How Google & Bentley's Digital Twins Enhance Infrastructure

Bentley Systems has announced a partnership with Google, aiming to transform the way infrastructure projects are designed, built and managed.

By integrating Google’s high-quality geospatial data into Bentley’s advanced infrastructure engineering software and digital twin platform, the collaboration seeks to tackle critical global challenges, including climate resilience and ageing infrastructure.

Bridging real and virtual worlds with digital twins

At the heart of this partnership is Bentley’s use of digital twins, virtual replicas of physical infrastructure that offer a detailed, dynamic view of assets across their entire lifecycle. These models enable engineers and planners to analyse and optimise designs, construction and maintenance with real-world precision.

This integration empowers professionals to make informed decisions using tools such as Bentley’s MicroStation and iTwin Platform. These innovations are designed to improve the sustainability, resilience and efficiency of critical infrastructure systems like transport, utilities and public works.

Enhanced visualisation for smarter decisions

A standout feature of this partnership is the incorporation of Google Maps Platform’s geospatial content, including Photorealistic 3D Tiles, into Bentley’s software.

These tiles provide lifelike 3D imagery that enhances visualisation and decision-making for architects, engineers and urban planners. By integrating this immersive geospatial data into digital workflows, users gain a more profound understanding of project contexts, from urban environments to rural infrastructure.

Chris Phillips, VP and GM of Geo at Google, highlights the transformative potential: “Photorealistic 3D Tiles in Google Maps Platform power breath-taking immersive experiences and can transform workflows for architects, engineers and urban planners.

"We’re excited to partner with Bentley to bring powerful geospatial context and capabilities that can dramatically improve how infrastructure is designed, built and operated with data.”

Bentley’s recent acquisition of Cesium, a platform that developed the widely used 3D Tiles standard, strengthens this initiative. Cesium’s 3D Tiles standard, already employed by Google, ensures seamless integration and optimised workflows for infrastructure projects.

Driving sustainable infrastructure development

This partnership also signals a commitment to advancing sustainable infrastructure. Open standards like 3D Tiles enable professionals to incorporate geospatial context seamlessly, leading to better-informed designs and more resilient infrastructure systems.

Beyond geospatial integration, Bentley is collaborating with Google Cloud to harness AI-driven analytics for asset management. This partnership aims to deliver deeper insights into infrastructure performance and enhance predictive maintenance, further boosting efficiency and sustainability.

By aligning their strengths, Bentley and Google are setting a new benchmark for how infrastructure is conceptualised and managed in the face of global challenges.

Whether it’s addressing climate change, improving urban mobility, or maintaining critical public assets, the collaboration equips engineers and planners with the tools needed to create lasting solutions.

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