Autodesk, Inc., a leading design and digital content creation resource, has announced it has signed a US $3.8 million contract with United Utilities of the United Kingdom for the development of a GIS utility solution for its electricity distribution network division, formerly known as Norweb Distribution. In addition, United Utilities signed a three-year support contract that together with the solution contract constitutes Autodesk’s largest global GIS sale of 2001. The solution is being implemented by Autodesk’s Worldwide Consulting Services Group, and the additional three-year support contract will be delivered by Autodesk’s Worldwide Support Services organization. Within its licensed multi-utility operations, United Utilities also provides water and wastewater services to almost 3 million customers. The water business was formerly known as North West Water, an existing, long-term Autodesk customer using an Autodesk® GIS solution to manage its water network assets. Implementing GIS across all areas of the business is one part of an overall five-year strategy by United Utility to build on the synergies of the multi-utility and to deliver £450m (approximately US $650 million) in cost savings over five years.
