Bringing geospatial tools to infrastructure planning
Bentley Systems, a global infrastructure engineering software company, has joined forces with Google to enhance the way infrastructure is designed, built and operated.
The company’s software solutions are used by professionals and organisations for the design, construction and operation of public works and utilities, roads and bridges, rail and transport, water and wastewater, buildings and campuses, mining, and industrial facilities.
The partnership means that Google’s high-quality geospatial content can now be integrated with Bentley’s infrastructure engineering software and digital twin platform.
Digital twins — essentially digital representations of the physical world — can bring useful insights to the infrastructure lifecycle, from project planning and design through to construction and asset operation. By leveraging the engineering data created and managed in Bentley software alongside Google’s geospatial data, AI and analytics, and cloud technologies, engineers can design and manage infrastructure in context and at scale to address some of today’s critical challenges, including mitigating climate risk and maintaining aging infrastructure.
Bentley software users and developers are now able to use Google Maps Platform’s geospatial content, including Google’s Photorealistic 3D Tiles, for real-world geospatial context and 3D experiences in their digital workflows.
“Photorealistic 3D Tiles in Google Maps Platform power breathtaking immersive experiences and can transform workflows for architects, engineers and urban planners,” said Chris Phillips, vice president and general manager of Geo at Google.
“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 is also collaborating with Google Cloud to deliver AI-driven insights for asset analytics.
The partnership complements Bentley’s recent acquisition of Cesium, the foundational open platform for creating powerful 3D geospatial applications. Cesium is the creator of the 3D Tiles open standard used by Google.
“By combining Google’s extensive geospatial content and cloud capabilities with Bentley’s infrastructure engineering software and digital twin platform, infrastructure professionals can improve their work and ensure projects and assets are created and operated with greater resilience and sustainability,” said Bentley CEO Nicholas Cumins.
“This partnership demonstrates how open standards, such as 3D Tiles, can help infrastructure professionals evolve their practices by leveraging the power of geospatial context.”
Funding boost to transition heavy vehicles to electric
ARENA has made $100 million in funding available under its Driving the Nation program to support...
MEA protests terrace housing red tape
A recent determination by Energy Queensland Limited will impose an extra measure when connecting...
Charging up EV infrastructure in WA
The WA Govt has opened up a third round of its Charge Up Grants, which support not-for-profits,...
