Bentley Systems acquires Cesium to transform 3D Geospatial Technology
In a bold move set to redefine the digital landscape, Bentley Systems, a global leader in infrastructure engineering software, has announced its acquisition of Cesium, a pioneer in 3D geospatial technology. This merger promises to deliver a transformative impact on how infrastructure professionals, policymakers, and industry investors view and manage the built and natural environment.
Bentley’s integration of Cesium’s cutting-edge 3D geospatial technology with its iTwin platform marks a significant leap forward in the realm of digital twins—virtual representations of physical assets that enable real-time monitoring, analysis, and optimisation. The combined capabilities of Cesium and iTwin are poised to revolutionise how data from the ground, sky, sea, and even space can be visualised and utilised.
The Power of Integration: Enhancing Digital Twin Capabilities
Bentley Systems’ iTwin platform has long been at the forefront of digital twin technology, offering robust solutions for designing, building, and operating complex infrastructure. With the addition of Cesium’s 3D geospatial expertise, the platform now offers an unprecedented level of detail, accuracy, and scalability. From monitoring sprawling infrastructure networks to scrutinising millimetre-level asset details, the integration delivers a unified, intuitive platform that can handle vast and intricate datasets with ease.
Nicholas Cumins, CEO of Bentley Systems, highlighted the significance of this merger, stating: “A 3D geospatial view is the most intuitive way for owner-operators and engineering service providers to search for, query, and visualise information about infrastructure networks and assets. With the combined capabilities of Cesium and iTwin, infrastructure professionals can make better informed decisions in full 3D geospatial context—all within a single, highly performant environment.”
By merging the power of Bentley’s digital twins with Cesium’s 3D geospatial prowess, users can now align engineering, subsurface, IoT, reality, and enterprise data into a single, cohesive visualisation. This holistic approach promises not only to enhance decision-making but also to significantly streamline the design and management of complex projects, from urban developments to critical infrastructure.
Cesium’s Commitment to Openness and Innovation
Founded on open standards and open-source technologies, Cesium has long been a champion of interoperability and accessibility in the 3D geospatial domain. The company’s 3D Tiles open standard has been widely adopted by enterprises, governments, and developers globally, underscoring its reputation as the foundational platform for creating immersive 3D applications.
Patrick Cozzi, CEO of Cesium, emphasised the synergy between the two companies: “Joining Bentley marks an important milestone for Cesium as we continue our journey to create the best developer platform for the built and natural environment—founded on open standards and open-source technologies. The combined power of our two organisations and our shared commitment to openness will provide new opportunities for growth and create greater value for an already flourishing developer ecosystem that ranges from small start-ups to global enterprises.”
This partnership underscores both companies’ shared vision of leveraging open standards to foster innovation and drive industry-wide progress. For developers and industry professionals alike, this merger promises an expanded toolkit that bridges the gap between engineering data and 3D geospatial visualisation.
A Glimpse into the Future of Construction
The real-world implications of this merger are already being felt across various industries. One notable example is Komatsu, a global leader in construction equipment manufacturing, which has harnessed Cesium’s 3D geospatial technology to monitor construction sites, track changes, and perform real-time measurements.
Chikashi Shike, Executive Officer of Komatsu’s Smart Construction Promotion Division, noted: “Komatsu and Cesium brought novel thinking to the construction industry by leveraging advanced visualisations to deliver more precise insights and enable our customers to make better, more informed construction decisions. With Cesium as part of Bentley, we can further enrich our Smart Construction digital twins with engineering models, subsurface data, and more, for safer and more efficient construction projects.”
The integration of Cesium with Bentley’s technology provides Komatsu and other industry players with enhanced capabilities to manage complex construction environments. By combining 3D geospatial data with engineering insights, companies can achieve new levels of precision and efficiency, ultimately driving safer and more sustainable project outcomes.
A Commitment to Open Standards and the Geospatial Community
Beyond its technological innovations, Cesium has been a vocal advocate for open standards in the geospatial community, exemplified by its development of the 3D Tiles standard. Recognised as a community standard by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), 3D Tiles enables the seamless streaming and visualisation of massive 3D datasets, setting the stage for more dynamic and interactive geospatial applications.
Peter Rabley, CEO of the Open Geospatial Consortium, welcomed the merger, stating: “As infrastructure sectors become more data-centric, the importance of an open ecosystem will only increase. As the leading voice for open standards and interoperability in the geospatial community, OGC welcomes the ongoing commitment of Bentley and Cesium to solve global challenges through open, interoperable platforms.”
Bentley and Cesium’s continued commitment to openness not only facilitates smoother integration of diverse data sources but also fosters a collaborative environment where industry players can work together to address global challenges.
Future Prospects and Leadership
With the merger, Patrick Cozzi has been appointed as Bentley’s Chief Platform Officer, where he will oversee the development of the combined Cesium and iTwin platform offerings. Reporting to Bentley’s CTO, Julien Moutte, Cozzi’s leadership is expected to steer the company towards new heights, driving further innovation and expanding the platform’s capabilities.
The financial terms of the acquisition remain undisclosed, but the strategic implications are clear: Bentley’s acquisition of Cesium represents a strategic investment in the future of 3D geospatial technology and digital twin innovation.
Paving the Way for the Next Generation of Infrastructure Solutions
As Bentley Systems and Cesium embark on this new chapter together, their combined expertise is set to shape the future of infrastructure management. For industry professionals, this merger not only promises enhanced tools and platforms but also signals a broader commitment to openness, collaboration, and technological advancement.
With a shared vision for the future, Bentley and Cesium are paving the way for a more connected, efficient, and intelligent built environment—one where data-driven insights and cutting-edge visualisation are at the forefront of decision-making.
