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The Engineering Behind Smarter Utility Vegetation Management

In a recent episode of Power Perspectives, the Energy Central podcast exploring the challenges and innovations shaping today’s grid, Otto Lynch, VP, Head of Power Line Systems at Bentley Systems joins the conversation to unpack one of the industry’s most underestimated risks: vegetation management. With decades of experience in transmission and distribution line engineering and the leading voice behind Power Line Systems (PLS), Otto brings a practical, engineering-first perspective to a topic often treated as routine maintenance. His message is clear: Vegetation management is no longer just about trimming trees. It’s about ensuring grid safety and reliability under real operating conditions. https://youtu.be/x64AZWq3XL4?si=_AVXASRmnSUNDJjj Why Utility Vegetation Management Needs Real-World Line Modeling Utilities have traditionally relied on “blue sky” assessments, measuring conductor positions under calm, ideal conditions. But overhead lines don’t operate in ideal conditions. Modern electrification is pushing conductors to higher temperatures than ever before. Lines once designed for around 120°F are now operating up to 300°F to meet growing demand. The result is significant conductor sag. In some cases, a span can increase in sag by more than 15 feet between construction conditions and peak operation. Layer in additional variables, and the challenge becomes even more complex: Wind causes horizontal

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Streamline arc flash analysis for safer power systems with EasyPower

An arc flash risk assessment is one of the most important steps in improving electrical safety across industrial and commercial power systems. Without an accurate arc flash study, facilities may struggle to determine PPE requirements, generate arc flash labels, and support OSHA and NFPA 70E compliance. OSHA takes electrical safety seriously, and the penalties for inadequate arc flash assessments can be severe. Without a proper study, facilities can’t accurately label equipment or specify the right PPE, leaving workers unprotected and organizations exposed to significant financial, legal, and operational risk. EasyPower helps engineers streamline arc flash analysis by making it easier to model electrical systems, calculate incident energy, compare different modes of operation, and generate safety documentation. For organizations working to reduce risk and improve electrical safety, that means faster studies, clearer reporting, and more confident safety decisions. Scenario: Why arc flash analysis matters for electrical safety The maintenance task at a manufacturing company was routine. To avoid downtime, a technician opened an energized switchgear cabinet to inspect a loose connection. In an instant, a blinding flash filled the room. An arc flash exploded outward with intense heat and pressure, injuring the technician and severely damaging the electrical equipment. Production stopped

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Seeing the whole water network through a digital twin

In Nagpur, a growing city in central India, delivering drinking water to more than three million residents depends on a vast network that most people never see. Beneath streets and neighborhoods, pumps, pipes, and valves work together to move water across the city every day. For the engineers and operators responsible for managing that system, understanding how the network behaves is essential to keeping water flowing reliably. To gain better visibility into this complex infrastructure, Orange City Water Pvt., Ltd. (OCW), part of Veolia Water India, developed a smart water digital twin with OpenFlows WaterSight. The utility now has a data-driven view of its water distribution system that helps operators monitor performance, anticipate issues, and make better operational decisions. Managing a complex urban water distribution system Nagpur’s distribution network spans the entire city and ranks among the largest managed urban water systems in central India. Operating a system of this scale requires utilities to balance daily operational demands with long-term challenges such as changing demand patterns, aging assets, and the growing complexity of urban networks. Changes in one part of the network can quickly affect conditions elsewhere, making it important for operators to understand how the system behaves as a

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DTECH 2026 recap: What electric utilities told us about AI readiness, data integration, and grid resilience

Three themes electric utilities are struggling with right now Last month in San Diego, Bentley colleagues joined over 18,000 industry leaders, engineers, and utility providers at DTECH 2026, the premier event for electric transmission and distribution. There’s unique energy at a show of this scale. It goes beyond the bright booth displays and technical sessions. It reflects an industry coming together to connect, learn, and shape its future. Our goal was simple: listen. We spent time in one‑on‑one conversations, small groups, and technical sessions to understand what utilities are grappling with right now. Across hundreds of conversations, three themes kept coming up: The journey to AI and digital twins is about data readiness Data integration is a core challenge blocking progress Grid resilience requires a tailored, not one-size-fits-all, approach We’re sharing these insights to spark new conversations and help drive our industry forward. The Bentley team at DTECH 2026: Listening, learning, and collaborating to power a smarter, more resilient energy future. AI readiness for electric utilities: Why data is the real bottleneck At DTECH 2026, interest in AI and digital twins was high. But for electric utilities, AI readiness quickly became the real bottleneck. Utilities and engineering firms understand the

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World Water Day 2026: Where water flows, equality grows

