Bentley Systems has announced the winners of the 2024 Going Digital Awards which honour the year’s greatest achievements across all stages of infrastructure development —from subsurface exploration to construction and operation.
The annual awards recognise the extraordinary work of infrastructure professionals and their innovative use of Bentley software to improve the way infrastructure is designed, built, and operated.
The Subsurface Modelling and Analysis category honours the innovative use of applications from Seequent, The Bentley Subsurface Company – alone or in combination with other software.
Winners were selected from among 36 finalists in 12 categories by a panel of independent judges during Bentley’s Year in Infrastructure event, held October 8 and 9 in Vancouver, Canada. The annual event, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, brought together a global audience, with over 300 attendees in person and more than 1,000 via livestream.
Subsurface Modelling and Analysis award
Together, Seequent and Bentley bring above-ground asset certainty together with subsurface expertise. The category in the Going Digital Awards highlights projects that demonstrate digital advancements in geology, geophysics, geotechnical engineering, and geodata management using Seequent applications including:
- Geo-data and information management: Seequent Central, OpenGround, MX Deposit, Imago
- Geology and geostatistics: Leapfrog Works, Leapfrog Geo, Leapfrog Energy, Leapfrog Edge
- Geophysics: Oasis montaj, Aarhus GeoSoftware (AGS) Workbench, AGS Res2DInv, AGS Res3Dinv, AGS SPIA
- Geotechnical engineering: PLAXIS, GeoStudio 2D and 3D
This year’s nominations for the category featured an impressive range of projects including three finalists:
Subsurface Modelling and Analysis category winner: Spark and WSP – North East Link Central Package
Victoria’s largest infrastructure initiative, designed to enhance connectivity in Melbourne’s freeway network by removing 15,000 trucks from congested roads. To execute this complex project, Spark’s engineering team collaborated with seven consultancies, including WSP, responsible for modelling and conveying the intricate geological conditions and associated risks.
WSP leveraged Leapfrog Works, PLAXIS, and ProjectWise to develop and refine 3D subsurface models, integrating them into a federated project model for in-depth design analysis and construction planning.
This connected digital environment saved 1,500 hours in collaborative modelling, streamlined workflows, and facilitated optimal risk management. By improving design compliance and recycling excavation materials, the project achieved AUD 16 million in savings. The 3D models will also be integrated into a digital twin, aiding ongoing tunnel operation and emergency management.
Subsurface Modelling and Analysis finalist: PT Hutama Karya (Persero): Integrating Subsurface Model for Efficient Geotech Data Management in Trans Sumatera
Trans Sumatra Toll Road, a critical infrastructure project spanning 2,844 kilometres to enhance connectivity, support trade and tourism, and boost regional development.
Led by PT Hutama Karya, the project team navigated complex terrain, diverse soil conditions, and immense data volumes, recognising the need for advanced technology to streamline workflows, enable 3D modelling, and facilitate collaborative design.
Using Bentley’s Open applications alongside Seequent’s Leapfrog Works and PLAXIS, PT Hutama Karya implemented a unified, model-based design environment. This single source of truth allowed for comprehensive geotechnical data management, facilitating precise subsurface modelling and robust safety assessments.
Along the 40-kilometre section from Regat to Pekanbaru, the team optimised soil stabilisation strategies to avoid potential losses, achieving an impressive USD 185 million in savings.
This connected digital approach also boosted productivity by 15%, saving 6,000 work hours. Their digital geotechnical database will continue to support efficient infrastructure management and long-term regional development.
Subsurface Modelling and Analysis finalist: Dataforensics: USACE Ground to Cloud–Enterprise Data Management Migration
United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), embarked on an ambitious project with Dataforensics to streamline management of vast subsurface data spanning millions of linear feet, previously stored in multiple systems. Tasked with consolidating and migrating historical data into a unified, cloud-based solution, Dataforensics addressed the challenges of data standardisation, quality control, and integration to establish a single source of truth.
By developing an automated data migration application, Dataforensics significantly reduced the time required to move datasets into Bentley’s OpenGround, enhancing data quality and robustness.
Interoperability was improved, with data now more easily integrated into software such as Civil3D, Leapfrog Works, GeoStudio and GIS platforms. This automated approach saved over 60,000 hours compared to manual processes, while OpenGround’s standardised geotechnical data management system introduced major efficiency gains in time, cost, and collaboration across the supply chain.
Moreover, by eliminating the need to re-drill boreholes at previously analysed sites, this digital solution supports USACE’s transition to a more sustainable, paper-free operational model, reducing both the carbon footprint and environmental impact.
