Bentley Infrastructure Cloud Connect Unifies Data Across the Infrastructure Lifecycle

With infrastructure data residing in a variety of locations and formats, project participants often spend significant time searching for information rather than acting on it. Data sources might include design models, photographs, IoT sensor data, record drawings, and various other documents that span across project lifecycles. 

Image source Saulo Studio/stock.adobe.com.

To help connect these disparate information sources and processes, and make that information more accessible and actionable, Bentley Systems introduced Bentley Infrastructure Cloud Connect, a platform that unifies ProjectWise, AssetWise, and iTwin technology. Announced at Bentley Systems’ 2025 Year in Infrastructure and Going Digital Awards (YII), Cloud Connect forms the foundational layer within Bentley Infrastructure Cloud, providing a common data environment and a single point of access to project data and asset information for stakeholders across roles.

The goal, Bentley says, is to eliminate long-standing data silos between project phases and disciplines. “Cloud Connect is really a layer of shared capabilities across the full life cycle where you manage information and collaborate,” said Oliver Conze, Bentley Systems Senior Vice President and Head of Product for Bentley Infrastructure Cloud. “We want to break through the barriers and connect the silos of information across the life cycles of infrastructure projects.”

The rollout of Cloud Connect represents a key milestone in Bentley’s multi-year shift from vision to execution for its cloud strategy. At YII 2022 in London, the company introduced Bentley Infrastructure Cloud as a strategic vision for connecting enterprise systems across infrastructure lifecycles. Powered by the iTwin Platform and Bentley’s infrastructure schemas, it established the foundation for cloud-based collaboration and digital twin-driven workflows. With Cloud Connect, Bentley is operationalizing that vision — bringing together project delivery and asset management workflows within a unified environment.

A Common Data Environment Across the Lifecycle

Bentley Infrastructure Cloud Connect advances this vision with a unified common data environment (CDE) for accessing project and asset data — supporting collaboration across design, construction, operations, and maintenance. As an umbrella platform that brings together ProjectWise, AssetWise, and iTwin capabilities, Cloud Connect provides a secure, open, and scalable environment for AEC firms and owner-operators managing complex infrastructure projects. Rather than separating workflows by project phase, the platform helps teams work within a single environment where data is consistent and evolves across the lifecycle.

ProjectWise, which for many years has served as the information management backbone for project delivery, has been enhanced with AI-driven search capabilities designed to reduce the time spent locating and validating project information. Using a chat-like interface and natural language queries, users can search across documents, models, and other data sources and receive context-aware results.

“With its enhanced search capabilities, ProjectWise now provides the ability to search within your documents and across all of your data, not just one at a time, and in a much more natural language way,” said Jason Slocum, Director of Product Management at Bentley Systems. As an example, he cited a search for a particular pump being used on a project. “If I want to know where it is in the model, I can find that. I might want to know where it is in multiple projects. I may want to compare it with a specification, or search for it by part number. Being able to bring back that richness in one single pane of view is a big gain.”

Alongside ProjectWise, AssetWise extends data access into operations by aggregating and analyzing information from multiple sources to generate insights on infrastructure assets. Used primarily by owner-operators in the utilities, process, and transportation industries, AssetWise supports the collection, analysis, and management of asset information to improve performance and reliability.

Within the AssetWise portfolio, specialized modules address different asset types and operational needs. Examples include:

• AssetWise 4D Analytics helps monitor, manage, and control the application of chemicals to improve plant operations;

• AssetWise Linear Network Management provides specific tools to manage transportation networks; and

• AssetWise Asset Lifecycle Information Management (ALIM) accesses asset data across the infrastructure lifecycle to track completeness against requirements and aid in decision making.

Within Cloud Connect, these asset insights are no longer isolated from project data, but can be connected back to design and construction information to support continuity across the asset lifecycle.

Bentley is seeing increased use of infrastructure asset data after construction, according to Conze. “We see a lot of appetite among owner-operators, as well as from design firms, to extend toward the full life cycle,” he said. “For us, the interesting part is seeing owner-operators use Bentley products more during the operations phase.”

In a utility application, Edmonton, Alberta-based EPCOR Utilities used AssetWise to conduct a health assessment of geographically dispersed assets. By statistically analyzing 10 years of data for 117,000 assets, EPCOR derived an asset health index to identify assets at risk, such as utility poles. The index provided EPCOR with a better understanding of asset conditions and better means of communicating their condition through dashboards created via AssetWise. Use cases such as this illustrate the type of asset intelligence that can be integrated into a broader lifecycle workflow through Cloud Connect.

