Exclusive Interview: The ‘Mindset’ for a Livable and Sustainable City

• 26 October 2025
• Local News
• 1287 Views

From natural disasters and crippling traffic congestion to pervasive environmental pollution, cities worldwide face a mounting list of existential threats. Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, is no exception, grappling acutely with the challenges of frequent flooding and gridlock.

But what is the path forward? Can digital tools and Artificial Intelligence (AI) offer a real solution to transform our urban centers? Construction & Property Magazine recently sought answers from Dorothea Manou, Solution Manager for Cities & Urban Infrastructure at Bentley Systems, in a discussion about the future of urban development.

The short answer, according to the tech expert, is a resounding yes. Digital solutions are already being deployed globally to manage crises: from the FireSat application detecting wildfires and the Flood Hub program using AI to forecast flood risks, to OpenPaths and Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) improving urban traffic flow. There are also others like OpenFlow FLOOD, iTwin, and Synchro+ that hold the key to a more resilient future for cities like Phnom Penh. (read more) and (read more)

Despite the availability of cutting-edge technology, Ms. Manou argues that the real barrier to progress is not a technical one.

“While Bentley Systems provides the digital tools to make city management smarter and easier, the most crucial element for improvement is the ‘mindset,'” she asserted.

According to Manou, the initial step requires a fundamental shift in leadership: “In order to help a city improve, the leaders and administrators must first possess the mindset to want to change that city.”

From Resilience to Equity

This desired mindset is both resilient and sustainable. It goes beyond simply building infrastructure that can withstand climate uncertainty; it demands equity.

Manou explained that equitable infrastructure is the core component of a livable city. “This means that we are not building the same infrastructure for everyone, but rather building infrastructure that responds to the different needs of the population.”

Integrating the Chaotic City

While implementing smart tools is straightforward in well-planned cities like Amsterdam, cities like Phnom Penh—which are densely built with decades of existing infrastructure—face unique difficulty.

Bentley’s digital tools address this by integrating fragmented data. The software can bring all infrastructure data—roads, utilities, cables, and transit—into a single application. This allows city planners to analyze potential projects, simulate outcomes using technologies like the Digital Twin (iTwin) model, and ensure the least disruption while yielding the maximum public benefit.

Building Trust to Drive Change

Ultimately, Ms. Manou states that the biggest hurdle is overcoming technological skepticism among leaders who have not yet adopted these tools. Bentley is focused on building confidence and knowledge to inspire change.

“What we are doing is building confidence, providing knowledge, educating, and especially showing them concrete examples that technology truly can help,” she said, referencing Bentley’s global educational efforts, including the Year in Infrastructure program. “They must first want to use it to solve their problems.”

Manou emphasized a final point: digital tools are not inherently complex; the challenge is being open to using them.

• Digital and Smart City
• Digital Twin
• iTwin
• AI
• OpenFlows
• Bentley Systems