Amongst all the booths on the show floor at Bentley Systems Year in Infrastructure, one was getting a lot of attention. Happy customers were dropping by the Fuzor exhibit to shake hands and give thanks. This was no startup looking to get noticed. This was a company that had already arrived. I had some catching up to do.

It turns out Fuzor is a comprehensive virtual design and construction (VDC) software purpose-built for animating every bit of the construction before it takes place.

Use it on the job or before to get the job.

“We found that firms are using Fuzor to win contracts,” says Pat Argiles, VDC Accounts Manager at Fuzor, “who proceeded to open my eyes with what all that Fuzor can do, showing exactly how the dig, grading, construction, complete with earth moving equipment and cranes, is going to happen. Getting the job after seeing this careful preparation would be a slam dunk for any construction firm. Then, after they get the job, construction firms can commence with the work, all sequencing neatly orchestrated, with little left to chance.

With Fuzor, contractors can see animations of equipment moving in and moving about, dirt being dug, and cranes hoisting steel… all of it in 3D. There could be no better big-picture guide on how to get from brownfield to high rise – or whatever building or structure is going up.

We see 3D earthmovers and cranes in operation. They, and much more equipment, have been modeled and are available in a library.

Fuzor has a suite of advanced features for architects, engineers, and project managers. At its core, Fuzor provides 4D simulation (the 4^th dimension, time, so animation)  so construction firms can create construction sequences over time by integrating building information models (BIM) with scheduling data. This dynamic simulation allows stakeholders to foresee how projects will progress day by day, enabling them to plan logistics, manage resources, and prevent delays.

Fuzor enters yet another dimension: 5D, which adds cost data to the model. You can use it to track the financial impact of scheduling decisions in real-time.

You can check out a project in virtual reality (VR). Fusor’s integration creates an immersive environment where team members can explore the project as if it were already built, aiding in design reviews and stakeholder presentations. This realistic experience enhances communication, ensuring everyone has a clear understanding of the project.

Fuzor is not just about building; it can be used for civil infrastructure projects, with animations of roads, bridges, and tunnels, incorporating material properties and environmental conditions. Urban planners can get into it, too, for land use, transportation systems, and city planning scenarios, facilitating sustainable development.

What Makes Fuzor Different?

Fuzor distinguishes itself from other VDC software in several key ways:

• Real-Time Rendering and Immersive Visualization: Fuzor provides real-time rendering, allowing users to make changes to models and instantly see their impact. This includes integration with virtual reality (VR), giving stakeholders a highly immersive experience where they can walk through and interact with models.
• 4D and 5D Simulations: Unlike some VDC tools that focus primarily on 3D models, Fuzor incorporates both time (4D) and cost (5D) simulations. This feature allows users to visualize not just the building’s design but also the construction process over time and its financial implications.
• Advanced Collaboration Tools: Fuzor enables multiple stakeholders to work simultaneously on a project in real time. This collaborative approach ensures that architects, engineers, contractors, and clients stay aligned throughout the project lifecycle, improving communication and reducing errors.
• Microtask Planning and AI Automation: Fuzor’s microtask planning enables detailed site activity simulations, while its AI-driven automation simplifies linking 3D models to schedules. These features reduce manual workload and improve accuracy by ensuring that schedules and designs remain in sync in real-time.
• Civil Engineering and Urban Planning: In addition to its architectural capabilities, Fuzor is widely used in civil engineering and urban planning. It allows users to simulate the structural behavior of complex infrastructure like roads and bridges, making it versatile for both building and infrastructure projects.

The Fuzor Story

Fuzor was developed by Kalloc Studios, a company founded by Henry Yu in 2006. Initially, Kalloc focused on game development, working with major game companies like Electronic Arts and THQ. Yu may have tired of Grand Theft Auto, inventing more ways of killing people, and wished to do something more constructive. Yu and his team transitioned to the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, leveraging their gaming expertise to create high-performance visualization tools.

Fuzor was officially launched in 2014, emerging from Kalloc’s Instant Preview Engine technology, initially designed for game designers. Fuzor’s core mission is to integrate real-time rendering and 4D/5D simulations with BIM tools, enhancing project planning, design, and collaboration in construction. It allows users to visualize complex designs, simulate construction sequences, and track costs over time, all within a virtual reality (VR) environment.

Kalloc Studios’ headquarters are located in Carlsbad, California (famous for another construction company, though it is with little plastic bricks), with additional offices in Hong Kong.

Find out more about Fuzor here.

Winners of Bentley Systems Year in Infrastructure 2024 were announced in Vancouver at what is the only black-tie gala event in the industry. Here are all 12 categories and winners.

Structural Engineering

And the winner is…Hyundai Engineering of Seoul, South Korea for the New Physical Modeling Method for Plant Steel Structures Using STAAD API.

