Bentley Systems Announces 2026 Year in Infrastructure Event and YII Awards Honoring the World’s Most Innovative Use of Infrastructure Engineering Software

Key Terms

digital twin technical

A digital twin is a live virtual replica of a physical asset, process, or system that mirrors real-world behavior using data and models so users can test changes, predict problems, and measure performance without touching the real thing. For investors, digital twins matter because they can lower maintenance costs, speed product development, improve uptime and reliability, and make future cash flows and risks easier to forecast — like using a flight simulator to safely train and tune a real airplane.

geospatial technical

Relating to information tied to specific places on Earth, such as maps, GPS coordinates, satellite imagery and location sensors. Investors care because geospatial data turns where things are into actionable insight — it helps track assets, evaluate market opportunities, optimize routes, assess physical risk (like flooding), and measure real-world trends; think of it as adding a map-based lens that makes business decisions more precise and measurable.

structural engineering technical

Structural engineering is the discipline that designs and checks the “skeleton” of buildings, bridges and other constructions so they safely carry weight and withstand wind, earthquakes and wear. For investors it matters because a sound structural design lowers the risk of costly delays, repairs, legal liability and devaluation of an asset, while poor design can trigger higher construction costs, insurance premiums and reduced resale value.

subsurface modeling and analysis technical

Subsurface modeling and analysis creates detailed 3D maps and simulations of what lies underground—rock layers, fluids, voids and faults—using measurements, samples and imaging data. For investors, it’s like a CT scan and blueprint for a buried asset: it turns uncertainty into estimates of how much resource is recoverable, what drilling or cleanup will cost, and what operational, environmental or regulatory risks could affect project value.

transmission and distribution technical

Transmission and distribution are the two stages that move electricity from power plants to homes and businesses: transmission uses high-voltage “highways” to carry large amounts over long distances, while distribution uses lower-voltage “local roads” to deliver power to end users. Investors care because the condition, capacity and regulation of these networks determine reliability, outage risk, capital spending needs and predictable revenue streams—factors that affect costs, returns and valuation.

artificial intelligence technical

Artificial intelligence is the ability of computers and machines to perform tasks that typically require human thinking, such as understanding language, recognizing patterns, or making decisions. For investors, it matters because AI can enhance efficiency, uncover new insights, and enable smarter strategies, potentially impacting the value and performance of companies that develop or utilize this technology.

• Awards build on a two-decade legacy of recognized innovation, setting the benchmark for excellence across the world’s most critical infrastructure assets
• Call for nominations now open; submissions will be accepted through May 3, 2026

EXTON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bentley Systems, Incorporated (NASDAQ: BSY), the infrastructure engineering software company, today announced the opening of submissions for the Year in Infrastructure event and YII Awards program, which recognizes digital innovation in how infrastructure is designed, built, and operated using Bentley software. Submissions will be accepted through May 3, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

Bentley Systems announced the opening of submissions for the Year in Infrastructure event and YII Awards program, which recognizes digital innovation in how infrastructure is designed, built, and operated using Bentley software. Submissions will be accepted through May 3, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. (Image courtesy of Bentley Systems, with credit to PT. Wika Tirta Jaya Jatiluhur (WTJJ), Voyants Solutions Private Limited, EGIS, and Baosteel Engineering & Technology Group Co., Ltd.)

“Originally, the Bentley awards recognized designers who used 3D technology to drive efficiency,” said Monica Schnitger, founder, president, and principal analyst of Schnitger Corporation. “Now they assess how massive projects are building and leveraging rich data assets to create value throughout the entire lifecycle of a project — from initial financial decision-making through design and construction.”

Over the past two decades, more than 5,500 of the world’s most significant infrastructure projects have participated in Bentley’s award program. Past winners have included landmark projects such as the digital twin for structural monitoring of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City; the Seine Nord Europe Canal in France; the Thames Tideway Tunnel in the UK; Siemensstadt Square in Germany; Sydney Airport in Australia; the Fairmont Udaipur Palace in India; the Beijing Zhangjiakou highspeed railway in China; the Ontario Line subway in Canada; and EchoWater, one of the largest agricultural water recycling facilities in the United States. These projects demonstrate how digital innovation delivers measurable economic, environmental, and societal impact.

“Around the world, infrastructure professionals rely on Bentley software to design, build, and operate infrastructure that is more resilient, efficient, and sustainable,” said Cate Lochead, chief marketing officer at Bentley Systems. “The YII Awards celebrate real world results from teams that are innovating in areas that include ground informed design, connected data, and AI. It is important to promote this work as best practice as these achievements set a new standard for what’s possible across the infrastructure ecosystem.”

Submissions are evaluated by independent panels of industry experts based on digital advancement and quantifiable results, including improvements in efficiency, cost performance, resilience, and sustainability.

The YII Awards 2026 recognize excellence across the full spectrum of infrastructure disciplines and innovation, with categories including Bridges and Tunnels; Cities and Facilities; Construction; Energy Production; Geospatial and Reality Modeling; Project Delivery; Rail and Transit; Roads and Highways; Structural Engineering; Subsurface Modeling and Analysis; Transmission and Distribution; and Water and Wastewater. Finalist projects contribute to the industry through detailed project stories, digital playbooks, and presentations shared as part of the awards program.

Submission Details:

• Opens: March 18, 2026
• Closes: May 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT
• Eligibility: Projects of any size or stage that utilize Bentley software
• Finalists and Winners: Finalists will be announced in August 2026. Finalists will be invited to present their projects at the Year in Infrastructure event in Singapore, October 6-7, where category winners will be revealed.

For more information or to submit a project, visit Awards | The Year in Infrastructure | Bentley Systems.

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About Bentley Systems
Around the world, infrastructure professionals rely on software from Bentley Systems to help them design, build, and operate better and more resilient infrastructure for transportation, water, energy, cities, and more. Founded in 1984 by engineers for engineers, Bentley is the partner of choice for engineering firms and owner-operators worldwide, with software that spans engineering disciplines, industry sectors, and all phases of the infrastructure lifecycle. Through our digital twin solutions, we help infrastructure professionals unlock the value of their data to transform project delivery and asset performance.

© 2026 Bentley Systems, Incorporated. Bentley and the Bentley logo are registered trademarks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated. All other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

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Bentley Press: Chris Phillips, PR@news.bentley.com

Bentley Investors: Eric Boyer, IR@bentley.com

Source: Bentley Systems, Incorporated