J.L. Patterson; Hatch Mott MacDonald take home “Be Inspired” awards

Two North American companies won top honors for Bentley System, Inc.'s Be Inspired Awards, part of Bentley's annual Year in Infrastructure Conference, held in London, U.K., Nov. 4-6. Bentley provides software solutions to engineers, architects and constructors for sustaining intelligent infrastructure. The awards recognize users' efforts to improve the world's infrastructure.

J.L. Patterson & Associates, Inc. won the Innovation in Project Performance category for its work on the Tehachapi Mountains Double Track Project. The $80-million project aimed to improve the transport capacities of freight movement from the San Joaquin Valley in California to the Eastern United States in an efficient and timely manner while reducing operational constraints. With a partnership between the state of California and private railroads, the project encompassed the construction of double-track segments in five locations. Due to funding and permitting constraints, only two of five segments will be constructed in 2014-2015.

This is a repeat performance for J.L. Patterson, which also won a 2013 Be Inspired award in the category of Point Cloud Processing and Management for its work on the eight-mile Cascade Tunnel.

Hatch Mott MacDonald won in the category of Innovation in Rail and Transit for its development of intelligent rail signal design via 2D schematics and 3D models. The company’s aim was to introduce intelligence into conventional rail signal design through a 3D model that is linked in real-time to the electrical schematics required.

Hanson Professional Services Inc. was a finalist in the Innovation in Bridges category for its work on the Tanana River Bridge for the Alaska Railroad.

The Bentley Be Inspired awards consist of 54 project finalists in 18 categories. Finalists are originally selected from a pool of more than 250 entries from nearly 50 countries. Nine independent juror panels then select the winner in each category.