Knowledge Base
Knowledge Base (now Civil Designer International) is a South Africa-based, privately held software company founded in 1989 that develops civil infrastructure design software for engineering practitioners and organizations internationally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersTokai, South Africa
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
Knowledge Base firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Knowledge Base
- Legal name
- Civil Designer International
- Website
- https://knowbase.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Knowledge Base (now Civil Designer International) is a South Africa-based, privately held software company founded in 1989 that develops civil infrastructure design software for engineering practitioners and organizations internationally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Knowledge Base industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Civil Engineering Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Data App Builders (Forms, Portals & Internal Tools) (HDAEAKAK)
Keywords
Where Knowledge Base is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokai
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Markets served
Knowledge Base business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations
Knowledge Base product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Knowledge Base, now operating as Civil Designer International, develops and sells civil infrastructure design software. The company delivers a single unified software platform focused on world-class civil infrastructure design capabilities targeted at international markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Civil Designer International Civil infrastructure design software platform designed for international markets, formerly known as Knowledge Base. It provides civil infrastructure design capabilities to engineering professionals and organizations in the international market.
Companies that use Knowledge Base
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
Knowledge Base technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Knowledge Base competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Trimble: Trimble's civil engineering and construction software portfolio (Trimble Business Center, Novapoint / Quadri) competes in road design, surveying, and civil infrastructure workflows. Comparable in product scope and target end-user (civil engineers and surveyors), with broader hardware integration.
- Autodesk: Autodesk's AutoCAD Civil 3D is the dominant global civil infrastructure design software suite used by transportation, land development, and water projects. Directly comparable as a packaged civil engineering design platform with established international reach and much larger R&D and ecosystem.
- Hexagon (GeoPlus / NEXUS): Hexagon's geospatial and civil infrastructure software (GeoMedia, NEXUS) covers survey, mapping, and civil design workflows comparable to Civil Designer International. A broad incumbent with broader portfolio and global channel reach.
Direct peers
- Causeway Technologies: Causeway provides civil infrastructure design and infrastructure management software, including drainage, road design, and BIM solutions comparable to Civil Designer International. Operates primarily in the UK and Northern Europe with similar vertical-specialist positioning.
- Bentley Systems: Bentley's OpenRoads, OpenSite, and OpenFlows products are direct competitors to Civil Designer International in road geometry, site design, and water/drainage design. Same packaged-software model targeting the same civil engineering buyer, with strong presence in infrastructure and transportation verticals globally.
- Carlson Software: Carlson's SurvCE/SurvPC and Carlson Survey/Civil products are direct competitors in civil and surveying design software. Similar mid-sized, specialized independent offering focused on the civil-survey-engineer workflow, but with primarily North American market presence.
Regional players
- SURPH (Surveying and Land Information) software vendors in Southern Africa: Regional surveying and civil design software integrators and developers operating in Southern Africa, comparable to Civil Designer International in geographic and vertical specialization but generally smaller and dependent on third-party platforms.
- Civil Survey Solutions: Civil Survey Solutions is a regional reseller and integrator of civil engineering design software (Civil 3D and related) operating in New Zealand and Australia. Comparable as a regional specialist channel in civil infrastructure software but with different geography.
Emerging players
- Topcon Positioning Systems: Topcon's MAGNET and Pocket-Survey software offerings intersect with Civil Designer International's survey-and-design workflow for civil engineers and surveyors. Comparable in the survey-data-to-design integration point, though Topcon is stronger in hardware-tied solutions.
- DGS Associates / DataMine-style design suites in the African market: Smaller regional competitors in the African civil engineering and surveying software market that overlap with Civil Designer International's traditional South African customer base. Include localized civil and infrastructure design tool providers.
Market position
Customer concentration
Knowledge Base social profiles
Digital presenceKnowledge Base financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Knowledge Base leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Knowledge Base funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Knowledge Base M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Knowledge Base
What does Knowledge Base do?
Knowledge Base, now operating as Civil Designer International, develops and sells civil infrastructure design software. The company delivers a single unified software platform focused on world-class civil infrastructure design capabilities targeted at international markets.
When was Knowledge Base founded?
Knowledge Base was founded in 1989.
Where is Knowledge Base based?
Knowledge Base is headquartered in Tokai, South Africa, in the Africa region.
Who are Knowledge Base's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Trimble, Autodesk and Hexagon (GeoPlus / NEXUS). Direct peers are Causeway Technologies, Bentley Systems and Carlson Software. Regional players are SURPH (Surveying and Land Information) software vendors in Southern Africa and Civil Survey Solutions. Emerging players are Topcon Positioning Systems and DGS Associates / DataMine-style design suites in the African market.
Does Knowledge Base have an API?
No public API is recorded for Knowledge Base.
What industry is Knowledge Base in?
Knowledge Base's product category is Civil Engineering Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAIAA, Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting, with a secondary code of HDAEAKAK, Data App Builders (Forms, Portals & Internal Tools). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.