In an interview with Water Digest, Bentley Systems discussed its 40-year legacy in infrastructure solutions, emphasising its global presence and commitment to sustainability. The company highlighted its focus on water management, addressing global water challenges with integrated solutions across the entire water lifecycle. Key projects like Ayodhya’s water supply upgrade and Karnataka’s Jal Jeevan Mission exemplify Bentley’s impact and innovation in the water sector. They also underscored their use of advanced technologies such as digital twins and BIM to optimise water infrastructure planning and management, making their solutions accessible through flexible licensing models to meet diverse customer needs and budgets.
Water Digest (WD):Could you provide some information about Bentley Systems and its global presence?
Bentley Systems is a 40-year-old organisation headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, which is about a 45-minute drive from Philadelphia. Founded by the Bentley Brothers, this organisation focuses solely on infrastructure solutions. Today, Bentley is a 5,000-plus colleague organisation, spread across 40 countries. More than 1,400 of our colleagues hold either a master’s degree or a doctorate. As of December 2023, Bentley Systems reported revenues close to $1.23 billion, with over $650 million invested in R&D over the past three years. Bentley is well-known as a people-centric organisation; more than 87% of employees in surveys state that Bentley is a preferred place to work. Regarding our customers, more than 72% of global infrastructure owner-operators use Bentley for their projects, and over 93% of the top 250 engineering firms in the world utilise Bentley solutions for their project workflows. In September 2020, Bentley Systems went public and is fully aligned with the sustainable development goals of the world.
WD: What sparked the company’s interest and subsequent development of software solutions specifically for water management?
As we all know, water is the most precious resource today. While two-thirds of the globe is occupied by water, only 1% of it is drinkable or potable. This means we need to conserve water to address the growing population’s needs. To provide some global perspectives: close to 2.3 billion people live in water-stressed countries today, and 733 million of them are in critically water-stressed countries.
Currently, 25 to 40% of the water being distributed is classified as Non-Revenue Water (NRW). Additionally, it is estimated that the demand for water will grow by 60% by 2030. This necessitates smart management of water resources to meet future requirements.
In India, 34% of the population currently lives in urban and semi-urban areas, and this is estimated to exceed 50% by 2050. With India’s current population of about 1.4 billion expected to reach 1.67 billion by then, there will be a growing demand for water. Therefore, a robust water management system is essential to address these needs.
Bentley Systems has recognised these challenges and developed solutions accordingly. Bentley’s water management solutions cover the entire water life cycle, from source planning and resource management to designing water distribution networks, construction, handover, and operation maintenance. Bentley’s integrated solutions cater to all phases of the water life cycle, ensuring comprehensive water management.
Recognising the critical importance of water, Bentley is committed to leveraging technology to address global water challenges, which is why the company has focused on water solutions.
WD: Any Specific project of India that is close to your heart & is one of the prestigious one for Bentley?
Bentley Systems is present in many water sector projects in India. One project we are particularly proud of is the recent project executed for the city of Ayodhya. This project is especially significant not only because of the presence of the Ram Mandir but also due to the extensive infrastructure development taking place. Ayodhya is becoming an important tourist destination, resulting in an increasing floating population visiting the city.
The Ayodhya authority recognised the need for a 24×7 water supply system. Traditionally, the water supply was gravity-driven, but they decided to transition to a pressure-based water supply system. They contracted GeoInfo Services, one of our customers, to build a robust water distribution network based on the pressure method. GeoInfo Services evaluated the existing systems and identified the need for an advanced system like Bentley’s OpenFlowWaterGEMS.
By implementing this pressure network, they achieved significant savings: approximately 1.5 million USD in operating expenses and around 46,000 USD in energy costs. Additionally, the project aligned with our sustainability development goals, reducing 347 tons of carbon emissions within a year. This is a very prestigious project that was done on Bentley systems and we are proud to be a part of this particular project.
WD: What was Bentley’s role in the Jal Jeevan Mission Rural Water Supply Schemein Gadag, Dharvad, and Belgavi districts?
This project is part of the Jal Jeevan Mission, funded by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The Karnataka government aimed to implement a water supply scheme in 698 habitations across the districts of Dharwad, Belgavi, and Gadag. Yash Engineering Consultants were entrusted with this work. Initially, they faced challenges with data sets, typical in rural areas, and needed a robust platform to integrate these discrete data sets for efficient water distribution planning.
