Public agencies are testing a tool that could take monitoring of bridges and dams to a higher level by using data from drones and sensors in a digital twin. Bentley’s iTwin Applications for Situational Intelligence aims to provide operational insights, improve decision-making and augment inspection processes by using reality meshes.
Dustin Parkman, Bentley vice president of transportation, says that the collapse of a casino in New Orleans several years ago prompted him to “start thinking about these types of solutions.” Gregg Herrin, vice president of water infrastructure, adds that his Vermont hometown has had bridges wash away in recent flood events, with reservoirs nearly overtopped. “We’re bringing together a few technologies that relate to being able to capture and display realities.”