WaterSight
Analytics and water system management: NRW, KPIs, efficiency.
Brief description
Bentley Systems is a global leader in software development for the design, construction, and operation of infrastructure. BIM-based solutions help professionals create and manage assets—from roads, bridges, and airports to skyscrapers, factories, power plants, and engineering networks. Bentley Systems offers comprehensive solutions on an open platform that cover the entire lifecycle of infrastructure assets and ensure effective collaboration among engineers, architects, planners, contractors, IT specialists, and operators. The company employs over 5,000 people, operates in nearly 200 countries, and in recent years has generated more than $1.3-1.4 billion in annual revenue with sustainable growth.
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Analytics and water system management: NRW, KPIs, efficiency.
Calculation and design of building structures (steel/reinforced concrete, etc.).
Detailing and production of KM/KZ, models of steel and reinforced concrete structures.
Geotechnical analysis and modeling of soils and foundations (FEM).
Design and analysis of power line towers/supports and communications.
Hydraulic modeling of water supply/sewerage/stormwater drainage networks.
BIM design of buildings: architecture, structures, MEP.
2D/3D CAD platform for design and documentation production.
Creation of reality mesh/3D content from photos and drone footage.
Our solutions.
The Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC) is working on the “Sungai Buloh–Serdang–Putrajaya” metro line. A cloud platform from Bentley + Microsoft Azure was used for collaboration, data exchange, and synchronization among external contractors. As a result, there was a productivity increase in design, construction, and operation of approximately 35%, improved accuracy, reduced rework, and enhanced safety standards.
The project “Tideway Central — Digital Engineering gears up for megaproject.” The company used ProjectWise to manage a large volume of information: over 190,000 documents, 4,500 drawings, more than 1,500 models, involving 1,200 users and over 45 stakeholders. As a result, data manageability improved, collaboration quality increased, and all project participants could confidently work with the latest versions of models and documents.
The company Sweco, operating in more than 14 countries, utilized ProjectWise to centrally manage information, standardize workflows, and enhance collaboration between offices. Results: time savings (10% improvement in efficiency), standardized processes, fewer errors due to data duplication, and improved interaction between teams.
Participation in the HS2 high-speed railway project. What has been done: the use of Bentley software (MicroStation, etc.) as a common BIM platform among various contractors and disciplines on complex sections, including tunnels. Benefits: improved coordination, a unified data environment, reduced conflicts between disciplines, and enhanced quality and reliability of implementation.
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MicroStation is worth considering if your project is built around DGN files, Bentley applications and a large number of reference models. AutoCAD is the logical choice where DWG drawings and Autodesk add-ons remain the foundation. Both products are suitable for 2D and 3D, but their ecosystems differ. Before making a choice, check the client's requirements, documentation templates, exchange formats and the software used by other disciplines. Sometimes it makes sense to have part of the team use AutoCAD, whilst using Bentley MicroStation for the infrastructure design.
Yes. MicroStation works with DWG files via RealDWG, whilst IFC files can be linked as references, opened for reading, and converted to DGN. Bentley's documentation specifies support for IFC 2x3, IFC 4 and IFC 4.3. However, the transfer of user-defined objects, styles and attributes depends on the source file. Before implementation, test a few real-world examples: a site plan, a structure model, a documentation sheet and the largest project file.
ProjectWise is needed for the managed handling of engineering data, not just for storing files. It manages versions, permissions, audits, approvals and links between models. This is important when multiple organisations and hundreds of specialists are involved. A standard cloud folder displays a file but does not always monitor its status and dependencies. For a small project, cloud storage may be sufficient. For distributed BIM design, a CDE reduces the risk of working with out-of-date documentation.
No. Bentley's portfolio covers buildings, railways, water and electricity networks, industrial facilities, geotechnical engineering and mining sites. MicroStation serves as the common CAD platform, whilst specialised applications cover the various disciplines. OpenBuildings is used for buildings, OpenFlows for hydraulic networks, PLAXIS for soil analysis, and SYNCHRO for 4D scheduling. The choice should not be based on the brand as a whole, but on a set of tools tailored to a specific project workflow.