Hyundai Engineering developed a new physical modeling method for plant steel structures using STAAD API to automate structural design processes. The project aimed to reduce repetitive tasks, enhance design efficiency, and improve constructability by creating an analytical digital twin. The approach led to a 70% reduction in structural analysis time and cut design errors by 50%, saving approximately KRW 330 million.

The software used in this project includes STAAD for structural analysis and design automation, which optimized the design process while considering constructability enhancements.

Bridges and Tunnels

And the winner is…JMT of Fredericksburg, Virginia for the Digital Experience for the I-95 Rappahannock River Crossing Construction Project .

The I-95 Rappahannock River Crossing Project in Virginia aimed to reduce congestion by adding six miles of new lanes and four bridges. JMT’s digital approach helped them manage traffic flow during construction and meet environmental standards. By using advanced modeling and simulations, they identified and resolved issues early, saving time and reducing community impact.

The software used in this project includes Bentley Descartes, Bentley Infrastructure Cloud, iTwin, MicroStation, OpenBridge, OpenRoads, ProjectWise, and LumenRT.

Surveying and Monitoring

And the winner is…Water Supplies Department in Kowloon, Hong Kong for the Digital Twin of the Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir.

The North East Link Central Package, Victoria’s largest infrastructure project, aims to improve connectivity by removing 15,000 trucks from congested roads in Melbourne. The project required complex geological modeling and the coordination of multiple design consultancies to manage subsurface risks. By utilizing advanced geotechnical data and 3D models, the team optimized design, risk management, and construction planning, saving AUD 16 million.

The software used in the project includes GeoStudio, Leapfrog, OpenRoads, PLAXIS, and ProjectWise.

Rail and Transit

And the winner is…SPL Powerlines UK for the Midland Main Line Electrification.

The Midland Main Line Electrification (MMLE) Project aims to enhance rail capacity with 447 kilometers of overhead electrification, reducing travel times and improving sustainability. SPL Powerlines UK used advanced digital tools to manage the project across multiple sections, coordinating data from 20 design organizations. This approach increased first-time submission success by 26%, cut site walkouts by 94%, and improved safety and cost-efficiency.

The software used in this project includes ProjectWise for collaboration, iTwin for digital twin creation, MicroStation for design, and OpenRail for rail-specific modeling, among others such as AssetWise and LumenRT.

Facilities, Campuses and Cities

And the winner is…China ENFI Engineering Co., Ltd. for Project of Comprehensive Waste Management Facilities in Xiong’an New Area.

The Xiong’an Waste Comprehensive Treatment Facility Project is designed to transform the area into a “waste-free city,” processing 3,060 tons of garbage, kitchen waste, sewage, and medical waste daily in a 220,000-square-meter underground facility topped by a park. China ENFI Engineering Co. faced challenges with ventilation, equipment space, fire protection, and a tight schedule. They turned to Bentley’s digital tools, moving from 2D drawings to 3D modeling, unifying 13 design specialties. This shift boosted efficiency by 130%, reduced errors, eliminated the need for four cranes, and saved CNY 13.7 million. Careful planning also cut 50 days from the construction timeline.

The Xiong’an Waste Comprehensive Treatment Facility Project relied on Bentley software tools such as ProjectWise for project delivery, SYNCHRO for construction management, MicroStation for CAD modeling, and the iTwin Platform to implement a digital twin approach,

Construction

And the winner is…Proicere Ltd.,of Seascale, U.K. for the SPRS Retreatment Plant (SRP) Sellafield.

The Sellafield SPRS Retreatment Plant is part of the UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority initiative, aiming to safely transfer, repackage, and store 140 tons of plutonium for 100 years. The project, managed by Proicere Ltd., faces strict regulatory and safety standards, requiring a highly coordinated digital approach. By utilizing 4D planning, they identified over 160 risks, preventing rework and reducing costs, thus ensuring project sustainability.

The software used in this project includes SYNCHRO for 4D planning and scheduling, and,iTwin for creating a digital twin to streamline workflows and enhance risk management.

Enterprise Engineering

And the winner is…Mott MacDonald and HDR of Toronto, Canada for the Ontario Line – Information Management.

The Ontario Line is a 15.6-kilometer subway project in Toronto, aimed at improving transit and reducing road congestion. The line will add 15 new stations, significantly cutting travel times and lowering emissions by removing 28,000 cars from the roads. Mott MacDonald and HDR, the technical advisors, focused on efficiently managing and sharing data among multiple organizations, enhancing project efficiency.

The software used in this project includes iTwin for digital twin management, ProjectWise for data collaboration, SYNCHRO for 4D planning, and Bentley LumenRT for visualization and modeling.

Roads and Highways

The winner is the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Manilla, Philippines for the Digital Twin Implementation for NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project.

The NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project in Metro Manila addresses severe traffic congestion by constructing an eight-kilometer elevated road connecting major highways. This project significantly reduces travel time and carbon emissions. Challenges such as dense urban environments and equipment logistics were overcome through advanced digital twin technology, improving project efficiency and reducing errors.

The project utilized Bentley software, including iTwin Capture for field conditions, OpenBridge and OpenRoads for 3D modeling, LumenRT for visualization, and SYNCHRO for 4D construction management, enhancing productivity by 15% and logistics by 40%.

Power and Process

And the winner is…PowerChina Zhongnan Engineering Corporation Limited of Dongying, Shandong, China for the Digital Twin of Shandong Energy Group Bozhong Offshore Wind Farm Site A.

The Bozhong Offshore Wind Farm Site A, developed by PowerChina Zhongnan Engineering, is the first grid-parity offshore wind project in Shandong, China. It will generate 1.698 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, reducing carbon emissions by 1.26 million tons. The project overcame challenges such as complex site conditions and tight deadlines by leveraging digital twin technology, improving efficiency and reducing costs.

The software used includes Bentley Raceway and Cable Management, MicroStation, OpenBuildings, OpenPlant, OpenRoads, OpenWindPower, PLAXIS, ProjectWise, and ProStructures. These tools enabled better collaboration, 3D modeling, and intelligent workflows.

Subsurface Modeling and Analysis

And the winner is… Spark and WSP of Melbourne, Australia for the North East Link Central Package.

The North East Link Central Package, Victoria’s largest infrastructure project, aims to improve connectivity by removing 15,000 trucks from congested roads in Melbourne. The project required complex geological modeling and the coordination of multiple design consultancies to manage subsurface risks. By utilizing advanced geotechnical data and 3D models, the team optimized design, risk management, and construction planning, saving AUD 16 million.

The software used in the project includes GeoStudio, Leapfrog, OpenRoads, PLAXIS, and ProjectWise, which streamlined data integration, collaboration, and modeling for efficient project delivery.

Power Transmission and Distribution

And the winner is… Southwest Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd. of China Power Engineering Consulting Group In Liangshan, China for Full Life Cycle Digital Applications of Butuo ±800kV Converter Station.

The Butuo ±800kV Converter Station is part of China’s energy infrastructure, transmitting power from Baihetan Hydropower Station to eastern regions. This project reduces coal consumption by 27 million tons annually and provides electricity for 75 million people. By utilizing digital workflows, the team minimized land use and lowered costs, shortening both the design and construction periods significantly.

The software used includes Bentley LumenRT, MicroStation, OpenBuildings, OpenSite, OpenUtilities Substation, ProjectWise, and STAAD, which facilitated collaborative design, 3D modeling, and project management across the entire lifecycle.

Water And Wastewater

And the winner is…Basic Sanitation Utility Company of the State of São Paulo for the Integra 4.0  Cultural Transformation Through Digitalization.

SABESP’s Integra 4.0 project aims to revolutionize water management across 375 municipalities in São Paulo, Brazil, through digital transformation. By integrating business intelligence and AI into a single platform, the project significantly improves operational efficiency, reducing water losses by 29%. Within seven months, it saved BRL 3.1 million in maintenance costs and reduced carbon emissions through proactive monitoring and rapid response to system issues.

The software used includes OpenFlows for hydraulic modeling and monitoring, providing an integrated, data-driven approach to optimize water resource management and infrastructure maintenance.

Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again, after the money’s gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
And you may ask yourself, “How do I work this?”

—Once in a Lifetime, Talking Heads, 1980 (Listen on Apple Music, Spotify)

Our infrastructure is crumbling. Dams, thought to last forever, are failing. Bridges that need attention are being ignored. Vast parts of the country remain unconnected. Indeed, Bentley Systems and all finalists present at the Year in Infrastructure event, all of us immersed in infrastructure, are part of the solution, not the problem, right?

But taking the stage on day 2 of the conference was Deb Chachra, professor at Olin College of Engineering and author of “How Infrastructure Work, Inside the Systems that Shape Our World, graciously provided by Bentley Systems to media in attendance. Chachra looks at the bigger picture, going back to the earliest water systems, before “infrastructure” was a word, connecting infrastructure with energy. How one begets the other has given us systems that grow exponentially. They feed off each. All of them have big-time unintended consequences. Bad ones. It is leading to the despondency she sees in her students who think the previous generation has benefitted from the systems created (energy, transportation, infrastructure, etc.) and left them the mess to clean up.

Inside the Systems that Shape Our World

The following is a transcript, more or less, of Prof. Deb Chachra’s talk.

