Bentley Systems, Incorporated, a leading infrastructure engineering software company, has announced the acquisition of Blyncsy, a provider of breakthrough artificial intelligence (AI) services for departments of transportation (DoTs) to support operations and maintenance activities. This acquisition will bolster Bentley Systems’ AI capabilities and strengthen its digital twin ecosystem focus in the iTwin Ventures portfolio.
Founded in 2014 by CEO Mark Pittman in Salt Lake City, Utah, Blyncsy specializes in applying computer vision and AI to analyze commonly available imagery and identify maintenance issues on roadway networks. The idea for the company came to Pittman while he was stuck at a traffic light, realizing the potential to combine “real-time” condition data and innovative technologies to help DoTs become more efficient.
Blyncsy’s disruptive AI services replace costly and slow manual data collection efforts, reducing the need for personnel, specialized vehicles, or hardware in the field. This technology enhances transportation owner-operators’ awareness and facilitates timely mitigation of road conditions. Blyncsy’s AI can detect over 50 different roadway safety issues, including the actual location of active construction work zones.
By acquiring Blyncsy, Bentley Systems aims to provide transportation owners with deeper asset analytics to support both current and future drivers. The company is committed to applying the latest AI and machine learning techniques to benefit transportation networks. This alignment with Bentley Systems will further enhance the value provided to users.
The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) is one of the organizations benefiting from Blyncsy’s AI services. HDOT depends on real-time data, including information from Blyncsy, to proactively manage the highway system and ensure safety and reliability. Blyncsy provides weekly reports with graphics and photos detailing guardrail, roadway, and vegetation conditions, enabling HDOT to prioritize resources effectively.
Bentley’s iTwin Ventures managing executive, Mike Schellhase, expressed the company’s confidence in the significance of Blyncsy’s breakthrough, stating that Bentley opted for the acquisition rather than a mere investment. This decision will facilitate the rapid scaling and pervasive deployment of Blyncsy’s technology, enabling investments in widespread asset analytics leveraging infrastructure digital twins.
As part of the acquisition, Blyncsy will adopt Bentley’s iTwin Platform for immersive integration with infrastructure owners’ engineering and simulation models. Additionally, Bentley will incorporate and bring to market Blyncsy’s AI services within its emerging mobility digital twin offerings.
The acquisition was supported for Blyncsy by Ignatious Growth Capital and Advisory. Blyncsy’s investors include Peterson Ventures, Doug Wells, Elemental Excelerator, Park City Angel Network, OakHouse Partners, and CEAS Investments.
In summary, Bentley Systems’ acquisition of Blyncsy enhances its AI capabilities and strengthens its digital twin ecosystem focus. By leveraging Blyncsy’s breakthrough AI services, Bentley aims to provide transportation owners with deeper asset analytics and support the efficient operation and maintenance of roadway networks. This acquisition will enable the widespread adoption of asset analytics leveraging infrastructure digital twins, benefiting the transportation industry as a whole.
