SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003--Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, provides software tools that enable governments and agencies to improve response times to the public's questions about zoning, maintenance, and other local government services. The City of Fremont, California, has relied on Autodesk MapGuide(R) software over the past two years to provide access to critical information to employees, citizens and prospective businesses. Autodesk MapGuide is also used by other San Francisco Bay Area cities including Oakland, Santa Rosa and Foster City to speed response times and deliver wider and easier access to public information.

Autodesk MapGuide, a market-leading Web mapping and design solution, integrates data from multiple sources into a single map display. With this technology, Fremont can provide anyone with an Internet connection simultaneous access to information about business properties, demographics, and a wide variety of public maps. As a result of the Autodesk MapGuide software implementation, Fremont has reduced public-counter employees' dependence on paper maps, and has allowed staff to provide richer information relating to building, engineering, planning and public safety.

"Before MapGuide, we had to rely on maps spread out in multiple rooms and multiple drawers to answer people's question about zoning or land use," said Christine Frost, Fremont's GIS manager. "It was very inefficient. We would have to start the process with a street address, then pull out another map to convert the address to a parcel number, then pull out yet more maps to correlate the parcel to the correct information."

For public access, the city's GIS team has developed two Web applications relying on Autodesk(R) technology. At the Megan's law Web site (www.fremontpolice.org/megan/megan.html), users can search by address or city landmarks such as schools and parks and see a map with a generalized distribution of sex offenders in the vicinity. The user also has the opportunity to access the officer in charge and crime statistics. A new Web site designed for the city's Economic Development and Redevelopment programs (www.focusonfremont.com) provides information about available property in the city along with demographics and business information.

With Autodesk MapGuide in place, Fremont's mapping data has been combined and streamlined to eliminate the multi-step process of providing information. The easy to use yet customized Web interface allows a broad range of Fremont city employees (over 300 users) and public citizens to easily access and understand local government data. The city of Fremont looks forward to implementing Autodesk MapGuide 6.3 to further enhance the performance of their successful program.

Autodesk Now Delivers MapGuide 6.3

Autodesk MapGuide 6.3 is now faster, easier to use, and more flexible, helping governments, utilities, and communications firms leverage years of legacy investment in mapping, GIS, and design data into new and innovative uses. The tool helps these organizations increase the value of their existing data by developing multiple, customized Web-based applications to distribute essential information simultaneously to thousands of users inside and outside the organization, resulting in improved customer service and streamlined operations. Autodesk MapGuide 6.3 is now easier to install, with all core components on one CD and with one simple wizard for simplified installation. A number of updates make Autodesk MapGuide 6.3 more adaptable to the unique business requirements of each customer, resulting in better interoperability with existing systems and the opportunity to gain value from legacy data. The Autodesk MapGuide 6.3 software program also offers greater data handling than ever before. This includes support for the new AutoCAD(R) 2004 DWG drawing file format, as well as datum shifting and the ability to handle rotated and transparent raster images.

For more information about the feature and benefits of Autodesk MapGuide 6.3, visit www.mapguide.com.

Availability

Autodesk MapGuide 6.3 software is currently available from authorized Autodesk resellers in international English. Autodesk MapGuide 6.3 can be purchased through the Autodesk(R) Subscription Program, making it easier for customers to upgrade and update software, accommodating customers' budget planning cycles, and offering easier access to program information and support. For more information on this program, visit www.autodesk.com/subscription.

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 to Editors: Autodesk, Autodesk MapGuide, and AutoCAD are registered 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: Autodesk, Inc. Brian Baker, 415/507-6411
             brian.baker@autodesk.com

    SOURCE: Autodesk, Inc.