They chose Bentley Systems’ OpenFlowsWaterGEMS for this purpose. The implementation resulted in a twofold increase in productivity and an 18% reduction in design time. Additionally, they achieved a 50% return on investment. A project that would have originally taken about four months per district was completed in only two months.Bentley Systems is proud to be associated with this project with the government.
WD: What is the possibility of the projects like Karnataka getting replicated ?
Yes, definitely. In fact, this is one of the models that can be easily replicated. One of the key aspects is that everyone is learning through the process. By learning and implementing best practices, we can apply them to future projects without hesitation.
Data availability is crucial, and we need to evaluate the data requirements thoroughly. There are organisations today that have successfully implemented water distribution networks. India now has the necessary manpower to undertake these projects, with local organisations possessing the experience and expertise required. Consulting these organisations is the best method for drawing on their expertise. Their experience will be invaluable in successfully implementing these projects, regardless of the type of data sets involved.
WD: Which technology tools provided by Bentley were utilised in the planning, & execution of the 30 MLD CETP Project in Ahmedabad?
This is a very interesting project announced by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to control pollution in the Sabarmati River and manage the related water supply. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation launched a project for a 30 MLD per day effluent treatment plant, and the construction work was awarded to one of our customers, MaRS Engineering and Consultants.
The company conducted an evaluation and decided that a 4D BIM technology should be used for the effective implementation of this project. They chose Bentley’s solution, specifically the Open BIM application with our digital construction tools, allowing them to integrate data through a common data environment.
This project was successfully implemented, and today the plant is fully operational, meeting the water needs of Ahmedabad city.
WD: How many industries are connected to this system?
This project caters to multiple industries. Earlier, we discussed solutions in the water sector focusing on distribution, whereas this project is more plant-related. An integrated technology has taken this to the next level. Moving forward, this will be part of the digital print network.
With multiple industries and data sets, transitioning to a digital twin platform is the ideal pathway for successful implementation. The use of a digital twin platform allows for better integration and management of data, leading to more effective and efficient project outcomes.
WD: Digital twins and artificial intelligence are emerging technologies with significant potential in the water sector. As a systems and software specialist, what role does Bentley see these technologies playing in the future, and how is the organisation utilising them?
Digital twin technology is becoming a part and parcel of most projects today. Whether it’s related to transportation, water, energy, or even city-level projects, digital twin technology is gaining more prominence. Why? Because it is a virtual replica of a physical asset. The advantage of a digital twin is that it is not just a model; it is an intelligent model that facilitates human interaction in real-time.
In the context of the water sector, imagine a situation where different data sets need to be integrated onto multiple platforms. This integration is crucial for managing the entire water distribution system effectively. Data can come from geospatial systems, drones, sensors, SCADA systems, and various backend database systems. Integrating these data sources into a single platform allows for real-time management.
For instance, imagine there is a surge in demand. You need to optimise that demand and make decisions on the spot. Bentley’s OpenFlowsWaterSight is an example of a digital twin platform used for water projects. This platform enables the integration of multiple systems and helps generate dashboards that provide insights, facilitating decision-making.
Digital twin platforms are gaining more prominence because they integrate multiple systems into a single platform, allowing for interaction, insight generation, and informed decision-making. This technology is proving to be powerful and essential for modern infrastructure projects.
WD: While Bentley’s solutions seem powerful, are they accessible to smaller water utilities or municipalities with limited budgets?
Bentley Systems is quite sensitive to the needs of our customers, recognising that it is because of them that we exist today. We offer multiple licensing models for our products. We have the perpetual licensing model, the annual subscription model, and enterprise agreements. Depending on the category of the customers and their consumption models, we can always provide them with the best possible options.
WD: Please share any message you would like to share with the audience of Water Digest?
I feel that you are doing a great job, and I have gone through some of your publications as well as the awards that you recently hosted. It’s very encouraging for people working in the water sector. As a technology company, we believe that technology which helps the common man access clean and hygienic water is very important to us. That’s the reason we exist. I think there is a lot of information about this technology that should be published by you, and as Bentley, we will support you with that kind of information. I think people should definitely look forward to more interesting news from Water Digest moving forward. With the support of our customers and readers, I am sure we will have miles to go. Thank you.
