Software specialist Bentley Systems is expanding its range of software products both through key acquisitions and in-house developments, as well as developing its partnerships with other firms. Two firms Bentley has bought are UK company Legion, which is a leading provider of advanced pedestrian modelling software, and the Swedish company Agency9, which offers city-scale digital twin cloud services that will help enable smart city development.
Bentley is itself introducing its iTwin Services platform, for digital twin cloud services aimed at use in major infrastructure projects. This will allow more efficient synchronisation of actual and virtual data for a project.
The new open-source library meanwhile is a significant step, using JavaScript packages and intended to improve accessibility. The firm’s CEO Greg Bentley said, “We chose JavaScript specifically because it is the common language. It’s built using the most common and productive tools available worldwide.”
The firm says that this move will allow developers to create immersive applications that can connect infrastructure digital twins to other digital models. Bentley continued, “We have made all the source code available. We realise making it open source is a tremendous commitment.”
The system allows users to create web-views of 1D, 2D, 3D and $d models from BIM files and other digital data models.
Also new from Bentley is an advanced new modelling environment, allowing multi-discipline collaboration.
In addition Bentley is further developing its partnerships with Microsoft and Topcon. One new development is the potential for integration between its ProjectWise 365 Services package and the Microsoft 365 package. This will allow greater collaboration for digital workflows. Meanwhile Bentley’s arrangement with Topcon is for a further development of the constructioneering initiatives and programs developed between the two companies.
