Bentley Systems

Hello again! Welcome to latest edition of infrastructure news and insights from Bentley Systems. This week, we'll tell how digital twins are helping wildlife cross busy highways in Colorado. But before we get there, we start in Baku at #COP29, where we've learned how AI, digital twins and other technology are reshaping the way we build, manage and reimagine infrastructure to deal with climate change. Plus, hear from a father who experienced firsthand the value of resilient infrastructure during Hurricane Helene and what it means to live without it, and learn about Cesium’s Patrick Cozzi being honored and Bentley’s CEO Nicholas Cumins visiting India. And, last but not least, we have for you this week's list of the 5 Coolest Things in Infrastructure. Enjoy, and if you like our newsletter, share it with your friends and colleagues!

Envisioned as a "Forest City" with 75% green areas, Nusantara, Indonesia's planned new capital city aims to serve as a model for sustainable urban living both in Indonesia and globally. Jakarta, the bustling metropolis and current capital, has long been the epicenter of the nation's economic and cultural activities. However, the city grapples with endemic pollution, flooding, and overcrowding. To address these challenges, the country is embarking on an ambitious project to build the new capital city 1,000 miles away. Part of the city's development includes the design and construction of a presidential palace with a 50-megawatt solar plant and a façade featuring a Garuda bird, the symbol of Indonesia, with a wingspan of 117 meters. PT Wijaya Karya and the Join Operational team are responsible for the design and build of the sprawling complex. They processed nine hectares of aerial site data to create the design and 3D model of the project. Bentley software enabled the team to review all elements of the site together, detecting and correcting clashes in the process. Using digital modeling helped lower costs and the amount of rebar needed by 138.8 tons, while also accelerating design by 33 days and determining ways to lower ongoing energy use. This project, a 2024 Going Digital Award finalist, aims to set a benchmark for green construction and smart city development, showcasing Nusantara and ensuring environmental sustainability. #civilengineering #engineering #infrastructure #digitaltwins #iTwin #Indonesia

In New York City, Two Bridges is a bustling neighborhood on Manhattan’s East River waterfront bordered by the iconic Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Home to about 70,000 residents, it's also the city's most flood-vulnerable area, located just seven feet above sea level. City officials commissioned the Brooklyn Bridge-Montgomery Coastal Resilience (BBMCR) project to protect the area. The project is part of the Big U proposal, which includes building a 10-mile-long protective system around the tip of Manhattan to enhance the city's resilience against increasing climate change impacts. Underway is the construction of a system of flood walls and special flip-up barriers along the East River waterfront from the Brooklyn Bridge to the south, and Montgomery Street to the north. The barriers remain hidden until a storm strikes. It will help to reduce flooding risk – from sea level rise and storm surge – for thousands of residents while preserving views and waterfront access. Engineering firm Greenman-Pedersen Inc., in collaboration with Jacobs, helped optimize the construction process. They used Bentley software to build a 4D digital model of the project to improve collaboration, streamline planning and construction, and even reduce the barrier’s total carbon footprint. The BBMCR project was recognized in the 2024 Going Digital Awards in the Construction category, winning the Founder's Honors Award. #construction #engineering #coastalResilience #infrastructure #NYC #Manhattan #TwoBridges GPI / Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. NYC Department of Design and Construction

OpenSite+ uses generative AI to transform site design, with an AI-driven Copilot, automated drawings, and optimized layouts. Our commitment to innovation is paving the way for a new era in civil engineering. Discover how: https://bit.ly/41dO5oA

When Hurricane Helene stalled over western North Carolina this September, it dumped four to six months’ worth of rain in about 24 hours. The storm caused widespread destruction and numerous fatalities across the southeastern United States. Asheville, North Carolina, one of the many cities impacted by the category 4 storm suffered a severe blow to its water and sewer infrastructure. The storm put two of the city’s three water treatment plants—which supply 70% of Asheville households—out of commission. Bentley writer Jay Moye, a resident of Asheville, reflects on the storm's aftermath and shares what he's learned about the impact and importance of resilient infrastructure. 📰 https://bit.ly/48Ij1Px #infrastructure #engineering #flooding

Imagine stepping into a room where ancient aqueducts meet cityscapes conjured by generative AI, where stone roads lead to an advanced visualization of high-speed rail networks that emerge from a sea of data on a massive digital screen. Explore our iLab Experience exhibit featured during our 2024 Year in Infrastructure and Going Digital Awards event. It's an interactive high-tech journey from the past into the future. https://bit.ly/3ZjU5tl #iTwin #digitaltwins #geospatial #3DTiles #data #engineering #infrastructure #technology

It's set to be the longest double-decker elevated toll road in the world. 👀 Completion of Harbour Road 2 in Indonesia will improve traffic and stimulate economic growth by providing easier access to the airport, nearby Jakarta International Stadium, and reclamation islands being developed by the state. Spanning along the Ancol River it is expected to accommodate 63,500 vehicles daily. PT. Wijaya Karya (WIKA), an Indonesia-based firm, was tasked with providing efficient and improved road access for residents in North Jakarta. All while navigating around the work areas for two other projects. They accessed the limited space and numerous intersection points to include a 3.95-kilometer double-decker bridge in the complex project designs. WIKA used Bentley software to complete designs that avoided many aboveground and belowground structures including gas pipelines, water pipes, and fiber optic cables. The team also had to avoid placing piers in nearby waterways, an Indonesian government mandate, that could negatively impact the ecosystem and existing river traffic. Construction on Harbour Road 2 is ongoing and is expected to be completed in 2025. #roadways #bridges #digitaltwin #engineering #infrastructure

Cesium's Moon Terrain, an accurate 3D digital model of the Moon, supports detailed mission rehearsals for aerospace professionals. Meanwhile, generative AI and virtual models are being used to mitigate the impact of climate change on infrastructure and create detailed digital models of ancient sites in Europe. Explore the remarkable influence of digital twin technology in preserving our planet and its rich history and preparing humanity for its next “giant leap.” Read about how in our latest Coolest Things In Infrastructure blog. https://bit.ly/4i4pJDD #DigitalTwins #Innovation #Technology #ClimateChange

The Ohio Falls Hydro station produces up to 101 megawatts of electricity to light up the lives of over 82,500 residents living near Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities hired engineering firm Exo to inspect and assess the structural integrity of two towers that support the facility's transmission lines. Due to limited site access and the absence of existing design documents, they determined an integrated modeling solution was needed. Exo used a drone to capture images and used Bentley software to create detailed 3D models. They processed 250 gigabytes of high-resolution photos into a reality mesh to produce a digital twin of the towers and power line of the towers. Creating a digital twin allowed engineers to assess and measure corrosion within the towers' crevices virtually. Choosing remediation over reconstruction allowed LG&E and KU Energy LLC to avoid approximately ten years of permitting delays and to save an estimated $80 million in costs associated with building a new tower crossing. This Ohio Falls project was recognized as a 2024 Going Digital Awards finalist. #energy #digitaltwins #iTwin #realitymesh #engineering #infrastructure #utilities

CONGRATULATIONS to our Chief Platform Officer and Cesium Founder, Patrick Cozzi, for receiving The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC)’s Global Impact Award!   And, Happy 30th Anniversary to OGC for fostering the evolution of geospatial technologies and standards!   #geospatial #3DTiles #engineering