Bentley Partners with Crossrail to Provide Collaborative BIM Tools

Initiatives to Integrate Crossrail Supply Chain into Information Modelling for Construction

Bentley Systems (LONDON, England) announced two key initiatives to support the construction phase of Crossrail – Europe’s largest construction project. The initiatives are aimed at integrating the whole Crossrail supply chain to create best practices in information modelling for construction. Moreover, they are in keeping with the U.K.’s Government Construction Strategy, which calls for replacing adversarial cultures in projects with collaborative ones. At the recent Crossrail Tier 1 Contractor Briefing held at Bentley U.K. headquarters, Bentley announced that:

1.      Crossrail’s Enterprise License Subscription (ELS) for Bentley’s application software portfolio will be broadened to serve the extended “Crossrail enterprise” – now encompassing its Tier 1 contractors. Crossrail’s ELS connects project participants through the ProjectWise system of collaboration servers and services and eB software for controlling project information.

2.      A newly chartered Crossrail/Bentley Construction/BIM Academy will support the Crossrail “extended” enterprise with innovative applications of Building Information Modelling (BIM) for the Crossrail construction phase. The new academy will help Crossrail project participants discover and assess, in a collegial environment, the benefits of advanced technology. It also will offer advice on accomplishing technology deployments in a coordinated manner, and is designed to support Crossrail’s goals of efficiency, cost savings, and increased safety.

These two initiatives are the first components of an agreement between Crossrail and Bentley to augment the intent of BS1192 – the British standard for collaborative production of information – by introducing a project role for a strategic technology partner. Crossrail has asked Bentley to serve as this partner for its “construction enterprise” to enable the Crossrail contractors to collaboratively contribute to information modelling and business processes.

Crossrail Chief Executive Andrew Wolstenholme said, “Infrastructure projects of the scale and complexity of Crossrail do not come around very frequently. I want to use the Crossrail opportunity to move the whole industry forward in a number of areas which includes the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) through the delivery and lifecycle phases of major projects. Many of our project contractors are already developing their own capabilities in this important area. BIM is not simply about the application of new software – it’s about a different way of working. If we are to take advantage of the opportunity BIM offers the programme, and our contractor organisations, we need to collaborate closely with our supply chains to make it happen. We are glad that Bentley has responded in creative ways to help us add an information modelling innovation stream to our construction enterprise.”

Bentley Systems CEO Greg Bentley said, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to continue our strategic technology partnership with Crossrail by helping to introduce innovation in information modelling. We share Crossrail’s view that there is much about construction that information modelling can advance in terms of efficiency, safety, quality, and more. I am very enthusiastic about the two initiatives announced today – the broadened Crossrail enterprise license subscription and the Crossrail/Bentley Construction/BIM Academy. Both represent unprecedented ways to assure the furthest and fastest take-up of technology best practices for this exemplary project.”


Bentley is the global leader dedicated to providing architects, engineers, geospatial professionals, constructors, and owner-operators with comprehensive software solutions for sustaining infrastructure. Bentley’s mission is to empower its users to leverage information modelling through integrated projects for high-performing intelligent infrastructure. Its solutions encompass the MicroStation platform for infrastructure design and modelling, the ProjectWise platform for infrastructure project team collaboration and work sharing, and the AssetWise platform for infrastructure asset operations – all supporting a broad portfolio of interoperable applications and complemented by worldwide professional services. Founded in 1984, Bentley has grown to nearly 3,000 colleagues in more than 45 countries and $500 million in annual revenues. Since 2001, the company has invested more than $1 billion in research, development, and acquisitions. For additional information about Bentley, visit www.bentley.com and review Bentley’s annual report.