Bentley Systems Wraps Up Illuminate 2024 in New Delhi

Bentley Systems Incorporated successfully concluded Illuminate 2024—New Delhi, part of the Bentley global Illuminate Series. This exclusive conference, held on September 10, 2024, brought together India’s top infrastructure engineering decision-makers and industry experts to explore how digital transformation and next-generation technologies, like open AI-powered digital twins, can accelerate India’s ambitious Vision 2047—the mission to become a fully developed and sustainable nation by 2047.
 
The event opened with a compelling Welcome Address from Kamalakannan Thiruvadi, regional executive, South Asia at Bentley Systems, who framed the discussions around India's journey toward Viksit Bharat 2047. Thiruvadi was followed by Ananyaa Narain, vice president of Consulting at Geospatial World Consulting, who set the stage and led a thought-provoking presentation and panel discussion on the opportunities and challenges faced by the Indian infrastructure sector. On the panel, Narain noted India’s need for an estimated USD 4.5 trillion in infrastructure investment by 2040, and how this would lead to opportunities in transportation, energy, and water management.
 
The day’s keynote, led by Dustin Parkman, vice president, Industry Solutions, Bentley immediately spotlighted the infrastructure technologies and lifecycle management needed to drive Viksit Bharat 2047, which is expected to turn India to a USD 30-trillion developed economy in about two decades for a projected 1.65 billion population. He emphasized the critical role of Bentley’s infrastructure solutions in enabling India to meet its infrastructure goals through technological innovations that support urban and rural development, sustainable growth, and resilience.
 
An inspiring fireside chat on Engineering Resilience, moderated by Dhruba Mukhopadhyay, senior manager of Product Sales at Bentley Systems, was a key highlight of the event. Featuring Karl Howley, executive vice president of Seequent, and Dan Choudhary, senior manager at Bentley Systems, the panel focused on how open AI-powered digital twins and advanced technologies are helping to improve resilience in critical infrastructure projects across India. Real-world case studies and industry insights on ensuring stability and sustainability in civil engineering projects were shared, offering practical solutions for addressing the growing challenges of urbanization, climate change, and environmental impact.

Participants were given an in-depth look at Bentley’s latest digital infrastructure solutions through live product demonstrations. Bentley highlighted tools designed to advance infrastructure projects across various sectors, including Transportation, Water Infrastructure, Electric Utilities, and Airports.

The event featured industry-specific tracks that allowed for deeper engagement in each area. In the Transportation track, attendees discovered how digital twins are revolutionizing transportation agencies by transforming data into actionable infrastructure intelligence. The Water Infrastructure segment focused on the role of IoT sensors, AI, and 4D analytics in revolutionizing water management systems across India.

The Electric Utilities track explored the future of energy infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of data-centric and interoperable solutions in achieving India’s renewable energy goals. Finally, Bentley showcased its digital twin solutions for airports, which are pivotal for enhancing operational efficiency and managing the anticipated increase in air travel demand.

Throughout the event, Bentley reinforced its commitment to supporting India's infrastructure evolution. Speakers Oliver Conze, senior vice president, Bentley Infrastructure Cloud, Bentley Systems and Amit Shrivastava, senior director, APJ Solution Engineering, Bentley Systems discussed ways to unlock the future of infrastructure with Bentley’s digital twin technology. This session revealed how digitalization is transforming project delivery by speeding up timelines, cutting costs, and enhancing resilience across design, construction, and maintenance.
 
Reflecting on the event’s success, Thiruvadi, stated: "Bentley Illuminate 2024—New Delhi brought India’s most innovative infrastructure minds together to focus on the future. As the country moves forward on its path to becoming a fully developed nation by 2047, Bentley Systems is proud to be a key partner in driving sustainable, resilient, and technologically advanced infrastructure solutions."
 
Illuminate 2024 brought in around 300 attendees and provided an invaluable platform to foster networking and collaboration between government, industry, and tech providers—all of whom are crucial to accelerating India’s Vision 2047 roadmap.