Bentley Systems and Topcon Positioning Systems have established a new joint venture company, Digital Construction Works (DCW). It provides digital automation, integration, and ‘twinning’ services around a portfolio of fit-for-purpose software and cloud services, from Topcon, Bentley, and other software vendors, to realise the breakthrough potential of constructioneering, for industrialising construction.
The new company is led by CEO Ted Lamboo, previously senior vice president of strategic partnerships for Bentley, and COO Jason Hallett, formerly vice president of digital construction and business development for Topcon.
Bentley and Topcon joined forces in 2016, to jointly develop enhanced integration between their respective Magnet and ProjectWise cloud services so that engineering and construction workflows could be integrated for improved project quality and performance. Since then, both companies have continuously introduced new ‘4D’ innovations in surveying, reality modelling, scheduling and logistics, work packaging, machine control, and progressive assurance for construction.
In 2017, they together opened Constructioneering Academies, including at Topcon’s ‘sandbox’ facilities globally, for construction professionals to experience new digital best practices, first-hand. During 2018, the companies assimilated Bentley’s Synchro and Topcon’s ClearEdge3D acquisitions into constructioneering offerings.
Now, Digital Construction Works is chartered to embed its experts within constructors’ major project teams to advance and optimise constructioneering processes for delivering better design-build outcomes. Through its digital integration services, to connect and automate constructors’ existing processes with constructioneering, Digital Construction Works can make the best projects better while also helping to institutionalise these digital workflows throughout a constructor’s full project portfolio. At the same time, experiences gained by Digital Construction Works will help guide Bentley and Topcon in prioritising their constructioneering software development investments.
“When we and Topcon recognised the opportunity for constructioneering to finally industrialise capital project delivery, we committed respectively to completing its software requirements. Indeed, our new software capabilities make possible construction digital twins - converging digital context, digital components, and digital chronology. What remains, in going digital for infrastructure construction, is for constructors’ people and processes to take advantage of the technology,” explained Greg Bentley of CEO of Bentley Systems.
“We and Topcon have now in turn committed many of our best resources, professionals experienced in both construction and software, to serve shoulder-to-shoulder, in virtual hardhats, to innovatively advance the required digital integration. The Digital Construction Works joint venture has the full management and capital commitments of both our companies, multiplying its unique strengths for helping to realise constructioneering’s potential to close the world’s infrastructure gap.”
Ray O’Connor, president and CEO of Topcon Positioning Systems added, “What Topcon and Bentley Systems initiated in recent years was done in the spirit of changing mindsets and processes on how we approach construction, and that collaboration has led to the development of this joint venture. The creation of Digital Construction Works perfectly aligns with our focus of helping the industry succeed in meeting infrastructure demands through technological innovations.
“Through the new organisation, companies will have the opportunity to integrate hardware and software capabilities to more quickly and efficiently adopt new technology for more rapid productivity improvements. With customised services to address the individual needs of an organisation, widespread adoption and technology improvements can be more readily realised. We are excited to take this journey with Bentley Systems in moving the industry forward.”
For video of DCW launch, click here.
