EXTON, Pa.–( BUSINESS WIRE )–Bentley Systems, Incorporated (Nasdaq: BSY), the infrastructure engineering software company , today announced that its Seequent business unit has acquired Danish company Aarhus GeoSoftware, developer of software for geophysics. The acquisition extends Seequent’s solutions for operational groundwater management and sustainability projects involving exploration, contaminated sites and infrastructure resilience.
Aarhus GeoSoftware , a fast-growing company from the University of Arhus in Denmark, develops the AGS Workbench, SPIA, Res2DInv and Res3DInv software packages for the processing, inversion and visualization of land-based geophysical data and electromagnetic (EM) airborne, resistivity tomography electrical (ERT) remote sensing and other sources. AGS software allows users to create 2D and 3D subsurface electrical resistivity images that can be better visualized. The software’s outputs can be used to distinguish and differentiate subsurface materials and can later be modeled in Leapfrog, Seequent’s software that aids in various subsurface investigations.
The software uses electric field measurements, collected at ground level or with airborne sensors. Electrical resistivity allows for a better understanding of the distribution of materials such as water, mineral deposits and clays, and when water contains other compounds such as salt, geoscientists can infer the distribution.
The genesis of the AGS software was to ensure safe drinking water for future generations by mapping groundwater across Denmark. It is now used in many different areas, including locating subsurface faults and cavities to mitigate construction risk, in mining to investigate mineral bodies and overburden and tailings processes, monitoring groundwater movements and contaminants to help understand environmental impacts, stability modeling of dams and tunnels when assessing landslide risk to measure asset resilience or construction plan impacts. Seequent will continue its tradition of collaborating with Universities and research organizations around the world through ongoing engagement with Aarhus University for the development of AGS geophysical solutions.
Graham Grant, CEO of Seequent, said: “The acquisition will add new geophysical data processing capabilities to our workflows to help advance underground investigation and modeling. AGS software, together with Seequent’s advanced geological modeling and analysis software, creates a key tool to help understand and manage groundwater and assess risk in infrastructure such as dams and canals. We are excited about the new possibilities that are open to our users around the world.”
Toke Højbjerg Søltoft, CEO of Aarhus GeoSoftware, said: “Seequent’s global reach will allow AGS software to have a positive impact on more projects around the world. As we continue to develop solutions, our users will benefit from our tools being in the Seequent ecosystem and workflow. We are excited to join Seequent and work together on our shared vision of helping organizations make more robust and sustainable decisions through a better understanding of the subsurface.
For more information, visit https://www.aarhusgeosoftware.dk/ .
Image 1: https://www.bentley.com/-/media/Images/Press%20Release%20Images/2021/Aarhus_Workbench
Caption: AGS Workbench is a comprehensive software package for processing, inverting and visualizing geophysical and geological data. The AGS Workbench package is based on a GIS interface and includes dedicated data processing modules for various types of geophysical data. The package integrates every step of the workflow, from raw data processing to the final visualization and interpretation of inversion models.
Image 2: https://www.bentley.com/-/media/Images/Press%20Release%20Images/2021/Aarhus_Workbench_TEM_Workflow
Caption: Caption: Airborne electromagnetic remote sensor (AEM) is used to collect large volumes of data using an aircraft. When the sensor looped below a helicopter or small plane transmits an electromagnetic signal to the ground, based on the properties of the underground, a secondary field is created and measured in the aircraft. This data is then processed to estimate the electrical properties of the subsoil. The AGS Workbench software is used for processing, inverting and visualizing data collected by AEM and other geophysical methods.
Airborne electromagnetic remote sensing (AEM) uses electromagnetic induction to collect large amounts of data from an aircraft. It is a fast and cost-effective way of subsurface mapping, can cover large areas (10’s-1000’s of km^2) in a few days, requires no new drilling or ground access, and, using 3D modeling and visualization software, has a quick payback to map the subsurface.
The technique involves towing a sensor in a loop by a small plane or helicopter approximately 100 feet (30 meters) above the ground. This generates an electromagnetic signal transmitted to earth based on the properties of the subsoil, so a secondary field is created and measured in the aircraft. These data are processed to estimate the electrical properties of the subsoil. Depending on resistivity or conductivity, the returned signal helps geoscientists establish the nature of the subsurface.
Image 3: https://www.bentley.com/-/media/Images/Press%20Release%20Images/2021/AEM_slice
Caption: Detection data processed and inverted in the AGS Workbench software can be combined in Seequent’s Leapfrog Works to create a 3D model that provides a detailed overview. The image above is a hydrogeological map of the subsurface of the Main Aquifer (and parts of the Ogallala Aquifer) in Nebraska, United States. Airborne electromagnetic remote sensing (AEM) was used to capture data from the 4,000 square mile (approximately 6.5 square km) study area. Color-coded volumes represent eight resistivity categories. Higher resistivity values are represented as yellow to red (sand and gravel), lower resistivity values are represented as blue to green (clay and silt), and brown represents rock.
About Sequent
Seequent, a Bentley company, is a world leader in developing powerful geoscience analytics, modeling and collaborative technologies for understanding geoscience solutions and engineering design. Our solutions enable people to analyze complex data, manage risk and make better decisions about the challenges of the earth, environment and energy.
Seequent software is used in large-scale projects globally, including road and rail tunnel construction, groundwater detection and management, geothermal exploration, subsea infrastructure mapping, resource assessment and underground storage of spent nuclear fuel.
Seequent’s global presence includes its headquarters in Christchurch and research and development centers in Christchurch and Canada, with a network of offices in Asia/Pacific, Africa, South America, North America and Europe serving top-tier companies and customers with leading subsurface solutions in over 100 countries.
For more information, visit www.seequent.com or follow Seequent on LinkedIn or Twitter.
About Bentley Systems
Bentley Systems (Nasdaq: BSY) is the infrastructure engineering software company. We provide innovative software to advance the world’s infrastructure, sustaining the global economy and the environment. Our industry-leading software solutions are used by professionals and organizations of all sizes for the design, construction and operations of roads and bridges, rail and transit, water and sewage, public works and utilities, buildings and campuses, and industrial facilities. Our offerings include MicroStation-based applications for modeling and simulation, ProjectWise for project delivery, AssetWise for network assets and performance, and the iTwin platform for digital infrastructure twins. Bentley Systems has more than 4,000 employees and generates annual revenues of more than $800 million in 172 countries. www.bentley.com
© 2021 Bentley Systems, Incorporated. Bentley, the Bentley logo, AGS Workbench, AssetWise, iTwin, Leapfrog, MicroStation, ProjectWise, Res2DInv, Res3DInv, Seequent, and SPIA are either registered or unregistered trademarks or service marks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated or one of its direct or indirect owned subsidiaries. All other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.
