Antje Dardin, Global Product Marketing Manager, and Zubran Solaiman, Director, Industry Strategy • Cities, Bentley Systems, in conversation with PRATAP PADODE, Editor-in-Chief, CW, share insights on transforming urban infrastructure. From leveraging AI and digital twins to strategic partnerships and data-driven decision-making, they highlight how technology enhances operational efficiency, disaster resilience, and long-term urban sustainability.How does Bentley’s technology help cities design and manage sustainable, resilient urban infrastructure that balances environmental and economic goals?Antje Dardin: Bentley combines top-down strategic planning with bottom-up scaling. Cities can pilot projects using digital twins and AI, then replicate successes across other areas. While funding and technological adoption remain challenges, tools like OpenSight Plus allow cities to leverage existing data, streamline operations and make informed, sustainable infrastructure decisions.With the integration of AI and generative design, how is Bentley shaping strategic decisions in infrastructure projects to drive efficiency and innovation?Zubran Solaiman: AI in Bentley is trained exclusively on client data, ensuring relevance and accuracy. Co-pilot solutions and generative design accelerate planning, offering optimised alternatives and recommendations while reducing reliance on manual processes. Historical datasets and standardised libraries further support decision-making, enhancing both operational efficiency and innovation.Can you share examples of how digital twins and asset analytics have improved operational efficiency or disaster resilience in urban settings?Dardin: Cities often hesitate to adopt digital twins due to perceived costs or technology complexity. Demonstrating quick RoI through pilot projects helps overcome resistance. For instance, visualising property tax potential or reducing stakeholder engagement costs showcases tangible benefits. Digital twins provide actionable insights for infrastructure maintenance and disaster preparedness, improving resilience and decision-making.How do strategic partnerships, such as with Google, enhance Bentley’s solutions and help clients make data-driven infrastructure decisions?Solaiman: Partnerships like Google bring massive datasets and APIs to B2B infrastructure clients. For example, Google street-level data combined with Bentley AI enables asset classification via dashcams, enhancing operational monitoring. Collaborations also facilitate urban challenges, blending BIM data and city-specific inputs, helping clients make informed, data-driven decisions efficiently.Looking ahead, what emerging technologies or trends do you see as pivotal for transforming the design, construction and operation of infrastructure globally?Dardin: Platforms like Cesium allow cities to visualise and interact with infrastructure data, integrating maps and project details for richer insights. Subscription-based solutions enable wide accessibility, while AI, digital twins and interactive visualisation collectively drive smarter, scalable and sustainable urban development.Solaiman: Generative design, AI-enabled analytics and enhanced visualisation will continue to transform project planning and operations. The focus is on creating resilient infrastructure while optimising costs and reducing risk, enabling cities worldwide to make strategic, data-driven decisions.Quotes:Digital twins provide cities with actionable insights, improving resilience and decision-making. – Antje DardinAI and generative design accelerate planning, offering optimised alternatives and enhancing operational efficiency. – Zubran Solaiman