Bentley & Google revolutionise infrastructure design with digital twins and AI-driven analytics for enhanced sustainability, resilience & efficiency.
Climate change, rapid urbanisation and ageing assets are pushing governments and businesses to seek new approaches to create resilient and sustainable built environments. In this context, technology is emerging as a crucial tool for addressing these complex issues.
Digital twins, AI and advanced geospatial data are transforming how engineers, architects and planners approach infrastructure projects.
These technologies offer the potential to optimise designs, improve construction processes and enhance long-term asset management.
Against this backdrop, a new partnership between two industry leaders promises to accelerate innovation in infrastructure design and management.
Bentley Systems has announced a strategic partnership with Google to integrate high-quality geospatial data into its digital twin platform.
This collaboration aims to enhance the way infrastructure projects are designed, constructed and operated globally.
At the core of this partnership is the integration of Google Maps Platform’s geospatial content, including Photorealistic 3D Tiles, into Bentley’s software suite.
This integration allows infrastructure professionals to leverage detailed, real-world context within their digital workflows, providing a more comprehensive understanding of project environments.
Digital twins for smarter infrastructure
Digital twins, which are virtual replicas of physical assets, are central to this partnership. These models provide a comprehensive view of infrastructure throughout its lifecycle, enabling more informed decision-making.
By combining real-time data with historical information, digital twins allow engineers and planners to simulate various scenarios and optimise asset performance.
The integration of Google’s extensive geospatial data with Bentley’s engineering expertise aims to create a more comprehensive ecosystem for infrastructure planning and management.
This collaboration is expected to improve the resilience and sustainability of various infrastructure systems, from transportation networks to utilities.
Nicholas Cumins, CEO of Bentley Systems, emphasises the potential impact: “By combining Google’s extensive geospatial content and cloud capabilities with Bentley’s infrastructure engineering software and digital twin platform, infrastructure professionals can improve their work and ensure projects and assets are created and operated with greater resilience and sustainability”.
Enhanced visualisation and analytics
The partnership also introduces advanced visualisation capabilities to Bentley’s software users.
Google’s Photorealistic 3D Tiles provide immersive 3D experiences, allowing professionals to design and manage infrastructure with unprecedented real-world context.
This enhanced visualisation enables better decision-making by providing a more intuitive understanding of how proposed infrastructure will interact with existing environments.
Chris Phillips, Vice President and General Manager of Geo at Google, highlights the transformative potential of this technology: “Photorealistic 3D Tiles in Google Maps Platform power breathtaking immersive experiences and can transform workflows for architects, engineers and urban planners”.
Beyond visualisation, the collaboration extends to AI-driven analytics.
Bentley is working with Google Cloud to develop asset analytics capabilities, potentially enhancing predictive maintenance and operational efficiency of infrastructure.
This integration of AI and machine learning technologies could lead to more proactive asset management, reducing downtime and extending the lifespan of critical infrastructure.
Open standards and interoperability
This partnership builds on Bentley’s recent acquisition of Cesium, the creator of the 3D Tiles open standard used by Google.
The acquisition further strengthens the integration between the two companies’ technologies and underscores the importance of open standards in fostering innovation within the infrastructure sector.
The emphasis on open standards and interoperability is crucial for the future of infrastructure design and management.
It allows for greater collaboration between different stakeholders and ensures that data can be easily shared and utilised across various platforms and tools.
By combining cutting-edge technology with real-world data, this collaboration could play a significant role in addressing the complex challenges facing global infrastructure development in the coming years.
