Bentley Systems Pioneering Open Data Ecosystems in Infrastructure Engineering
Bentley Systems has made waves at their annual Year in Infrastructure conference, where the focus was on pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in infrastructure engineering.
Their vision? To propel the industry into the future through open data ecosystems—breaking down silos, enabling collaboration, and driving smarter, more sustainable infrastructure. It’s an ambitious yet promising move that’s perfectly suited for a sector grappling with modern challenges like sustainability, resilience, and the need for effective asset management.
The Dawn of Open Data Ecosystems in Infrastructure
“The future of infrastructure engineering is open,” declared Bentley CEO Nicholas Cumins during his keynote at the conference—a powerful assertion that shaped the conversations throughout the event. He highlighted the necessity of fostering data fluidity across traditionally isolated sectors to address today’s pressing infrastructure issues. This need for collaboration is even more pertinent when considering the expanding energy grids, modernization of transportation networks, and the growing push to meet global sustainability goals.
Cumins went on to explain the company’s vision of flexibility and collaboration built on a foundation of securely shared data. Infrastructure cannot thrive in the confines of proprietary systems; open data ecosystems are essential to meet global demands. It’s not just about individual gains—it’s about advancing the entire sector towards efficiency, resilience, and sustainability.
Bentley’s approach revolves around openness as a core principle. For over a decade, the company has been pioneering what they term as the “Base Infrastructure Schema.” This robust, open-source schema structures data in a manner that makes it easy to be queried, analysed, and reused—giving stakeholders the opportunity to fully leverage their data for better decision-making. Instead of starting from scratch, infrastructure organizations can utilize Bentley’s refined framework to unlock the power of open collaboration, interoperability, and integration.
Enhancing Geospatial Capabilities through Strategic Partnerships
As if embracing open data weren’t enough, Bentley also announced an exciting collaboration with Google at the Year in Infrastructure conference. This partnership aims to integrate Google’s extensive geospatial data into Bentley’s infrastructure engineering software. Now, just think about that for a moment—combining Google’s depth in mapping and geospatial services with Bentley’s engineering expertise means unprecedented access to actionable geospatial insights.
Cumins explained the essence of the partnership: “When this data is combined with Bentley’s infrastructure engineering expertise, the result is an ecosystem where data can flow seamlessly, providing users with access to the most comprehensive and actionable geospatial insights available.” These capabilities are demonstrated by leveraging Bentley’s recent acquisition of Cesium, the creator of 3D Tiles—an open standard also embraced by Google.
Take the high-speed railway project in the UK, HS2, for instance. The Balfour Beatty Vinci Joint Venture (BBV) utilised Bentley’s iTwin Platform, enabling simultaneous streaming of multiple engineering models to support stakeholder engagement. With Cesium integrated, users could easily visualise assets in full context—like standing in a virtual world where you can see infrastructure evolve in real-time.
The potential impact on infrastructure projects worldwide is immense, allowing engineers to gain better insights, make more informed decisions, and improve overall project delivery.
AI and the Paradigm Shift in Infrastructure Engineering
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming every corner of the infrastructure industry, and Bentley isn’t sitting back. The message was clear: open data ecosystems are instrumental in unlocking the potential of AI to revolutionise infrastructure sectors—particularly those that generate vast amounts of data throughout the lifecycle of projects.
AI is already enhancing Bentley’s digital twin solutions, enabling infrastructure assets to be monitored, managed, and optimised like never before. By applying AI, engineers can make proactive decisions—using predictive analytics to foresee maintenance issues and recommend preventive actions before they turn into costly, disruptive problems. Think about it: using AI to catch a maintenance issue in its infancy is not only a cost-saver—it’s a potential life-saver.
Cumins emphasised the potential AI brings, even from the very beginning of an infrastructure project. Repetitive, time-consuming tasks—like documentation and annotation—could be handed over to AI, freeing up engineers to focus on value-added activities that require human creativity and ingenuity. Bentley’s new OpenSite+ engineering application for civil site design is a prime example, boasting generative AI features like a design copilot—a productivity powerhouse.
As Cumins put it: “At the end of the day, AI’s true power will be measured by its ability to improve outcomes—more sustainable designs, faster and safer builds, and more reliable infrastructure systems. As we look to the future, the possibilities seem endless.”
Introducing Bentley Asset Analytics
One of the standout announcements from the Year in Infrastructure conference was Bentley Asset Analytics—a solution that underscores the growing focus on asset performance, resilience, and efficiency. The product portfolio merges existing Bentley solutions with new innovations, incorporating AI to generate real-time insights into the condition of existing infrastructure assets. In an industry where 95% of infrastructure assets that will be in use by 2030 already exist, it’s critical to keep these assets up to the mark.
The Bentley Asset Analytics portfolio encompasses products like Blyncsy, which uses AI-driven crowd-sourced imagery to automate roadway maintenance, and OpenTower iQ, an end-to-end solution for telecommunications towers that utilises drone-captured imagery to generate insights. It’s all about enhancing efficiency, reducing human intervention, and driving value for owner-operators.
Cumins highlighted the importance of collaboration, calling on engineering firms to join forces to help extend their expertise into asset operations. By working together, Cumins envisions delivering on the promise of AI-driven asset analytics—a collaborative endeavour to reshape infrastructure management.
The Road Ahead for Bentley and the Industry
Bentley Systems’ Year in Infrastructure conference coincided with their 40th anniversary—a perfect moment to reflect on how far the company, and the industry, has come. Cumins reminded attendees about the key to progress: unlocking the value of data. It’s a call to action to not get bogged down in proprietary systems, but to embrace the open ecosystems that will lead us to a smarter, more connected, and more resilient future.
AI is set to be the infrastructure industry’s “paradigm shift” for the coming decades—and the aim is clear: to create resilient infrastructure for better quality of life for all. By integrating open data ecosystems, AI, and the latest geospatial innovations, Bentley is determined to forge a path where technology not only meets but anticipates the needs of tomorrow’s built environment.
Cumins left the audience with a hopeful reminder: “Together, we’re laying the groundwork for a future where open data ecosystems and AI work seamlessly to create more sustainable and resilient infrastructure—for better quality of life—for generations to come.”
A Vision of a Smarter, Resilient Future
Bentley’s advancements underscore a larger trend within the infrastructure industry: a collective move towards openness, collaboration, and innovation. The infrastructure of tomorrow demands flexibility, and Bentley’s initiatives are not just timely—they’re crucial. By positioning themselves at the intersection of AI, geospatial intelligence, and open data, Bentley Systems is laying the foundation for a smarter, sustainable future.
As infrastructure challenges continue to evolve, the need for data that is open, fluid, and actionable will only grow stronger. Bentley’s focus on enabling collaboration across industries and breaking down barriers signals an important step forward for those looking to future-proof their infrastructure assets.
The journey is far from over, but the vision has never been clearer. Bentley Systems is firmly set on transforming infrastructure engineering—ensuring data, technology, and ingenuity converge to shape a more resilient tomorrow.
