Bentley Systems’ CEO Visits Dublin City University to Strengthen Smart DCU Partnership
Nicholas Cumins, CEO of Bentley Systems, recently visited Dublin City University (DCU) to engage with key stakeholders involved in the Smart DCU initiative. The primary objective of Bentley Systems visit was to gain a deeper understanding of the collaborative efforts between DCU, Dublin City Council (DCC), and Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics which focus on the innovative use of digital twin technology to advance smart city solutions. The visit was designed as a meet-and-greet opportunity, allowing Bentley’s newly appointed CEO to connect with the key contributors to the Smart DCU project including Insight CEO Professor Noel O’Connor and Jamie Cudden, DCC Smart City Programme Manager.
DCU President Professor Dáire Keogh welcomed Bentley’s CEO and collaborators “Bentley technology is helping us to enhance the student experience – creating a more inclusive, accessible and enjoyable environment for all. Like DCU, Bentley is driven by a spirit of innovation – and inspired by the huge potential that technology offers for societal benefit, or as I think you describe it the creation of ‘Humanising Infrastructure’”.
Bentley and DCU have a long standing partnership since 2021 which has always involved the critical expertise of Insight. The DCU Digital Twin project led by Dr Ali Intizar, from the School of Electronic Engineering, would not be possible without the support of Bentley Systems. The DCU Digital Twin will be a hub of innovation for designing and developing intelligent services for a smart university campus, and acting as an incubator for applications with specific city wide citizen benefit.
Prof. Caroline McMullan from DCU Business School is exploring the effectiveness of digital twin technology for emergency and risk management, drawing on the expertise of Dublin Fire Chief Dennis Keeley and his team. The outputs of this 12-month project have the potential to significantly enhance the work of the Emergency Services in Ireland and across the EU. Prof McMullan described how “The Digital Twin for Impact (DT4I) project is an exciting collaboration between DCU Business School and Insight. It will examine the benefits which Digital Twins can bring to emergency and risk management in critical entities, Seveso sites, university campuses, high-risk buildings, and high-value (social and economic) national infrastructure”.
[Photo from l-r] Mr. Michael O’Donnell (Fire Station Officer), Mr Kieran Mahon (Smart DCU Projects Facilitator), Prof. Noel O’Connor (Insight CEO), Ms. Annabelle Stover (Deputy Dean of Students, DCU), Mr. David Robertson (Director of University Partnerships for Bentley Systems), Mr Dennis Keeley (Dublin Fire Chief), Mr Nicolas Cumins, CEO Bentley Systems, Prof. Daire Keogh (DCU President), Prof. Caroline McMullan (Prof of Business & Society, DCU, Insight Collaborator), Mr Jamie Cudden (Smart Dublin Lead, Dublin City Council), Prof. Ali Intizar (Insight Investigator/DCU academic), Iryna Osadcha (Visiting PhD Student Kaunas University) & Dr Jaime Boaneries Fernandez Roblero ( Insight Postdoctoral Researcher).
