and analyse the subsurface data they need and to quickly create models that can help them understand the behaviour of soil and rock.
We believe that better ground engineering can mean better transportation infrastructure for all. We advocate for a structured approach to geotechnical data and model management and employ the cloud to connect participants in the process.
Given the challenges geotechnical engineers face in terms of the limited availability of subsurface data and the time and money spent on site investigations, it makes sense to take care of your data every step of the way.
It’s also vital to get the most leverage from it through more productive engineering geology interpretation and to share your understanding with 3D visualizations that bring the subsurface uncertainties and engineering challenges to life for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
A Connected Geotechnical Workflow: The Key to Safe and Sustainable Infrastructure Projects
In October 2022, Seequent announced that all Bentley geotechnical products have joined its portfolio, creating a new opportunity for geotechnical engineers to integrate PLAXIS and OpenGround with a wide range of subsurface solutions.
Our vision is to create a better world through a deeper understanding of the Earth. To achieve this, we are breaking down communication barriers and inefficiencies, uniting teams across the project lifecycle for improved collaboration and more accurate results.
By bringing Bentley geotechnical solutions such as PLAXIS and OpenGround under Seequent, geotechnical engineers can now access stronger and more connected digital workflows with other subsurface solutions such as Leapfrog Works for geological modelling and Seequent Central for model management and collaboration.
The importance of such a connected geotechnical workflow in the design and construction of infrastructure projects cannot be overstated. By utilising OpenGround, Leapfrog Works, PLAXIS, and GeoStudio, geotechnical engineers can gain a comprehensive understanding of subsurface conditions, allowing them to design and build safe, sustainable, and long-lasting infrastructure.
This is especially crucial for large-scale projects that are exposed to complex subsurface conditions, such as tunnels, bridges, and buildings. With a connected geotechnical workflow, engineers can make informed decisions, minimize errors, and optimize the efficiency of the design and construction process.
In short, a connected geotechnical workflow is vital for ensuring the safety and sustainability of infrastructure projects.
And, as understanding conditions below the surface is key to reducing risk above it, PLAXIS and OpenGround – along with other Seequent products – will continue to develop as part of workflows with Bentley solutions for the built world.
Seequent’s mission is to create a better world through a deeper understanding of the Earth. We are achieving this by uniting teams and breaking down communication barriers and inefficiencies in geotechnical engineering, resulting in improved collaboration and more accurate results. By using our software solutions like PLAXIS, OpenGround, Leapfrog Works, and GeoStudio, geotechnical engineers can design and build safe, sustainable, and long-lasting infrastructure projects.
You can find this article first published in the March 2023 edition of Geotechnik Magazine, Germany here: