Solution Meets European Union Policy Requirements; Provides Czech Farmers With Critical Access to Funding

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, today announced that the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic has deployed a nationwide land registry system based on Autodesk MapGuide(R) software and Oracle(R) Spatial technologies to help users create, manage, and share geospatial and design information in real time, broadening access to mission-critical data. The Ministry has developed this breakthrough solution in order to meet the agricultural policy requirements set forth by the European Union (EU).

"Autodesk offers the industry's only fully integrated, complete solution for seamlessly integrating GIS and CAD data," said Chris Bradshaw, vice president of Autodesk's Infrastructure Solutions Division. "MapGuide enables customers like the Czech Republic to develop applications from multiple sources and systems, and distribute to multiple parties so that critical business decisions can be made during the lifecycle of a project."

The Czech Republic needed a fully functional, top quality land-register system prior to officially joining the EU. Without such a system, Czech farmers would not receive EU funding. The new land-registration system benefits both the officers of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Czech farmers, who no longer must wait several months before their registry change submission is acknowledged.

The Autodesk MapGuide system serves as the cornerstone of the Ministry's administrative duties and makes it possible for the Czech Republic to accurately track the country's land occupancy and population rates. As early as one month after the first pilot launch, the system was fully operational, having settled more than 100,000 new, legally-effective land block (site) changes and implementing data from more than 2,000 registered agricultural entities. Key system functionalities include gathering of agro-environmental geographic data, 3D terrain modeling of the country, online land classification, and special print features.

"The Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic uses Autodesk's GIS system to register land blocks. This system meets our requirements in terms of high performance and ease of use for its users," said Vladimir Dragan, department director, Central Registry of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic.

The system is currently used by more than 670 users. Access is expected to be made available to an additional 1,000 users across the entire Ministry of Agriculture.

About Autodesk MapGuide and Oracle Spatial Databases

Autodesk MapGuide web-based GIS and design software extends the value of maps, designs, and data, enabling users to integrate multiple data sources or servers, such as Oracle Spatial databases, build custom applications, and query, analyze, and distribute information for faster, more-informed decision making. Oracle Spatial provides special functions for complex GIS applications data management, extending basic geographic and location data features contained in all Oracle Database editions with advanced operations for processing and analyzing this type of data. Geographic data in an Oracle Spatial database can be accessed in the same manner as relation data, which reduces development and operational costs for applications on the Oracle platform.

The Czech Republic's Ministry of Agriculture Autodesk MapGuide-based system was deployed by Autodesk Authorized Systems Center, Sitewell, a Czech company that offers complete solutions based on spatial-oriented operational information systems for utilities, facility management, industrial grounds and technology management for the communications industry, state and local government, municipal management, incident and rescue management.

Autodesk Subscription and Consulting Add Value to Software Investment

When combined with Autodesk(R) Subscription, Autodesk mapping solutions deliver the easiest way to keep design tools and learning up to date. For an annual fee, users get the latest version of Autodesk mapping solutions, web support direct from Autodesk, self-paced training options, and a broad range of other technology and business benefits. For more information, contact your Autodesk Authorized Reseller or visit www.autodesk.com/subscription. Additionally, Autodesk Consulting offers services that can help streamline business processes and help customers get the best possible return on their investment in Autodesk technology. For more information about Autodesk Consulting, including integrated consulting and training, see www.autodesk.com/consulting.

About Autodesk

Autodesk is the world's leading design software and digital content company, offering customers progressive business solutions through powerful technology products and services. Autodesk helps customers in the building, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital media, and wireless data services fields increase the value of their digital design data and improve efficiencies across their entire project lifecycle management processes. For more information about the company, see www.autodesk.com.

NOTE: Autodesk and Autodesk MapGuide are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

CONTACT: Dawn Van Osdell of Autodesk, Inc., +1-704-347-2538, or dawn.van.osdell@autodesk.com.

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.

Web site: http://www.autodesk.com