Bentley Systems Unveils AI-Powered Roadmap for the Future of Infrastructure

15 January 2026
Construction Focus
1126 Views

The ACEC Fall Conference 2025 served as a definitive turning point for the civil engineering industry, with Bentley Systems emerging as the primary catalyst for a new era of AI-driven design.

One of the conference’s standout themes was the unification of above-ground design and below-ground data. By integrating Seequent’s geotechnical solutions with Bentley’s civil software, engineers no longer have to treat the subsurface as a “black box.”

This provide a complete visualization as engineers can now model and analyze geotechnical data directly alongside their civil designs. Besides, this integration also allows teams to anticipate unforeseen ground conditions early, reducing the likelihood of costly risks and enhancing project resilience.

Bentley also officially marked a milestone with the commercial release of OpenSite+ to select accounts. As Bentley’s first next-generation, AI-powered civil site solution, it aims to eliminate the “tedium” of site engineering.

10x Productivity Boost: Early data suggests OpenSite+ can deliver projects up to ten times faster.
Bentley Copilot: A context-aware AI assistant that guides users through workflows, performs grading optimization, and automates drawing production.
Ethical AI: Bentley reinforced its commitment to data privacy, ensuring that AI model training only occurs with explicit user consent via the new Data Agreement Registry.

The AI revolution isn’t limited to site design. Bentley announced that its broader portfolio, including OpenRoads and OpenRail, is receiving a major intelligence upgrade.

A new AI-driven tool can organize complex annotations with a single click, automatically managing “white space” to prevent overlapping text. Besides, Bentley Copilot is also slated for integration into OpenRoads and OpenRail Designer by early 2026, helping teams model transportation projects with unprecedented efficiency.

As infrastructure challenges grow more complex, “digital twins” and “generative AI” are no longer optional.

“The future of civil engineering will be defined by innovation and collaboration,” stated Francois Valois, Senior VP of Open Applications at Bentley. “We are empowering engineers with tools that break silos and unlock a new level of productivity.”

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