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

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.”

The Role of AI: A New Frontier in Infrastructure

Bentley Systems sees AI as a pivotal technology in the future of infrastructure. Cumins noted how AI is already integrated into Bentley’s software to provide predictive insights for asset operations. “AI-driven analytics help anticipate maintenance needs before failures occur,” he said. Cumins described how AI, when combined with machine learning and computer vision, allows engineers to identify potential issues in roads, bridges, and water networks, reducing downtime and safety risks.

He stressed the need to harness AI not only for operations but also in the design phase of infrastructure. “AI can automate repetitive tasks like documentation and annotation, freeing engineers to focus on higher-value activities. It can also act as a co-pilot, suggesting design improvements that enhance carbon efficiency and sustainability.” Cumins underlined that AI’s true power lies in improving project outcomes, leading to faster, safer builds and more reliable infrastructure systems.

Addressing Global Challenges: More Infrastructure, Fewer Engineers

Cumins acknowledged that the infrastructure industry is under immense pressure. “The demand for resilient infrastructure is surging, driven by the need to expand energy grids, modernize transportation networks, and retrofit existing assets for sustainability,” he said. However, a major challenge lies in the shortage of skilled engineers. “We hear from you—the backlogs are growing, projects are stacking up, and there simply aren’t enough engineers to meet the demand,” he noted.

Rather than simply building more infrastructure, Cumins emphasized the importance of optimizing existing assets. “Over 95% of the infrastructure that will be in use by 2030 already exists today,” he said. “The focus must shift to ensuring that the infrastructure we have is efficient, resilient, and capable of meeting tomorrow’s challenges.”

Cumins provided several inspiring examples of Bentley’s tools driving efficiency:

• Bridging Kentucky: Using Bentley’s iTwin Capture and OpenRoads software, engineers created 3D models of 700 bridges, reducing survey time by 90% and slashing costs by 50%.
• Ohio Falls Hydro Station: By leveraging drone-generated digital twins, engineers assessed corrosion in 1920s-era transmission towers, avoiding a decade-long permitting delay and saving $80 million.
• Singapore Smart Water Grid: The Public Utilities Board used AI and hydraulic models integrated with Bentley’s OpenFlows software to detect underground water leaks, reducing maintenance times and preventing service disruptions.

Geospatial Technology: Transforming Infrastructure with 3D Visualization

A key announcement in Cumins’ keynote was Bentley’s acquisition of Cesium, a leader in 3D geospatial technology. “Infrastructure is inherently geospatial,” Cumins emphasized, “and with Cesium, we can provide a 3D geospatial view of infrastructure networks, from regional systems down to millimeter-level asset details.”

This integration aligns with Bentley’s long-standing commitment to interoperability and open data ecosystems. Bentley’s vision for digital twins now extends beyond individual projects to the broader natural and built environments, creating digital threads that connect IoT sensors, subsurface models, and enterprise systems for real-time decision-making.

Cumins also unveiled a new partnership with Google, integrating Google’s vast geospatial data into Bentley’s software platforms. “This collaboration allows us to align 3D geospatial data with engineering models, providing richer insights and improving decision-making,” Cumins said. He described how this integration will benefit complex urban projects by enabling better coordination across stakeholders and reducing risks such as service outages.

Open Data Ecosystems: Collaboration for the Future

Cumins underscored the importance of openness in infrastructure software. “Openness is not just a feature—it’s a necessity,” he said. Infrastructure projects are inherently complex, involving multiple stakeholders, organizations, and disciplines over decades. Bentley’s open applications, he explained, allow engineers to integrate data from third-party tools and platforms, ensuring continuity across the asset’s lifecycle.

“We are committed to giving users control over their data,” Cumins asserted. “Your data is your data—always.” Bentley’s infrastructure schema, an open-source framework, ensures that data can be reused and queried across different platforms. “This schema organizes information in a way that allows engineers to fully leverage the value of their data without starting from scratch,” he added.

AI-Driven Asset Analytics: Unlocking Insights from Data

Cumins introduced Bentley’s new Asset Analytics portfolio, which uses AI to generate actionable insights from infrastructure data. “Infrastructure assets generate massive amounts of data every day, but only a fraction of that data is analyzed,” Cumins explained. Asset Analytics aims to bridge this gap by combining IoT sensors, drones, and other cutting-edge data capture methods to provide a comprehensive view of asset conditions.

“We invite engineering firms to partner with us in extending their expertise into asset operations,” Cumins said, emphasizing that collaboration is essential for realizing the full potential of AI-driven analytics.

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

Cumins concluded his keynote by calling on the industry to embrace the paradigm shift enabled by AI, digital twins, and open ecosystems. He invoked the words of computer scientist Alan Kay: “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”

“At Bentley, we are committed to leading the way,” Cumins said. “The next 40 years will bring immense challenges, but together, we can unlock the value of data, optimize existing infrastructure, and build a more sustainable future.”

With the infrastructure industry at a crossroads, Cumins’ keynote provided a compelling vision for the future of infrastructure engineering—one that is open, collaborative, and data-driven. As the world moves toward more sustainable infrastructure, Bentley Systems stands ready to provide the tools and platforms to shape a better future.

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

Category: Bentley YII

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