Whenever I'm browsing the internet and I come across an image of a strking building, road, bridge or other infrastructure project I often stop to admire them. One problem though. Often the text that accompany these pictures provide only the briefest of glimpses into how the project design came about. I always want to know more. How did it get started? What were some of the hurdles? What sort of imaginative solutions did it take to complete the project? In other words. As I said, I want to know more.

In October of this year, Bentley held its 2009 Be Inspired Awards ceremony for the best infrastructure projects from around the world which, as you would expect, consists of some really outstanding infrastructure projects. Haven't seen them yet? Check out the Be Inspired Award Winners web page for yourself. I certainly was impressed!

The good news is that as part of the awards agenda each finalist was given the opportunity to describe their project in their own words , pictures and videos. More to the point, these presentations have been made available for viewing via Be Connected, Bentley's ongoing online seminar series. At last I can find out what really went into realizing these amazing projects.

You'd be surprised what you find out when you view these video sessions. For instance, did you know FiledenClegg Bradley Studios got some of its inspiration for the Worcester Library & History Center design's unique roof from the surrounding hills and kilns associated with Worcester's industrial roots (see below)? Never mind that the company used Bentley's GenerativeComponents tool to realize a really cool roof design that features an environmentally friendly passive air flow system.

 

 


Another good example of delving into the details of a project is Cianbro Constructor's Motiva Crude Expansion project. Cheryl Brackett, Lead Work Package Engineer for the project not only explained the background of how this project got started in Brewer, Maine USA on an old mill site but also how Bentley's ConstructSim was used to work out details of this very complex industrial project right down to hearing from the "folks in the hard hats" on the construction site. Definitely interesting insight into what it takes to build a project of this scope.

 

 

Finally, there's the Central Phoenix / East Valley Light Rail System presented by Craig Jamison, Parsons Brinckerhoff. Craig provides details on how this project got started, was executed and completed. Good stuff.

 

 


I could go on as there are dozens of these glimpses into what goes into projects like these. In fact, I'm still working my way through them as I have the time.
Find all this interesting? Then check out the Be Inspired Best Practices category on Be Connected.

Now, back to watching the seminars...