Bentley is to distribute Cyra's CloudWorx application software, which lets AEC professionals generate as-built models from plants, facilities, bridges, tunnels, and other infrastructure. As-builts are created through a rapid scanning process using Cyrax 3D Laser scanners.

Once the scanning is complete, geometrically accurate 'point clouds' that represent the scanned model are imported into MicroStation. The point cloud file can then be used to derive a vector model, by itself, or in a hybrid dataset with a vector file - much as is the case with raster aerial photography. CloudWorx 3D point clouds can be used directly, or they may be converted into as-built 2D drawings and 3D models.

"We believe that 3D laser scanning and the resulting rich, dense point clouds represent an important new source of content that will be widely incorporated by our users," said Buddy Cleveland, senior vice president, Bentley Software.

"Bentley and Leica Geosystems have long worked together in civil engineering and geospatial workflows," said Erwin Frei, Cyra CEO and member of Leica Geosystems corporate management team. Cyra is excited to enter into this partnership with Bentley and to further accelerate the market's adoption of 3D point cloud content."

For more information contact Bentley Systems, 011 462 5811.