An engineering education pushes us to think about the bigger picture. It’s not just about infrastructure, but people, communities, their environment. It’s not just about the latest tools and systems; it’s about creating a better, more sustainable and inclusive world. That’s something we can always aspire to. I like to do big-picture thinking, so when I get into infrastructure, I’m mostly interested in how students work with knowledge.

I base my favorite definition of technology on a science fiction author. She pushes back against the idea that technology is just the latest cutting-edge stuff. She said that “technology is how humans focus physical reality, how we shape the material world.” I love that. That definition reminds us that technology is more than just what is the latest development. That definition is about our interaction with physical reality. Infrastructure fits in this definition.

I’m the daughter of immigrants to Canada. As a kid, I was really aware of how different life was for my parents and their families back home. We had to make sure that we had water and electricity all day. In the summertime, power could go out. It made me aware of how much daily life is made possible by the support of infrastructure. Here, I turn on the lights and turn on the tap, and I don’t even think about it. Those needs are met and those systems enable my life.

There are so many examples of this. Wherever you live, once you have infrastructure that meets your survival needs, the next thing that people focus on is their desires and aspirations. That connection is so certain that people studying economic development can use artificial light as a proxy for progress in a region. This connection is tied to agency and it’s super important. Amartya Sen, who studied some of the poorest communities in the world, wrote that poverty isn’t just a lack of income but a lack of freedom to lead the kinds of lives people value. That’s the sustained freedom that helps us achieve our potential.

Our agency, my agency, comes from being part of these collective systems. It’s more than what I can do on my own. When I think about water, sewage, energy quality—these are the things that really differentiate places. They’re about networks that bring people together. They’re intrinsically linked, not just to the people where they are but also to each other. I use a canonical example: living in New England, where infrastructure was built out in the mid-20th century. Everyone needs clean tap water every day. It makes sense to have a network that serves everyone. It’s more efficient, not less, to have a networked system.

Once you build out a system, it only requires a little energy to serve additional people. As an engineer, that made perfect sense—it’s a matter of energy and efficiency. Our systems are powered by collective effort. Energy is the actual currency of our material world. We use energy to get more energy. The first coal-powered engine in England used coal to pump water out of mines so that more coal could be mined. Looking at global energy usage over the centuries, you see how we’ve scaled up to serve more and more people through these systems.

Now, we live in a world of global networks. Take containerization, for example. It made global trade and the movement of goods much more efficient. A lot of the stuff you use every day has been transported across the planet. It’s part of a global civilization that allows us to maintain relationships and communities across distances—whether that’s with family, colleagues, or online communities. And now, communication networks are nearly everywhere, with people having access to them wherever there is power.

But we’ve also become embedded in systems that extract resources, mine them, move them and transform them. The Industrial Revolution supercharged extraction, turning raw materials into the components of modern life. Take copper, for example. It was considered a precious metal not because it’s rare but because of its unique properties. It’s necessary for electricity and for conducting power across vast networks. As we’ve gained access to more energy, we’ve made things more disposable, moving from a world where materials are precious to one where they are used freely.

These collective systems have allowed us to live in a world of abundance, but they have also placed harm elsewhere. The benefits are often enjoyed by people far from where the negative impacts are felt. Think about pollution or climate change—these problems affect people differently depending on where they are and often those contributing the least to the problem are the ones facing the most harm.

All of these networks have benefits and harms and their distribution is often unequal. The landscapes that our systems were built on assumed stability, but now we have to contend with the impacts of climate change. We have to adapt our systems to a new reality, to a world where we need to both mitigate and respond to environmental changes.

When you look at the Earth from space, you realize that it’s a closed system. Every atom that we mine has to go somewhere. That means every decision we make about resources has a cost, whether that’s mining or building infrastructure. We have to find ways to meet our needs without depleting our resources.

The reality of our planet is that it is finite, but we can adapt. We need a dramatic shift in how we think about energy and materials. The last big shift came when we used energy to extract resources on a large scale. Now, we face two global problems—energy and materials. The students I teach, the next generation, understand that they will be dealing with these issues for the rest of their lives.

We’re at a point where we need to align our thinking to build a world with renewable, scalable and resilient systems. It’s about creating opportunities and building systems that are both sustainable and equitable. There’s no path to this future that doesn’t involve transforming our infrastructure. That’s one of the powerful possibilities of this moment: the potential for everyone to access energy and resources.

It’s hard and we have yet to figure it all out, but we have the tools and the vision to get there. I talk about this a lot with my students—about embracing agency and the role of technology in shaping the future. We have to think about our values and make them explicit, not just assume them. It’s about thinking critically about our relationships, our responsibilities and how we engage with complexity in a world that’s more interconnected than ever.

The place I want to end is with the idea of building a world where everyone has access to energy, where systems are resilient and sustainable and where we all have the freedom to live meaningful lives.

That’s our goal and it’s within our reach.