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            | The 1st FORUM8 DESIGN CONFERENCE REPORT |  
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                  | Conference Overview (Up&Coming November, 2007 issue) |  
                  | We held our "UC-win/Road User Conference" at Tokyo Conference
                  Center, Shinagawa on September 27. The "1st FORUM8 DESIGN CONFERENCE"
                  replaces the "5th UC-win/FRAME (3D)" conference, which is usually
                  being held at this time every year, to announce and discuss the design,
                  analysis and CAD solutions of FORUM8. 
 FORUMI8 has been continuously releasing new versions of the UC-win/FRAME (3D) and UC-1 series. Of late, we have developed new products in the architectural,
                  evacuation, and maritime industries, as well as water engineering series.
                  This is part of a new series being released in fields related to water,
                  sewage and rivers. In this conference, we planned for the technical sessions
                  in various fields and invited the respective developers and users to give
                  a speech. We wish to foster closer ties with our end-users through this
                  conference. We will summarize the conference in our report.
 
 
 
 Mr. Abe from the new project group explained the "latest information
                  of UC-win/FRAME (3D)" in the main hall from 11 o'clock in Stream 1.(Photo
                  1) He explained the updates in the latest version 2.01 and new functions
                  in version 3.00, which proposes the support of data exchange of SDNF. (figure
                  1)
 
 
                    
                      
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                        |  Photo 1. Latest information of UC-win/FRAME(3D) |  |  Figure 1. Supporting SDNF Data exchange of steel bridges |  "Compatible with initial stress" function is planned to be incorporated
                  in Ver.3, under user-request. The lecture of earthquake resistance design
                  cases of steel bridge was given as a FRAME (3D) analysis case study by
                  Mr. Motegi Takashi, KOKUSAI KOGYO CO., LTD. (Figure 2) in the afternoon.
 
 
                    
                      
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                        |  Figure 2. FRAME(3D) Analysis case (Special Lecture by User) Earthquake
                        Resistance Design Cases of Steel Bridge |  Next, analysis cases and results of "UC-win/FRAME(3D) Analysis Support
                  Service" were introduced by our "Analysis Support Team"
                  Prof. Ukai Keizo from Gunma University gave a special lecture on the "Current
                  status and problems of ground analysis" to explain the needs and advantages
                  of FEM analysis based on the concrete case studies.
 
 
                    
                      
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                        |  (Photo 2) Prof. Ukai Keizo, Gunma University |  |  (Figure 3) Current status and problems of ground analysis |  Our UC-1 support group explained the latest information pertaining to "ground
                  analysis series" (Figure 4) Mr. Phil Christensen (Photo 3), the developer
                  of FDS in Australia, explained the latest version of "Multiframe" and development schedule in the fourth session of Stream 1. We have
                  started to sell "Multiframe", an architectural and structural
                  analysis software from this year. The entire architecture solution package
                  was also introduced. (Figure 5)
 
 
                    
                      
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                        |  Figure 4. GeoFEAS Analysis Cases |  |  Photo 3.Mr. Phil Christensen, Formation Design Systems Pty Ltd
 |  |  Figure 5. Analysis, Architecture Software Solution |  In the final session, Mr. Brent Fleming, our development director, introduced
                  "Engineer's Studio", which is currently under development as
                  a key and strategic new product based on our development philosophy.
 
 
                    
                      
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                        |  Photo 4. Brent Fleming, Development Director |  |  Figure 6. Engineer's Studio |  In Stream 2, we held four sessions on the subjects of "Temporary Work",
                  "Bridge Upper Structure", "Bridge Substructure/Foundation"
                  and "Road/Earthwork" of UC-1 series. The user-led lectures (Photo
                  5, 6 and 7) and the special lecture (Photo 8) in each session were held
                  and many UC-1 users attended the event. We had users making presentation
                  of design cases, increasing the number of proposals and demands for our
                  products. We presented "FEM analysis cases of Temporary sheathing
                  work", "UC-BRIDGE Ver.7", "The latest function and
                  development schedule of Bridge substructure and foundation" and "Seepage
                  analysis cases by Slope stability analysis".
 
 
                    
                      
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                        |  Photo 5. Mr. Shinji Takayanagi Yahagi Construction Co., Ltd |  |  Photo 6. Yoshitoshi Ito, Pontech Co.,Ltd |  
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                        |  Photo 7. Yuichi Masumoto, Subsystem Inc., |  |  Photo 8. Assistant professor Fei CAI, Gunma University |  In stream 3, we held four technical sessions on the subject of CALS, GIS
                  and had Prof. Ikebe, Bunkyo University (Photo 9) deliver a lecture about
                  "LogicalDocument", which is currently under development. We invited
                  Mr. Phil, Formation Design Systems Pty Ltd., (Photo 3) to provide some
                  insights pertaining to the latest version of MAXSURF - a shipbuilding software,
                  and presented some information on "maritimeEXODUS" - a ship evacuation analysis software, from our company. We had
                  Prof. Yoshikawa, Musashi Institute of University, providing a theoretical
                  explanation of our new product "FrameRisk", which analyzes risks of earthquake. (Photo 10) In the field of
                  GIS, we had Mr. Lee, GEOMania Co., Ltd, deliver a lecture about the current
                  status of GIS and our activities for GIS.
 
 
                    
                      
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                        |  Photo 9. Mr. Masanori Ikebe, a full time lecturer of Bunkyo University |  |  Photo 10. Prof. Hiromichi Yoshikawa , Musashi Institute of University |  In stream 4, "Flooding prevention technical seminar" was sponsored
                  by SWMM users and co-supported by NPO corporation mizu - kankyo sosei club,
                  which aims to create a better hydrological and ecological environment,
                  FORUM8, XP Software Inc. In the keynote speech, Prof. Kawahara, Hiroshima
                  University (Photo 11) delivered a lecture on the subject of flood prevention,
                  to illustrate flooding damages, (Tokyo, Takamatsu, Hiroshima, and New Orleans),
                  prevention of flood hazards and utilization examples of xpswmm. In addition, we had Prof. Morita, Shibaura Institute of Technology (Photo
                  12), deliver a lecture on the subject of "Risk management of flood
                  hazard" Following the xpswmm user's technical presentation, we had
                  Mr. Kuch, XP Software Inc. (Photo 13) conduct a presentation with regards
                  to applications in Australia.
 
 
                    
                      
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                        |  Photo 11. Prof. Yoshihisa Kawahara, Hiroshima University |  |  Photo 12. Prof. Masaru Morita, Shibaura Institute of Technology |  |  Photo 13. Mr. Anthony Kuch, XP Software Inc.
 |  We successfully organized a networking party at the lobby from 5 in the
                  evening, after the successful completion of all the technical sessions.
                  Minister Ms. Elizabeth Masamune from the Australian embassy gave a speech
                  at the event. Our software developers and users managed to develop and
                  established friendly relationships. We would like to extend our deepest
                  gratitude and appreciation to the participants and all other related parties
                  that have helped us in one way or another. We would also like to extend
                  our appreciation to the professionals in each field that have taken time
                  off their busy schedule to conduct critical lectures for our audience.
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