An audit. Identify the types of objects, file formats, user roles, client requirements and weaknesses in the current process. Then select a pilot project with clearly defined boundaries. Use this to test templates, references, naming conventions, documentation output and collaboration with stakeholders. Following the pilot, you can scale up licences and training. GEO-MENTOR will help you map out an implementation roadmap, select the appropriate Bentley Systems solutions and avoid overloading the initial phase with unnecessary modules.
The company has been developing software for infrastructure design and engineering data management since 1984. Today, Bentley System’s solutions are used by around 42,000 organisations in 189 countries. Since 2020, the vendor’s shares have been traded on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol BSY.
The main file format for MicroStation is DGN. Unlike Autodesk Revit, Bentley’s products are geared towards roads, bridges, railways, pipelines and power networks. BIM helps to integrate models and engineering data from different disciplines. OpenRoads is used for road design, ProjectWise manages files and versions, and iTwin creates digital twins of assets.
Bentley’s product range covers four areas: design, data management, digital twins and analytics. OpenRoads is used for roads, OpenBridge for bridges, whilst MicroStation and ProjectWise form the core environment for modelling and collaboration. iTwin handles digital twins, and AssetWise manages the analysis and management of infrastructure assets.
Bentley MicroStation is a CAD platform for 2D drafting, 3D modelling and documentation preparation. The programme’s native format is DGN. RealDWG support allows users to work with DWG files without prior conversion. IFC models can be linked to coordinate data within the openBIM environment.
BIM design in MicroStation is used for buildings, bridges, roads and industrial facilities. References help to assemble a large project from individual linked files. For example, an airport model may include terminals, runways, utility networks and terrain. The programme runs on Windows 10 and 11, and the VUE engine is used for visualisation.
OpenRoads Designer is used for designing roads and transport junctions, including routes, corridors, profiles and cross-sections. The software works with surveying and GIS data, and also supports LandXML and IFC. OpenBridge Modeler complements it with tools for parametric modelling of bridges, supports and spans, with verification against Eurocode and AASHTO standards.
ProjectWise is an engineering data management system, similar in concept to PDM and PLM. It stores file versions, manages access rights, tracks changes and integrates with MicroStation, AutoCAD and Revit. The solution is suitable for distributed teams and contractors who require control over working models, rather than just cloud-based file sharing.
iTwin creates digital twins of bridges, buildings, factories and utility networks. The platform combines design models, GIS, IoT sensors and corporate data, helping to monitor the condition of a structure. For example, sensor readings enable the monitoring of bridge deformation and allow for the planning of inspections or repairs in advance.
Bentley Systems focuses primarily on roads, bridges, railway lines and industrial facilities. Autodesk Revit is more commonly used for architecture, structural engineering and building MEP systems. When choosing a platform, it is important to compare not only the modelling tools, but also file formats, collaboration features and client requirements. The main differences are set out in the table.
| Parameter | Bentley | Autodesk |
| Main focus | Infrastructure, roads, bridges, networks, industrial facilities | Architecture, structural engineering and MEP for buildings |
| Native format | DGN in MicroStation | RVT in Revit |
| Working with large models | Individual references are linked to the main model | The model is divided into worksets |
| Collaboration | ProjectWise for managing engineering data and work in progress | Autodesk Construction Cloud, formerly BIM 360 |
| openBIM support | IFC import and export | IFC connectivity, import and export |
| Cost | Depends on the modules selected, region and licence type | Depends on the subscription, product and composition of the AEC Collection |
This approach makes Bentley well-suited to large-scale infrastructure projects involving multiple engineering disciplines. Autodesk Revit is more appropriate where the bulk of the work relates to the building and its internal systems. According to McKinsey, in one airport project, the use of a 5D model reduced construction time by approximately 3-5 months thanks to early clash detection. For the design of details, equipment and assemblies, a company can also use SOLIDWORKS – solutions for 3D design.
GEO-MENTOR helps to select and implement Bentley System’s solutions, taking into account the organisation’s objectives, team composition and the formats used. Specialists support the project from licence selection through to configuring the working environment and training users. The range of services includes:
A multi-vendor approach enables Bentley’s infrastructure design tools, Dassault Systèmes’ engineering tools and cloud services to be integrated into a single digital workflow. Contact GEO-MENTOR to select CAD/PLM solutions for your industry and draw up a phased implementation plan.