Vancouver, Canada — Nicholas Cumins, CEO of Bentley Systems, delivered a captivating keynote on the second day of the Year in Infrastructure (YII) Conference, setting the tone for the industry’s future by outlining a bold vision where artificial intelligence (AI), open data ecosystems, and digital twins reshape global infrastructure. Against the vibrant backdrop of Vancouver, Cumins emphasized the importance of leveraging advanced technologies to meet today’s challenges and create more resilient, sustainable systems.

“Vancouver, with its long history of balancing the built and natural environment, serves as the ideal inspiration,” Cumins remarked. He reflected on Bentley Systems’ four-decade journey from its inception in 1984 to its current role as a global leader in infrastructure engineering software. As the world faces unprecedented demand for better infrastructure, Cumins framed Bentley’s mission as a call to unlock the potential of data, streamline collaboration, and accelerate sustainability.

Bentley’s Legacy: Transforming Infrastructure Design and Operations

Cumins began by walking the audience through Bentley’s history, tracing the company’s origins back to when Keith Bentley saw the potential of personal computers to revolutionize engineering software. Bentley’s flagship product, MicroStation, democratized CAD (computer-aided design) software, allowing engineers to work more efficiently and precisely. As technology advanced, so did Bentley’s tools, evolving from 2D to 3D modeling and ultimately to 4D construction modeling through Synchro, which enables engineers to manage construction schedules and monitor progress in real-time.

Cumins highlighted Bentley’s innovations in digital twins, dynamic replicas of infrastructure assets that continuously update with real-time data. “Digital twins allow engineers to monitor and optimize infrastructure throughout its lifecycle,” he explained, “ensuring assets perform efficiently, reducing maintenance costs, and improving safety.”
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