As part of its 2013 growth strategy, global infrastructure software solutions provider Bentley Systems is focusing on Africa and on expanding its footprint across the continent to offer those developing infrastructure projects comprehensive software solutions for the life cycle of a project.

“Our growth strategy is to go where the infrastructure is and to expand the tools we offer across these life cycles,” Bentley Systems COO Malcolm Walter tells Engineering News.

He notes that, while Africa is known for its abundance in natural resources, an increase in infrastructure build is required to take full advantage of those resources. “When that starts happening, the rest of the economy starts to develop,” he adds.

Walter further emphasises that, while the development of a particular sector, such as mining, might contribute directly to a country’s gross domestic product (GDP), the significance of the resulting indirect contribution is even greater.

This includes the need to increase addi- tional services, such as water and wastewater networks, healthcare, education, retail and transportation, as a result of the development of the mining sector, which compounds the industry’s direct contribution to the GDP.

Therefore, in addition to primary industrial infrastructure, there is a significant amount of infrastructure needed to support secondary industries, Walter points out.

“This is why Bentley Systems is a strong supporter of Africa, and why we think it poses a marvellous opportunity,” he adds.

Walter acknowledges several challenges facing the continent that could hinder investment, such as Africa’s slow uptake of advanced software for the creation of better performing infrastructure. This, however, is where he believes Bentley could provide solutions for project developers.

Citing global publishing, financial, infor- mation and media services provider McGraw Hill’s ‘Business Value of BIM’ report, Walter notes that, by the end of 2013, about 60% of firms surveyed expect that more than half of their projects will use building information modelling (BIM), while many firms in Africa still depend on two-dimensional project design and imple- mentation methods.

He acknowledges that the same applies in other developing countries, such as India and China, but believes Bentley Systems holds the key to moving industry in Africa to three-dimensional information modelling.

Walter tells Engineering News that, of the African countries currently using Bentley’s products, South Africa is “by far the strongest contender” currently showing promise in technological development.

However, he highlights Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco, Angola, Libya, Algeria and Madagascar as potential competitors, whose projects, in addition to some South African projects, have been nominated for Bentley Systems’ yearly infrastructure awards, Be Inspired.

“These nominations each represented extraordinary and innovative work in sustaining infrastructure, which suggests the promise of further technological development in each of these countries focusing on design, engineering, construction, delivery and operation of better performing, safer and more resilient infrastructure,” says Walter.