Bentley’s annual digital infrastructure event opens on an upbeat and optimistic note in Amsterdam.
Any event which describes itself as ‘Shaping the future of infrastructure’ has to be bold and optimistic if it’s going to live up to its claims and Bentley’s 2025 Year in Infrastructure (YII) conference, which got under way today in Amsterdam, certainly lives up to the hype.
Opening the event, Nathan Marsh, regional executive for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Bentley Systems, said: “We are half way through our most digital decade yet. This event is not just about looking at technology for technology’s sake; it’s about solving the real problems and challenges that the world faces. We are talking about shaping the future for the better, so this event is not about just exchanging ideas, it’s about embracing a culture of ingenuity and innovation.”
It was appropriate that this year’s YII conference was being held in Amsterdam, a city reclaimed from the sea and built on engineering and infrastructure, said Nicholas Cumins, chief executive officer of Bentley Systems. “Digital methods are turning into measurable gains everywhere and connecting data is making a significant difference to the infrastructure gap,” Cumins said. Highlighting the growing influence of artificial intelligence in the infrastructure industry, he reported that one third of the entries in this year’s YII Awards have incorporated AI, with its application cutting costs on some projects by 75%.
However, there was more progress to be made, said Cumins. “The true power of AI in infrastructure is as yet still untapped. We are still in the early days and many teams are learning and iterating and that is how innovation happens,” he said. Cumins was also keen to address industry concerns around AI, which still prevail. “As engineers and other industry professionals increasingly lean on AI to make critical decisions, how do we ensure that those decisions are reliable?” Cumins asked.
He said that it was crucial to have a “human envelope” and that infrastructure AI needed to have a real-world context. “That means being aware of the built and natural environment, now and what is to come,” said Cumins. He predicted that new commercial models would be formed as AI was increasingly used on projects and he welcomed the integration of Bentley’s product suite with AI methodology.
Concluding the opening session of the event, Cumins ended on an uplifting and optimistic note. “We are on the threshold of a generational shift in infrastructure. By making our existing talent more productive we can close the capacity gap, creating infrastructure that is not only well designed but optimised. We need to inspire the next generation of infrastructure professionals because it’s on us to give them an industry that is as modern and fast moving as any other. So, let’s shape the future of infrastructure together,” he said.
Over two days, the YII 2025 event will see global industry leaders come together to showcase infrastructure delivery and performance excellence and exchange visionary ideas that are shaping the future. The event also includes the announcement of the winners of the 2025 Going Digital Awards which celebrate the achievements of engineers and project teams in advancing infrastructure for better quality of life through digital innovation.
