The infrastructure sector is witnessing major digital transformation, driven by advancements in technology and increasing demand for sustainability and resilience. Across the globe, digital tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital twins and geospatial technologies are being deployed in infrastructure projects across the design, construction and operations and maintenance (O&M) stages to improve efficiency. In an interview with Indian Infrastructure, Nicholas Cumins, chief executive officer, Bentley Systems; and Kaushik Chakraborty, senior vice-president, Bentley Systems shared their perspectives on the key trends shaping the infrastructure sector globally and in India, and the critical role of digital tools in creating and operating assets. Edited excerpts…
What are the key global trends shaping infrastructure sector?
Nicholas Cumins
There is a growing demand for modern, sustainable and resilient infrastructure to support the world’s population and economic growth, and to address societal issues like climate change. We have seen a notable rise in investments in infrastructure projects globally, including in India. However, there exists a sizable gap in engineering resources, both in terms of quantity and specialised skills. Many engineering firms face long project backlogs, sometimes exceeding a year, forcing them to decline work due to capacity constraints.
We also see significant underutilisation of the data generated across a project’s lifecycle. This is a critical paradox in the industry. Enormous amounts of data are produced during the design, construction and operational phases, but much of it remains locked in proprietary systems, making it difficult to reuse or integrate it. This inefficiency hampers productivity.
What is the current level of digital adoption across infra projects globally?
Nicholas Cumins
Digital adoption varies significantly across the lifecycle of projects. The design phase is relatively advanced, with many organisations transitioning from 2D to 3D modelling and even exploring digital twin technologies. That said, manual processes remain dominant in the construction and operations phases, from progress tracking to inspections, creating significant inefficiencies. This presents a substantial opportunity for digital transformation in these stages to unlock further value.
How do you convince clients to adopt more digital solutions, particularly in construction and O&M stages? What are your offerings to increase digital adoption?
Nicholas Cumins
Our role is to provide software that maintains a digital twin of the asset throughout a project’s lifecycle. This ensures that when the infrastructure asset is handed over from design to construction to operations, the digital twin accurately reflects how it was planned to how it was built. This level of detail improves transparency, efficiency and the handover process. We emphasise how digital twins and other digital tools enhance efficiency and streamline workflows. Stakeholders can identify and resolve issues early by tracking construction progress against the digital twin, leading to more effective project management. Besides, owners are also encouraged to maintain and update the digital twin, ensuring it remains a valuable resource during operations.
To drive adoption, we collaborate with not only construction firms, but also other stakeholders such as government agencies, financial institutions, banks and insurers. These entities recognise the value of digital solutions for risk management and operational transparency. For instance, insurers or financial institutions may require digital twins for risk assessments or funding approvals, encouraging asset owners to adopt and maintain them.
Moreover, we host an annual conference where infrastructure projects compete for the “Going Digital Awards”. This platform highlights how digital solutions improve efficiency and effectiveness at the design, construction and O&M stages. Real-world examples demonstrate measurable benefits, inspiring broader adoption across the industry.
What has been your experience in the Indian infrastructure market? How has the market evolved?
Kaushik Chakraborty
Infrastructure projects in India have grown significantly in size, scale and scope. World-class infrastructure projects are now being envisioned and executed on a much larger scale. Many global players who previously operated in India primarily through value engineering centres are now actively participating in the Indian market. They bring global perspectives and expertise, which are being integrated with the capabilities of local vendors and stakeholders. Additionally, the ecosystem in India has evolved to prioritise transparency, openness and collaboration. This willingness to grow together has made the market more dynamic and forward-thinking than ever before. Overall, the Indian market’s evolution has been highly encouraging and positive.
How do you address the price sensitivity of the Indian market?
Nicholas Cumins
Globally, our strategy focuses on the value that can be created through our software. It is not just about pricing but about delivering measurable benefits to users. For instance, a 30 percent efficiency gain, as we have seen with some projects, translates into significant time and cost savings. Our goal is to have conversations that emphasise the value users derive from our solutions, ensuring they see returns on investment. This focus allows us to reinvest in our software, making it even more beneficial for our users.
Kaushik Chakraborty
From the Indian perspective, especially in construction, the real costs in projects revolve around materials such as steel, concrete and equipment, which are the most expensive elements. Technology plays a critical role in reducing these costs by optimising processes. For example, minimising downtime, reducing idle materials on-site and improving project timelines through digital solutions can significantly impact overall expenses. The more we shift conversations from upfront costs to the value, savings and transparency our solutions provide across the project lifecycle, the more clients recognise the long-term benefits of adopting our technology. This change in perspective is already happening, and it reinforces the value proposition of our offerings.
What initiatives have you undertaken regarding open-source technology?
Nicholas Cumins
Open-source technology is a critical part of our broader commitment to openness, along with open standards and open APIs. It plays a fundamental role in our digital twin technology for two main reasons. First, open source encourages widespread adoption of the technology, which is essential for the infrastructure sector. By enabling data sharing across projects and throughout the lifecycle, we ensure that information is easily transferable from one phase to the next. Second, the long lifespan of infrastructure assets – often 50-70 years or more – makes it crucial for owner/operators to avoid dependency on a single vendor. Open-source digital twin technology allows them to retain control over their data and maintain a comprehensive understanding of their infrastructure assets without being locked into proprietary systems.
This openness is particularly important in infrastructure projects due to their scale and complexity. Infrastructure projects typically involve numerous organisations and engineering disciplines, making it impractical to rely on software from a single brand. Over an asset’s long lifecycle, the software ecosystem will inevitably evolve. By adopting open technology, we ensure that data can flow seamlessly in and out of systems without being restricted by proprietary formats.
As part of our commitment to openness, we have also taken significant steps to advance open platforms. One example is Cesium, the leading open platform for 3D geospatial data. Cesium, which is open-source at its core, is used by tens of thousands of teams worldwide to create geospatial applications.
What global best practices can India adopt for its infrastructure development?
Nicholas Cumins
India can greatly benefit from adopting digital twin technology across all phases of an infrastructure asset’s lifecycle. In the design phase, digital tools enable the integration of data from various engineering disciplines involved in the project. This ensures cohesive designs that align with budget constraints, while allowing for early detection and resolution of potential issues. Digital twin technology also facilitates real-time awareness of project progress, enhancing collaboration and decision-making.
In the construction phase, digital twins help plan and sequence construction activities more effectively. By breaking down the digital twin into manageable components, construction work can be better organised and streamlined. Additionally, the digital twin plays a key role at the end of construction by serving as a comprehensive repository of data about the asset.
In the operations phase, the digital twin remains a living system, continuously updated with data from internet of things sensors, drone captures and other sources. This provides real-time insights into the asset’s physical condition, enabling predictive maintenance and informed decision-making throughout its lifecycle.