Bentley Integrates AI in Next-Gen Infrastructure Tools

Bentley Systems has unveiled new infrastructure AI capabilities with the next generation of Open applications powered by Bentley Co-pilot: a context-aware AI assistant that can help guide and streamline workflows by replacing tedious human calculations with natural language prompts.

Initially rolled out in 2024 at Bentley Systems’ Year in Infrastructure Conference, OpenSite+ leverages AI for civil site design.

The newly released application, OpenUtilities Substation+, brings digital twin and AI-powered capabilities to substation design, allowing multiple engineers to effectively work on the same project while minimising errors.  

SYNCHRO+, which is part of the Bentley Infrastructure Cloud, is a reimagination of the traditional 4D modelling in construction management. 

Bentley Systems CEO Nicholas Cumins commented that AI is poised to transform infrastructure.

“At Bentley, our vision is for AI to empower infrastructure engineers, not replace them. 

“Trustworthy AI, built on infrastructure context, can improve engineering productivity and transform workflows across project and asset lifecycles.”

Bentley’s existing engineering applications, OpenRoads Designer and OpenRails Designer, are also poised to receive AI upgrades.

What is digital twin technology?

Digital twins are virtual replicas of physical objects that span their life cycle.

Connected sensors on the physical object are used to collect data that can be mapped onto the virtual object, thereby, enabling informed decisions about the asset by analysing the twin. 

Machine learning is used to predict the future performance of the product and improve the decision making process.

This also allows engineers to virtually create real-world scenarios to ensure functionality and even troubleshoot remotely.  

Bentley Systems embracing AI 

Bentley Systems had earlier announced its partnership with Google to integrate advanced geospatial data into its digital twin platform. 

This allows the integration of Google Map’s geospatial capabilities such as photorealistic 3D tiles into the Bentley’s software suite.

At Bentley's 2025 Year in Infrastructure Conference held in Amsterdam, Julien Moutte, Chief Technology Officer at Bentley Systems, reiterated the importance of embracing AI.

“Across Bentley Infrastructure Cloud and open applications, we are making it easier to connect people and data, so teams can collaborate more effectively and deliver better solutions,” he said. “And AI is becoming a key part of that. 

“You will see it in our design tools, our workflows and especially in OpenSite+.”

At the same conference, Nicholas said that we company was at a threshold of a generational shift in infrastructure.

"A network digital thread, infused with AI at key moments, is moving from vision to reality."

What is Digital Thread?

A digital thread is a digital representation of a product's lifecycle. 

This includes everything from manufacturing, to operation and maintenance.

A digital thread helps provide data across the entire life of the product to enable efficient collaboration between teams working on different stages of product.  

It differs from a digital twin in terms of scalability, where a digital thread is infinitely scalable and can connect to other enterprise systems including digital twins. 

Digital twin, digital thread and AI are the future of infrastructure designing.