Seequent customers shine across infrastructure categories
Seequent customers also made their mark beyond the Subsurface Modelling and Analysis category with seven named as finalists in other categories:
- Rail and Transit Category Finalist – Ineco: Leading the Latvian North section of Rail Baltica, Ineco is tackling the challenge of constructing a high-speed railway across peatland with advanced modelling tools. This fully electrified project includes 41 overpasses, eight ecoducts, and a 1,480-metre viaduct over the Gauja River, all designed with minimal environmental impact in mind.
- Facilities, Campuses, and Cities category finalist – PT Wijaya Karya: In response to Jakarta’s subsidence, Indonesia is building a new capital in East Borneo. PT Wijaya Karya’s sustainable vision for Nusantara includes the IDR 10.5 trillion Presidential Complex and 75% green space. Using Seequent solutions and Bentley’s BIM and digital twin solutions, they managed dynamic design adjustments, saving costs and optimising timelines.
- Bridges and Tunnels category finalist – Tecne Systra-SWS Advanced Tunneling SRL are elevating tunnel rehabilitation in Italy, addressing safety in aging infrastructure through a streamlined digital workflow. By using Bentley and Seequent technology, the team reduced assessment time by 30% and design costs by 20%, ensuring long-term functionality and resilience.
- Process and Power Generation category finalist – PowerChina Zhongnan Engineering Corporation: This offshore wind farm in Shandong Province is China’s largest digital wind project and is set to provide 1.698 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually while reducing carbon emissions by 1.26 million tons. To tackle complex site conditions and tight timelines, the team utilised Bentley software and Seequent’s 3D modelling software, achieving a 30% reduction in modelling time, a 20% shorter construction period, and 10% cost savings through an integrated digital environment and the development of a full lifecycle digital twin.
- Enterprise Engineering category finalist – Amey Infrastructure Wales: The GBP 1 billion Core Valley Lines (CVL) Transformation project is advancing rail transport in South Wales with new track loops, faster line speeds, upgraded signaling, and hybrid battery-electric trains. The team Leveraged Seequent and Bentley technology to streamline data management, accelerating project delivery and reducing emissions for a more sustainable Cardiff region.
- Surveying and Monitoring category finalist – Monir Precision Monitoring: Contracted to monitor rail displacement and excavation shoring during condominium construction to avoid disrupting a vital commuter line, the team implemented iTwin IoT to create a digital twin – increasing operational efficiency by 40%, saving 3,000 hours in on-site assessments, and reducing the project timeline by six months.
- Construction category finalist – PT Hutama Karya: PT Hutama Karya is delivering Phase 2A of Jakarta’s MRT, constructing two main underground stations to boost citywide connectivity and reduce traffic congestion and emissions by up to 35%. Leveraging Leapfrog, PLAXIS, SYNCHRO, ProjectWise, and iTwin, the team overcame site constraints and complex ground conditions, achieving 95% improvement in soil analysis and saving USD 2.5 million in excavation costs.
Seequent customers among 2024 Founders’ Honorees
Five Seequent customers were named Bentley Systems Year in Infrastructure 2024 Founders’ Honorees. These projects were handpicked by the founders of Bentley Systems for their contributions to advancing infrastructure, enhancing subsurface understanding, and supporting environmental and social development goals.
- University of Canterbury
Project Title: Incorporating Visible Geology and Leapfrog Into Undergraduate University Courses
Award Category: Subsurface Modelling and Analysis
Location: Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Software used: Leapfrog, Visible Geology
- Monir Precision Monitoring
Project Title: 31 Parliament Street Urban Infrastructure and Excavation Shoring Monitoring
Award Category: Surveying and Monitoring
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Software used: iTwin Capture, iTwin IoT, MicroStation, OpenGround, sensemetrics - Tecne Systra-Sws Advanced Tunneling Srl
Project Title: Digital Implementation in Tunnel Assessment and Rehabilitation
Award Category: Bridges and Tunnels
Location: Italy
Software used: Bentley LumenRT, Leapfrog, OpenTunnel, PLAXIS, ProStructures - Macquarie Geotechnical
Project Title: Subsurface Reality Modelling for Enhanced Subsurface Insight
Award Category: Subsurface Modelling and Analysis
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Software used: iTwin Capture, Leapfrog - PT SMG Consultants Indonesia
Project Title: Transformative Innovations in Southeast Sulawesi Nickel-Cobalt Exploration
Award Category: Subsurface Modelling and Analysis
Location: North Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia
Software used: Imago, Leapfrog, MX Deposit
For more on Bentley Systems’ 2024 Going Digital Awards in Infrastructure and details on finalist and winner projects across all categories see https://www.bentley.com/yii/awards/
Watch keynote and industry videos from The Year in Infrastructure event: https://www.bentley.com/yii/videos/
For more on Seequent see www.seequent.com
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