Bentley Systems, a prominent player in infrastructure engineering software, has announced its acquisition of Cesium, a leading 3D geospatial technology company. The deal marks a significant expansion of Bentley’s capabilities in digital twin technology and 3D geospatial applications.
Cesium, renowned for its open platform that powers a wide array of 3D geospatial applications, has developed the 3D Tiles standard, which is widely adopted by governments, enterprises, and developers globally. Its cloud-based service, Cesium ion, supports over one million active devices each month, while its open-source tools boast over 10 million downloads.
The acquisition is expected to enhance Bentley’s iTwin Platform, which already provides digital twin solutions for the engineering and construction sectors. The integration of Cesium’s technology will allow users to merge 3D geospatial data with engineering, subsurface, IoT, and reality data, offering more precise and interactive digital twin experiences. This integration promises to improve the management of infrastructure networks and assets, offering views ranging from broad infrastructure networks to detailed asset specifics.
Bentley CEO Nicholas Cumins commented on the acquisition, stating, “A 3D geospatial view is the most intuitive way for owner-operators and engineering services providers to search for, query, and visualise information about infrastructure networks and assets. The synergy between Cesium and iTwin will enable infrastructure professionals to make better-informed decisions within a highly performant 3D environment.”
Cesium’s CEO, Patrick Cozzi, expressed enthusiasm about the merger, highlighting that it represents a significant milestone for the company. “Joining Bentley is an important step in our journey to create the premier developer platform for the built and natural environment. Our shared commitment to open standards and open-source technologies will foster growth and enhance value for our extensive developer ecosystem,” Cozzi said.
The acquisition also expands Cesium’s capabilities for partners such as Komatsu, a leading global construction equipment manufacturer. Komatsu uses Cesium’s technology to monitor and manage construction sites, track changes, and compare plans with real-world data. With Cesium now integrated into Bentley, Komatsu will benefit from advanced digital twin technology, improving the precision and efficiency of their Smart Construction projects.
Cesium has been a proponent of open standards, including the 3D Tiles format, which was adopted as a community standard by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) in 2019. Peter Rabley, CEO of OGC, praised the acquisition, noting, “As infrastructure sectors become more data-centric, the need for an open ecosystem becomes increasingly critical. OGC welcomes Bentley and Cesium’s ongoing commitment to solving global challenges through interoperable platforms.”
Following the acquisition, Cozzi will assume the role of chief platform officer at Bentley, overseeing the integration of Cesium’s technology with the iTwin Platform. He will report to Bentley’s CTO, Julien Moutte.
The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. Bentley’s legal counsel for the deal was provided by Dechert LLP.
For further information and updates, visit the Bentley Insights & Inspirations blog and the Cesium blog.
