Construction Technology
Bentley Acquires Talon, Pointivo to Further Bolster Utility Asset Data Position
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Talon Aerolyics' platform collects infrastructure asset data from drone footage and other reality capture devices.
Bentley Systems announced Jan. 5 it has acquired Talon Aerolytics, a platform for the capture of an analysis of utility infrastructure data, and the technology and intellectual property of Pointivo, an artificial intelligence-driven drone asset inspection and data processing platform.
Terms of the acquisitions were not disclosed. Bentley's Asset Analytic portfolio already includes OpenTower iQ for telecommunication towers and Blyncsy for road networks. The acquisitions extend Bentley’s reach in both telecommunications and electric utilities, enabling design and construction workflows that support global 5G deployments and grid modernization. As network demands and electrification imperatives to support projects such as data centers drive construction demand, infrastructure owners are asking contractors to digitize, analyze and optimize assets at scale.
"In terms of what inventory [utility owners] have, the conditions of those assets and leveraging AI and the digital twins that we're offering as part of asset analytics, we're helping them gather those insights and also be able to perform predictive maintenance on these assets," said James Lee, Bentley's chief operating officer. "It's an exploding marker, in terms of growth."
Talon—the platform focused on electrical utilities—automates site surveys, inspections and asset digitization. For example, Talon can take drone data, such as point clouds, and make them into a usable 3D model.
"By joining Bentley Systems, we are poised to expand our global reach and enhance asset resilience through the integration of Bentley’s advanced engineering simulation capabilities," says Rod Dir, CEO of Talon, who will join Bentley.
"At Nokia, delivering reliable and resilient networks for our customers and the communities they serve is a top priority. Our collaboration with Talon, leveraging their asset inspection and data intelligence capabilities alongside Nokia’s mobile network engineering and leadership, significantly strengthens this critical foundation," said Klaus Metnitzer, head of deploy execution excellence and serviceability for North America at Nokia. "Together, these solutions empower our customers to manage their infrastructure more efficiently, respond rapidly to challenges and ensure continuous connectivity when it matters most."
The acquisition of Pointivo’s technologies, including its intellectual property and technical expertise, provides Bentley horizontal capabilities for Bentley Asset Analytics spanning drone data processing, AI-powered damage detection such as rust on utility poles, and geolocation, the company said.
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"Our patented AI-driven inventory and damage detection technology was built to turn vast volumes of unstructured visual data into precise, trustworthy insights," says Jacob Garland, Pointivo chief technology officer, who also will join Bentley after the acquisitions close. "Our team of experts has been at the forefront of advanced point-cloud processing, automated measurement and asset condition detection, and high-fidelity drone capture, all capabilities that naturally complement Bentley’s portfolio, including OpenTower iQ."
Bentley said the new acquisitions will be integrated into its asset management platforms and there are already close integrations as they were both partners before being acquired.
"This isn't just a a digital twin for the sake of a digital twin or a pretty picture, but there's real use cases being adopted here," says Mike Schellhase, Bentley's vice president for Asset Analytics.
