Tower Twins: Transforming Infrastructure with Intelligent Models

Bentley Systems has long been associated with digital twin technology, but in recent years the company has shifted its focus toward a more industry-specific solution. Apurba Tribedi, Senior Director at Bentley Systems, explained, “Digital twin remains relevant, but the term’s broad application has diluted its meaning. We coined a new term, ‘tower twin.’”

The tower twin is an intelligent data model that moves beyond flat files or static databases. OpenTower iQ automatically generates Tower Twins. “It’s evergreen; a single, evolving source of truth that reflects the real-world asset at all times. When the tower changes, we simply store the change set. We don’t need to put the whole tower into our model again,” Tribedi said. 

This approach makes it possible to automate downstream workflows. Instead of requiring manual work and use of additional software, our users can generate reports instantly. “Because we already have the data, inventory reports and CAD drawings can be created on demand,” he added.

OpenTower iQ can be paired with Bentley’s iTwin and Cesium geospatial data to give both a micro view, or on-tower detail, and a macro view of the surrounding environment, which is useful for RF planning and portfolio-level decisions.

Speed and Scale with AI

The strength of Bentley’s tower twin technology lies in its integration of artificial intelligence (AI). From the start, the company pursued what Tribedi called an “AI-first strategy.” “We have to understand the domain very well so that we can create new machine learned (ML) models that immediately understands what you’re talking about. Our AI is completely based on 3D, not photographs. That is our biggest strength,” he explained.

We must extend beyond engineering. When we talk about the usefulness of accurate data it could help anyone from M&A, tower co sales, and executives from a planning perspective. The AI-driven 3D approach also enables Bentley to deliver results at scale.

“We completed over 30,000 towers last year,” Tribedi said. “Our Service Level Agreement is two days. Once we receive the data, we deliver any required report within that timeframe.”

The combination of automation and AI has reduced both time and labor requirements. Tribedi noted, “As a matter of fact, our system is elastic and we can process any number of towers limited by machine capacity.” 

Reliable Records for All

The primary customers for tower twin technology are tower owners and general contractors. These stakeholders benefit not only from faster reporting but also from more accurate and consistent data. Tribedi emphasized that digitization reduces reliance on disparate processes and human interpretation. “When you’re depending on the skill set of different people, you may end up with incorrect data. That’s the reason digitization is so important. Everybody will be looking at the same model, all the departments connected to one source of truth,” he said.

The technology also helps address growing investor and regulatory demands for reliable information. “The whole ecosystem is now prone to getting these real data models. Unless you have that, you are dealing with uncertainty,” Tribedi said.

Predictive Analysis and Future Applications

While speed, accuracy, and cost savings are clear advantages, Bentley is also positioning tower twins as a platform for predictive analysis. Tribedi described this as a natural next step. “Predictive analysis is the future. Digitization sometimes can be overwhelming because it’s a massive model. With a predictive model, even if the result isn’t accurate to the third decimal point, it’s good enough to start making decisions.”

Bentley also sees opportunities to expand beyond towers into other vertical structures. “We are first going for any vertical structure. It could be poles, transmission towers, or windmills. It’s the same workflow and similar type of structures,” Tribedi said.

This broader application fits into an ecosystem approach to infrastructure management, where towers, poles, and other assets are interconnected and monitored within a unified digital framework.

More Than a Report

According to Tribedi, Bentley’s early commitment to AI has set it apart from competitors. “When all other companies are trying to give a report to the end user, we are trying to give the intelligent data model. That’s the biggest difference. We’re not trying to give a PDF file at the end of the delivery. Rather we’re giving them a data model they can use in their own way, and it’s all API-based,” he explained.

This flexibility ensures that customers can scale solutions as needed, adopting digitization at their own pace while maintaining a low entry point. The result is an evolving platform that addresses current demands while preparing for future growth.

Digitization as a Real-World Strategy

For Tribedi, the most important message is that digitization is no longer theoretical. “This is real. Digitization is real. Companies throughout the world are realizing the benefit, and they’re more willing to listen to what the ROI can be. This is no longer just a proof of concept, it is already delivering real-world benefits,” he said.

As tower owners and contractors adapt to increasing demands for speed, accuracy, and efficiency, Bentley’s tower twin technology demonstrates how intelligent data models can reshape the industry. By combining AI-driven automation with an evergreen, API-based approach, the company is redefining not just how towers are managed, but how infrastructure is understood as part of a larger digital ecosystem.

To learn more about Bentley Systems and their tower twin, visit https://www.bentley.com/lp/asset-analytics-opentower/