Engineer Builds AI Agent to Master Software, Saving Hundreds of Hours and Hinting at the Future of Infrastructure Design

An innovative application of generative AI, unveiled at the 2025 Bentley Illuminate conference, is poised to reshape how engineering firms train and deploy their talent.

Kyle Rosenmeyer, a model-based design leader at VHB, has built a custom AI agent using Microsoft’s Copilot Studio that rapidly teaches engineers how to use complex Bentley software, effectively eliminating the need for engineers to spend time “learning CAD.”

Rosenmeyer’s AI agent acts as an instant software tutor and troubleshooter, allowing engineers to ask natural language questions about Bentley products like OpenRoads or ProjectWise and receive precise, step-by-step answers.

He claims the tool has saved him over 100 hours in the past year and, based on a company survey, saves other users an estimated one to two hours per week.

“Engineers aren’t paid to learn software. They’re paid to design roads and bridges,” Rosenmeyer said. His central philosophy is that software should “get out of the way” so engineers can focus on core design tasks.

The custom agent was built on Microsoft’s low-code Copilot Studio, a platform designed for creating internal AI assistants.

Rosenmeyer attributes the agent’s high performance to a meticulously crafted “system prompt” that defines the AI’s personality and expertise, combined with access to five distinct knowledge sources: Bentley’s main site, blog, official documentation, YouTube channel, and, most critically, the user-generated content from the Communities forums.

“User-generated content… is where real engineers are asking real questions and sharing real insights. It’s messy but gold,” Rosenmeyer noted, emphasizing that the AI’s ability to “reason” its way to solutions for vague questions is a testament to the quality and accessibility of Bentley’s deep, well-structured public documentation.

The VHB agent is currently deployed within Microsoft Teams, making it instantly accessible and secure for all employees. Rosenmeyer stressed that building such a tool is “stupid easy,” requiring only basic skills to input the system prompt and relevant URLs.

He is now leading workshops to share the blueprint with others, advocating for a widespread adoption of similar Copilots across the industry.

Looking ahead five years, Rosenmeyer envisions the entire learning curve for professional software disappearing. “You won’t ‘learn CAD.’ You’ll just talk to your assistant,” he predicted.

Furthermore, he argues this shift in the design office is critical preparation for a larger transformation: the rise of “Physical AI” and robotics on construction sites. As autonomous equipment becomes a reality, the engineering and design workflows must be fully digitized and integrated with AI tools to manage the infrastructure data layer, ensuring the industry is not “caught unprepared” for the coming automation wave.

- Video Advertisement -

Related Post

AI-Powered Digital Twin Revolutionizes Tunnel Maintenance in Italy

Italferr S.p.A. has set a new benchmark in railway safety by implementing an AI-powered digital twin for the Serravalle Tunnel, part of the strategic Tezo Valico dei Giovi line connecting Genoa and Milan. By moving away from manual, time-consuming inspections, the project has successfully automated defect detection, dramatically reducing operational risks. The primary challenge for […]

Saudi Arabia Sets Global Smart City Benchmark with “Manarah” Urban Data Platform

The Al Madinah Region Development Authority (MDA) has successfully launched the Manarah Urban Data Platform (MUDP), a state-of-the-art digital twin initiative that balances the rapid expansion goals of Saudi Vision 2030 with the preservation of ancient Islamic heritage. By utilizing a specialized suite of Bentley Systems software, the MDA has mapped 55 square kilometers of […]

How West Java Used Bentley Software to Slash Mega Water Project Timelines by 25%

PT WIKA Tirta Jaya Jatiluhur (WTJJ) has successfully completed the SPAM Regional Jatiluhur I project, an 80-kilometer clean water system serving over 380,000 residents. Facing a severe water crisis and land subsidence caused by groundwater over-extraction, the project leveraged an extensive suite of Bentley Systems software to transform West Java’s infrastructure into a model of […]

Digital Twin Tech Powers US$114 Million Urban Revitalization in Manaus

A massive urban transformation is underway in the heart of the Amazon, as ADAX Consultants leverages cutting-edge “digital twin” technology to revitalize high-risk neighborhoods. The Social and Environmental Program for Manaus and the Interior aims to relocate thousands of families and provide modern infrastructure to over 60,000 residents. The project, which carries an estimated cost […]

Digital Twins: Bentley-Based Solutions Drive Infrastructure Efficiency

Digital twins are revolutionizing infrastructure projects, enhancing efficiency, cutting risk, and optimizing asset performance across design, construction, and operations. Leveraging data from 3D models and IoT sensors, these digital replicas offer new levels of situational awareness for current conditions and future planning. According to a report by Bentley, a leading digital software provider, the technology […]

Network Rail Creates Digital Twin of Historic Severn Tunnel, Revolutionizing Maintenance

Network Rail has successfully deployed a comprehensive, multidisciplinary digital twin of the historic Severn Tunnel, a vital 7-kilometer rail link connecting England and Wales since 1886. This innovative move leverages modern technology to dramatically improve the maintenance and management of the 137-year-old structure, which currently sees over 32,000 trains pass through it annually. The Severn […]