The iTwin Platform forms the third key pillar of Cloud Connect, enabling digital twin workflows that connect data from design through operations. With the iTwin Platform handling data integration, visualization, change tracking, and other tools, project teams can access unified data while working in discipline-specific workflows.

By synchronizing real-world conditions with engineering models, digital twins allow infrastructure professionals to create living models of assets that extend value beyond construction, supporting performance monitoring, energy analysis, and equipment planning. Working with ProjectWise and AssetWise, digital twins and the iTwin Platform can help owners analyze assets and base decisions on real-time data.

“To bring the worlds of project information and asset information together in one unified platform, digital twins are the cornerstone,” noted Conze.

From Data Silos to Connected Workflows

By unifying project and asset data, teams can collaborate more effectively across project phases — from design through construction to operations. With a single source of truth, design and construction teams can work in the same environment, using contextualized and connected data.

This continuity is central to Cloud Connect’s value proposition. “[The unified platform of Cloud Connect] demonstrates the ability to take care of data and steward it throughout the whole asset lifecycle, not just having it locked into a silo,” noted Slocum. “It provides a common foundation to democratize data and make it available for a variety of stakeholders.”

Collaboration enabled by Cloud Connect can begin early in design, as teams begin bring together data from multiple disciplines and systems. Team members can bring information in from a wide variety of both Bentley and non-Bentley applications. “We're unlocking that data, that siloed information and bringing it to the masses,” noted Slocum.

A key application is in design reviews, where multidisciplinary teams identify and resolve issues earlier. For example, clash detection tools can highlight conflicts such as piping systems intersecting with structural components — allowing teams to flag, assign, and resolve issues before they reach the field.

During and after construction, teams can use the Cloud Connect platform to coordinate activities across multiple stakeholders. Similar to resolution of design issues, issues can be assigned, tracked, and resolved more quickly when stakeholders all have access to the same data. These capabilities translate directly into workflow improvements across the AEC lifecycle.

Bentley Infrastructure Cloud Connect provides a foundational layer to connect data and people across the infrastructure lifecycle—from design through construction and into operations. Image source: Bentley Systems.

How Can AEC Teams Improve Workflows?

The Cloud Connect CDE also addresses key challenges in AEC workflows, such as handling fragmented data and meeting tight schedules. By reducing time spent searching for and converting information, teams can focus more on design, construction, and operations.

With Cloud Connect, project participants can work with the same underlying data while using tools suited to their roles. Engineers continue working in desktop authoring tools such as MicroStation, OpenRoads, and OpenBridge, while project managers, reviewers, and owners access project data with a web-based interface. The Cloud Connect platform and ProjectWise-managed data can be used to exchange data seamlessly, and users do not need to change their workflows.

The iTwin platform plays key roles across project phases by enabling digital twin models that provide real-time geometric and contextual data. This allows information created early in the lifecycle, such as survey or design data, to be re-used and extended in later stages, rather than recreated.

AI also plays a growing role within the Cloud Connect platform, particularly in managing large volumes of data and automating routine tasks. Rather than replacing engineering workflows, these capabilities are designed to augment them—helping teams work more efficiently with the information they already manage.

“A common theme heard at YII is ‘AI is not going to replace people, but it may replace people who aren't using AI,’” said Slocum.

AI can provide support workflows across project stages by improving how users access, interpret, and apply data. This includes natural language search, automated classification, and tools that help contextualize information within project workflows. As examples of AI applications, Conze cited desktop tools such as OpenSite Designer in automating tasks to save time for site designers. “Generating engineering content using AI as an assistant is definitely a big focus,” said Conze. “Use cases are focusing on how to make data more accessible, easier to find, and easier to derive insights from.”

AI can also leverage data from past projects to identify reusable components and identify lessons learned. In addition to supporting design tasks, AI can help interpret mapping, imagery, and IoT data, link field data to asset records, and streamline document control processes.

Cloud Connect enables you to navigate projects using spatial and dashboard views in a unified web portal. Image source: Bentley Systems.

How to Drive Better Outcomes Across the Infrastructure Lifecyle

The AEC industry has long been challenged by fragmentation across project teams, technology tools, and data formats. By establishing a common data environment, platforms such as Cloud Connect bring these elements together in a more cohesive and manageable system. Cloud Connect extends this approach across the full infrastructure lifecycle, enabling continuity between design , construction, and operations rather than disconnected handoffs between phases. With more connected data and stakeholders, teams can reduce rework, improve coordination, and make more informed decisions based on current and historical information. As infrastructure projects grow in complexity and scale, the ability to connect data, workflows, and stakeholders across the lifecycle is becoming less of an advantage and more of a requirement.

This article was sponsored by Bentley Systems.

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