World Water Day is observed every year on March 22, and the 2026 campaign—“Where water flows, equality grows”—spotlights safe water and sanitation as fundamental human rights and critical enablers of gender equality. As communities and water utilities work to strengthen water systems and close service gaps, it’s essential that women’s voices, leadership, and agency are centered in water system planning and decision-making so that services are inclusive, sustainable, and built to last. Bentley Systems is proud to celebrate World Water Day. This year’s theme focuses on how water and gender equality are deeply interconnected. Without safe water, sanitation, and hygiene close to home, women and girls bear a heavier burden—collecting and managing water, caring for people made sick by unsafe water, and, too often, being left out of decision-making. Put simply: the global water crisis is also a women’s crisis, and it’s time to center women and girls in water solutions—not only as users, but as leaders, engineers, farmers, scientists, caregivers, and changemakers. Designing water distribution networks that reach everyone, faster and more sustainably Delivering safe, reliable water, especially at the scale communities need, requires more than good intentions. It takes strong planning, sound engineering, and the ability to evaluate

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Engineering Clarity: How Arcadis Rail Division Builds Confidence Through Digital Transformation

In the complex world of infrastructure, where sustainable design and digital innovation intersect, stories of successful project delivery often hinge not just on the software used, but on the individuals who master it. We recently spoke with Andrew Germain, an Associate Technical Director within the Rail division of Arcadis, in York, United Kingdom. He told us about his career and journey to where he is today. Andrew Germain, an Associate Technical Director within the Rail division of Arcadis A Digital Engineering Journey A professional journey begins when an individual identifies a core pursuit. For Andrew the pursuit is rooted in professional growth and technical mastery. Andrew’s career path reflects a natural curiosity, stemming from his early interest in technical drawing and the iterative process of design. He likes knowing how things go together and how things work, driven by an inquisitive mind. Andrew migrated into the engineering field after college, having initially intended to pursue architecture. His exposure to MicroStation came early, in 1992, at a small specialist contractor. Today, Andrew’s personal motivation is closely tied to the complexity of the work itself. He focuses on projects like railway stations and depots, alongside extensive framework projects covering lineside activities, including

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Are You Buying Effort or Value? Rethinking Transportation Resilience.

Are You Buying Effort or Value? Rethinking Transportation Resilience. Ask 10 people in transportation what “resilience” means, and you’ll likely get ten different answers. And that’s exactly the point: resilience isn’t one thing. It includes people, data, systems, contracts, materials, and community preparedness. It’s everything that helps our transportation networks adapt and perform when the unexpected happens. At the Year in Infrastructure (YII) 2025 conference’s transportation panel, industry leaders representing owners, engineers, and contractors explored this idea from every angle. Despite their different perspectives, one theme emerged: we need to stop measuring projects only by their cost and start valuing their long-term benefit to the public. Project conflict is a resilience killer, leading to delays, cost overruns, and fractured teams. According to Andy Kaiyala, vice president at WSB, a model-centric approach is the most effective way to eliminate this drain on resources by “resolving conflict” before it becomes a problem.” before it becomes a problem. Kaiyala shared an example from a large project in Austin, Texas, where two separate contracts for a roadway and a tunnel were brought into a single digital environment. The result was the discovery of a critical clash. “One of these drop shafts is right in

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Unleash Your Vision with Flexible Reality Modeling

Imagine a workflow as dynamic as the world you’re capturing. A process where your tools don’t dictate your path but adapt to your project’s unique demands. As an engineer, surveyor, or planner, you don’t just capture data; you create the digital foundation for the infrastructure of tomorrow. Your vision is expansive. But too often, the very software meant to empower you becomes the bottleneck. The ambition to model an entire city or a complex facility is met with the frustrating reality of your tools: workstations grinding to a halt, timelines stretching, and high-stakes software investments that demand a leap of faith before you even know if a project is viable. The friction between your vision and your workflow is palpable. What if the workflow itself was the solution? What if it could be flexible enough for a secure, offline project one day and massively scalable for cloud-based collaboration the next? This is the new reality possible with the iTwin Capture workflow—an approach designed not around software’s limitations, but around your project’s needs. When reality data creates a reality check You know the friction points all too well. A promising project begins, but it’s immediately met with obstacles that slow progress

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Powering Europe’s energy future: How digitalization and collaboration drive grid resilience 

Europe’s complex energy ecosystem infrastructure: Why the grid needs modernization now Europe’s power grid is the largest interconnected grid in the world—and it’s under pressure. Climate risks, outdated infrastructure, cyberattacks, and growing demand for renewable energy are changing the energy landscape. The challenge is clear: modernize now or risk falling behind as Europe works to meet ambitious capacity targets. The grid has 400 interconnectors serving 600 million customers. By 2030, it is expected to reach 136 gigawatts of capacity. The EU electricity infrastructure stretches over a million kilometers, making it a critical part of Europe’s energy system. (EU electricity grids | EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service Briefing, May 2025) According to Eurelectric, many of Europe’s distribution grids will be more than 40 years old by 2030, approaching the end of their lifespans. The stakes are high. Grid bottlenecks can slow progress, and permitting delays sometimes last almost a decade, holding back important infrastructure projects. Europe needs to maintain a resilient, reliable grid and keep energy affordable for everyone—citizens, businesses, and industries. Key EU policy initiatives driving grid innovation The European Commission, Parliament, and the Council of the European Union provide strategic guidance, vital funding, and support for energy projects

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