Bentley Systems CEO Nicholas Cumins Charts AI-Driven Future at Year in Infrastructure Conference

Vancouver, Canada — Nicholas Cumins, CEO of Bentley Systems, delivered an impassioned keynote on the second day of the Year in Infrastructure conference, laying out a vision where artificial intelligence (AI) and open data ecosystems redefine the way the world builds and maintains infrastructure. Against the backdrop of Vancouver’s storied urban development, Cumins urged the industry to embrace technology and rethink strategies for a sustainable future, underscoring Bentley’s commitment to innovation over the past four decades.

Cumins began his address with a nod to science fiction author William Gibson, paraphrasing his famous quote: “The future is already here—it’s just not evenly distributed.” In this spirit, he framed the conference as a showcase of possibilities, celebrating groundbreaking projects that epitomize the role of technology in addressing the complexities of modern infrastructure.

“Vancouver, with its 10,000-year history of balancing the built and natural environment, stands as the perfect inspiration,” Cumins said. Drawing parallels between the city’s transformation since Expo 86 and Bentley Systems’ founding in 1984, Cumins noted how both entities have been fueled by forward-thinking approaches, setting the pace for global infrastructure progress.

The Evolution of Infrastructure: From CAD to AI

Tracing Bentley’s history, Cumins emphasized the company’s pivotal role in revolutionizing design through MicroStation, which democratized CAD (computer-aided design) software. As technology evolved from 2D to 3D modeling, Bentley empowered engineers to visualize projects realistically and address issues before construction commenced. Cumins highlighted Bentley’s innovations in 4D construction with Synchro and the company’s leap into digital twins, which create dynamic, continuously updated replicas of infrastructure assets.

The integration of AI is Bentley’s next frontier, Cumins asserted. AI-driven insights are already transforming asset operations, with predictive maintenance using machine learning to preempt costly failures. “We can now predict when road repairs are needed before traffic is disrupted,” he remarked, citing AI’s potential to improve outcomes in infrastructure design, operations, and sustainability.

Meeting Global Challenges with Innovation and Collaboration

Cumins addressed the industry’s pressing challenges: the demand for resilient infrastructure is growing, but the availability of engineers and skilled professionals is lagging. “We can’t build our way through this,” he said, calling for a shift in focus toward optimizing existing infrastructure. He noted that 95% of the infrastructure that will be in use by 2030 is already operational, underscoring the importance of making current assets more efficient and sustainable.

The keynote also spotlighted exemplary projects submitted for Bentley’s Going Digital Awards:

• Bridging Kentucky: A bridge survey that was completed 90% faster using Bentley’s software, slashing costs by half.
• Ohio Falls Hydro Station: An aging transmission tower was assessed through drone-generated reality meshes, saving $80 million and avoiding a decade-long permitting process.
• Singapore’s Smart Water Grid: AI-driven hydraulic models helped detect underground leaks, illustrating the power of integrating sensor data with Bentley’s OpenFlows software.

“These projects show how Bentley software is enabling engineers to understand existing infrastructure better and set new standards in asset management,” Cumins said.

Expanding the Power of Digital Twins with 3D Geospatial Capabilities

Cumins revealed how Bentley’s recent acquisition of Cesium, a leader in 3D geospatial technology, aligns with the company’s vision to bring infrastructure into the digital twin era. “Infrastructure is inherently geospatial,” Cumins explained. The integration of Cesium will allow users to visualize infrastructure at scales ranging from individual assets to regional systems, providing richer insights by merging engineering, geospatial, and IoT data.

Bentley’s partnership with Google, announced during the keynote, reflects this drive toward interoperability. “By combining Google’s vast geospatial data with Bentley’s engineering expertise, we unlock new possibilities,” Cumins said. He described scenarios where urban planners, leveraging Google’s 3D data and Bentley’s tools, could seamlessly coordinate projects across transportation, energy, and water networks.

The Future of Infrastructure: Open, Flexible, and Data-Driven

Cumins made a compelling case for open standards and interoperability, key principles Bentley has embraced for decades. With infrastructure projects spanning decades and requiring multiple software tools, Cumins stressed that openness is not just a feature but a necessity. “The software and platforms we use today will evolve, but your data should remain accessible and usable,” he said, emphasizing Bentley’s commitment to giving users control over their data.

Bentley’s newly unveiled Asset Analytics portfolio was positioned as a transformative solution that leverages AI to unlock insights from infrastructure data. “We are empowering engineering firms to extend their expertise into asset operations,” Cumins stated, adding that partnerships are crucial for realizing the full potential of these tools.

Cumins closed with a call to action, invoking the words of computer scientist Alan Kay: “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” As Bentley marks its 40th anniversary, Cumins urged the audience to seize the moment: “The decisions we make today will shape the next 40 years of infrastructure. Together, we lay the groundwork for a more sustainable, resilient future.”

With the infrastructure industry at a crossroads, Cumins’ keynote provided a powerful vision for embracing AI, digital twins, and collaborative ecosystems. The message was clear: innovation, openness, and data-driven decision-making are the keys to building the infrastructure of tomorrow.

Tags: 3D geospatial technology, AI-driven infrastructure, asset analytics, digital twins, open data ecosystems, sustainable infrastructure

Category: Bentley Systems

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 12th, 2024 at 8:47 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.