Bentley and Google Revolutionising Infrastructure Inspections with AI Analytics
In a bold move poised to reshape the landscape of infrastructure analytics, Bentley Systems has teamed up with Google to turbocharge asset inspections using artificial intelligence and cutting-edge geospatial imagery.
Announced at Google Cloud Next 2025, this strategic partnership marks a turning point for transportation agencies, engineers, and policymakers seeking faster, smarter, and more cost-effective ways to maintain and manage roads.
At the core of this game-changing collaboration is Bentley’s Blyncsy platform, a key part of the Bentley Asset Analytics suite. The platform now taps into Google’s powerful Imagery Insights, combining the panoramic precision of Street View with the predictive muscle of Vertex AI. The result? Near real-time insights into roadway conditions, damage assessment, and long-term infrastructure performance trends—all with minimal boots on the ground.
Bringing AI and Street View to the frontlines
By blending Blyncsy’s AI-driven analytics with Google’s ever-evolving global imagery, transportation departments and infrastructure consultants gain a new level of visibility and foresight.
Here’s what makes the new capabilities stand out:
- Global panoramic imagery from Google Street View provides detailed, context-rich visuals.
- Vertex AI enables automated detection of changes in asset conditions—think potholes, road cracks, or signage damage—before they become safety risks.
- Crowdsourced image data ensures coverage is both frequent and relevant, slashing the need for costly field inspections.
Mark Pittman, Director of Transportation AI at Bentley, summed it up succinctly: “We have a history of leadership in applying repurposed imagery for roadway maintenance, and the addition of Google’s 360-degree imagery and AI will further enhance the value Bentley provides to transportation departments and engineering firms globally.”
Speeding up disaster recovery and post-event inspections
In the wake of natural disasters, time is of the essence. Roads and bridges become lifelines for emergency services and recovery logistics. That’s where this partnership could prove a literal lifesaver.
Using the Google-Bentley combo, agencies can quickly assess damage across sprawling networks without waiting for physical inspection teams to arrive. The AI can pinpoint high-risk areas, prioritise repairs, and provide photographic evidence for insurance or government funding applications.
This isn’t just smart—it’s humane. It’s about helping communities rebuild faster, safer, and with far fewer logistical headaches.
From roads to resilience
While the immediate focus is on transportation, Bentley’s ambitions go much further. This partnership lays the groundwork for scalable analytics across other infrastructure sectors, including:
- Water systems
- Energy networks
- Urban infrastructure
- Environmental monitoring
Bentley’s digital twin solutions already help engineers model and monitor assets in the real world. The inclusion of real-time image-based analytics supercharges those capabilities.
“The expansion of our relationship with Google will enable us to further develop our growing infrastructure asset analytics capabilities—initially in the transportation sector with other industries to follow,” added Pittman.
AI meets industry expertise
It’s not just about the tech—although the tech is undeniably impressive. The real magic happens at the intersection of AI-driven automation and Bentley’s deep industry expertise.
Yael Maguire, Vice President and GM of Google Maps Platform & Google Earth, highlighted the synergy: “As our strategic partner, Bentley combines industry-leading infrastructure solutions with Google’s leading AI and mapping technologies, like Vertex AI and Street View, to bring powerful analytics to public and private sector leaders who need mobility insights for making more informed decisions.”
By streamlining asset condition monitoring, this partnership allows stakeholders to make data-informed decisions without wading through outdated reports or relying solely on field assessments. This isn’t a replacement for human judgement—it’s a tool to enhance it.
General release and broader adoption
Google’s Imagery Insights will be rolled into Blyncsy’s offerings in 2025, making these capabilities broadly accessible to transportation departments and infrastructure providers worldwide. For an industry notorious for being slow to adopt new tech, this could serve as a much-needed accelerant.
Infrastructure managers who’ve long been under pressure to do more with less can finally breathe a little easier. With a clearer picture of asset conditions—and the tools to act on it—there’s no more guesswork.
Why this matters for the future of infrastructure
Let’s face it, infrastructure’s had a rough few years—climate change, population growth, strained public budgets. But innovation like this partnership shows there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
By transforming the way we inspect, maintain, and respond to infrastructure needs, Bentley and Google are providing more than just tech. They’re offering a blueprint for smarter, more resilient cities and communities.
And it couldn’t come at a better time.
A smarter road ahead
As infrastructure demands soar and budgets remain tight, partnerships like this prove that digital transformation isn’t a buzzword—it’s a necessity. Bentley’s integration of Google’s AI and Street View technology is a testament to how smart collaborations can create real-world impact.
Whether you’re an engineer on the ground, a policymaker in government, or a tech-savvy investor with an eye on the future, this alliance offers a compelling look at where infrastructure is headed, and why it matters.
